Congressional delegation secures $640,000 for water supply project
and title transfer process

Hillsboro, OR — December 21, 2007 — Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Gordon Smith and Congressman David Wu were successful in securing $640,000 in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 to support the Tualatin Basin Water Supply Project and Tualatin Project Title Transfer (www.TualatinBasinWaterSupply.org). Funding was provided to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the Energy and Water Appropriations Act to partially fund these water supply studies.

Senators Wyden and Smith together with Congressman Wu have been working hard to secure the federal funding necessary to meet the growing water needs of the region. Since 2005, the delegation has secured more than $1.4 million to support the project including $246,000 in this year’s budget to fund the federal portion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Tualatin Basin Water Supply Project.
Total cost of the EIS is $6.35 million, of which local Water Supply Partners are funding $3.5 million, or 55
percent.

This year, the Congressional delegation also secured $394,000 to fund the Tualatin Project Title Transfer and Facilities Assessment. Local water resource management agencies have been working closely with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to study the feasibility of transferring ownership to the Hagg Lake, Scoggins Dam and associated lands from federal ownership to local ownership. Local ownership could offer significant time and cost savings for future improvements.

“This funding reflects the delegation’s continuing support in providing a safe, secure, and reliable long-term water supply for Washington County and the region,” said Washington County Commission and Clean Water Services’ Board Chair Tom Brian. “Our economy, environment and quality of life are dependent upon successfully meeting this challenge.”

The Tualatin Basin Water Supply Project shows that demand for water in Washington County is expected
to double by the year 2050. In addition to needing water for homes, businesses and agriculture, water is needed to restore flows to the Tualatin River and its tributaries to improve water quality and protect stream health.

“Our congressional delegation has done a great job securing funding for these critical efforts,” said
Chair Brian. “We will continue to work with the delegation and Reclamation officials to secure the balance of the funding necessary to complete the environmental impact statement.”

The Tualatin Basin Water Supply Partners include Clean Water Services, the Tualatin Valley Water District and the Cities of Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tualatin, Tigard and Forest Grove, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The local Partners have invested more than $1.2 million in studying the needs and options for meeting future water demands. These partners plus Tualatin Valley Irrigation District, Washington County and Lake Oswego Corporation are also exploring Title Transfer. The Partnership is working to deliver new water for the Tualatin Basin by 2016 to sustain the region’s watershed, economy and community.

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