HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STREAM RESTORATION

& SPECIES RECOVERY

January 12, 2001 Hearing Room E

1:00 P.M. Tapes 3 - 5

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Bob Jenson, Chair

Rep. Jan Lee, Vice-Chair

Rep. Randy Leonard, Vice-Chair

Rep. Al King

Rep. Tim Knopp

Rep. Jeff Kruse

Rep. Patti Smith

Rep. Carolyn Tomei

MEMBER EXCUSED: Rep. Kelley Wirth

STAFF PRESENT: Sandy Thiele-Cirka, Committee Administrator

Linda K. Gatto, Committee Assistant

ISSUES HEARD: Oregon Plan Overview:

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Department of Environmental Quality

Division of State Lands

Department of Forestry

Water Resources Department

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 3, A
022	Chair Jenson	Calls the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. as a subcommittee for the purpose of resuming the Oregon Plan overview. Opens informational meeting.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING – OREGON PLAN OVERVIEW
038	Bruce McIntosh	Oregon Plan Monitoring Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW). Submits (EXHIBIT A) and provides an overview of ODFW’s role in the Oregon Plan.
089	Chair Jenson	Closes subcommittee and opens as a full committee.
090	McIntosh	Continues to discuss items on page two, (EXHIBIT A).
203	Rep. Kruse	Questions if ODFW is developing a plan that addresses pinnipeds preying on salmon.
236	Roy Elicker	Legislative Coordinator, ODFW. Offers to provide information on the pinnipeds at a future date.
252	Chair Jenson	Notes there are ten biologists working in western Oregon and questions what is being done in eastern Oregon.
305	Rep. King	Suggests that ODFW update the House Stream Restoration & Species Recovery Committee on the progress of those programs that were developed from HB 3225 and funded by BM 66 at a future meeting.
350	Karen Tarnow	Assistant to the Administrator Water Quality Division, Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Submits (EXHIBIT B) and explains DEQ’s role in the Oregon Plan. Provides an overview of DEQ’s involvement with watershed councils on water quality issues.
432	Tarnow	Continues testimony on the Clean Water Act and TMDL’s. Refers to the last page of (EXHIBIT B).
TAPE 4, A
070	Tarnow	Continues with testimony on funding.
108	Tarnow	Continues with testimony on laboratory work.
127	Rep. Tomei	Questions what criterion is used to establish a standard.
128	Tarnow	Responds the information and data is assembled to establish a criterion that supports the goal.
140	Rep. Tomei	Questions if the standard varies.
144	Tarnow	Answers that the standards apply to waterways throughout the state.
156	Rep. Tomei	Questions if the funding for sewage treatment is for new plants.
164	Tarnow	Answers the funding requests are prioritized by how water quality will be affected.
171	Rep. Kruse	Notes there is not a consensus on how the standards are established. Comments on the fee increase.
200	Rep. Leonard	Asks what operations are being charged fee increases.
202	Tarnow	Responds the increases are applied to the permit program for waste water discharges.
224	Rep. Jenson	Notes that the area of TMDL’s needs to be presented as a step by step introduction. Requests information that is specific to the Oregon Plan.
265	Jeannette Holman	Assistant Director, Division of State Lands, (DSL). Submits (EXHIBIT C) provides overview on the history and role of DSL.
350	Rep. King	Questions precedent for state lands being used for schools.
352	Holman	Responds it originated from the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 that set aside a certain amount of land for schools.
380	Holman	Continues overview.
TAPE 3, B
025	Rep. Kruse	Inquires if DSL is the state authority on wetlands.
027	Holman	Responds that DSL has the primary responsibility for wetland regulation and restoration.
057	Holman	Continues testimony on wetland restoration programs.
113	Holman	Refers to page three, (EXHIBIT C) discusses regulatory activities and projects.
200	Ted Lorensen	Forest Practices Program Director, Department of Forestry (DOF). Submits (EXHIBIT D) and provides an overview on the Forest Practices Program.
296	Lorensen	Continues overview.
355	Lorensen	Continues overview.
TAPE 4, B
022	Chair Jenson	Questions what incentives are needed.
027	Lorensen	Responds that family forestland owners need capital to do road restoration work, and incentives to leave riparian areas.
037	Chair Jenson	Questions if the family forestland owners have provided any input.
043	Lorensen	Responds that needs have been identified but a method to attain the solution has not. Concludes presentation.
090	Paul Cleary	Director, Water Resources Department (WRD). Submits (EXHIBIT E) and reviews departments focus on salmon and watershed restoration.
116	Doug Parrow	Oregon Plan Coordinator, WRD. Presents a power point overview of stream restoration priorities, page ten, (EXHIBIT F).
235	Chair Jenson	Questions how the expected opportunities are being limited.
239	Parrow	Responds water use is less than anticipated.
261	Parrow	Continues presentation.
272	Rep. Jenson	Requests the number of gauging stations and miles of streams.
282	Cleary	Responds that statewide there is about 115,000 miles of rivers and streams, 50,000 surface water rights and 125,000 diversion points.
310	Parrow	Continues presentation, regulation and distribution.
414	Rep. Jenson	Questions if data is available on water right sales.
427	Cleary	Explains why the customary term is transfer of water rights. Responds there have been 17 transfers since the program’s inception. Provides details on the status of pending applications for in-stream rights.
TAPE 5, A
041	Parrow	Concludes presentation.
080	Chair Jenson	Adjourns meeting at 3:15 p.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Linda K. Gatto, Sandy Thiele-Cirka,

Committee Assistant Committee Administrator

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A. Oregon Plan Overview, written materials, Bruce McIntosh, 14 pp.

B. Oregon Plan Overview, written materials, Karen Tarnow, 6 pp.

C. Oregon Plan Overview, written materials, Jeannette Holman, 19 pp.

D. Oregon Plan Overview, written materials, Ted Lorensen, 71 pp.

E. Oregon Plan Overview, written materials, Paul Cleary, 10 pp.

F. Oregon Plan Overview, written materials, Doug Parrow, 7 pp.