During the most recent BOC meeting, interim commissioner, Cam Parry, advised the audience that Coos County might see the first draft of a “water mitigation bank” by October. According to Parry the county has a substantial water right, the “second biggest in Southern Oregon”. Parry went on to say that he was optimistic the board could approve a water bank plan and start earning revenue as early as next year.
There is no single definition for water banking or water mitigation banking that I can find but the term can include everything from storing water and restricting use in the event of the opposite of a rainy day, to meting out water so that city dwellers go thirsty in order to allow big agribusiness to grow pomegranates in the desert. While, it is really hard to be sure what Parry is talking about or how the county can make money he seems to treat water mitigation banking like carbon credits, in other words if you buy credits here you can pollute over there.
Parry’s plan is centered upon the Johnson Mill Pond which is the second largest water right in District 19 (see map for area) and may store up to 491 acre feet under a lease with the Oregon Water Resources Department for the purpose of storing and sorting logs. According to the Kern Water Bank Authority, “An acre-foot of water is enough to cover an acre (43,560 square feet) with water 1 foot deep (326,000 gallons). One acre-foot of water is typically enough to meet the needs of two families of 4 for a year. ” The water stored in Johnson Mill Pond is sufficient to serve 982 families for one year. Coos County has 27,000 households and while 491 acre feet is nothing to sniff at, it is hardly an inexhaustible supply and pales in comparison to other reservoirs in Oregon of up to 1 million acre feet.
According to Mitch Lewis, District 19 watermaster, before the mill pond water can be used for any other purpose the right would have to transfer to “change the character to something more appropriate” than storing logs, a process presently taking one year to eighteen months. The transfer application would have to include a signed affidavit that the water had been used according to terms, limits and conditions of the original water right for the last five years or the right may not be transferable.
Another possible wrinkle would be that any water diverted out of the pond would require individual water rights, again a time consuming process. Parry, is undeterred by either the modest scale of water right or the potentially lengthy process and has unleashed Douglas County attorney Ron Yockim to come up with a plan so Coos County can start earning some revenue from somewhere, sometime next year.
Last week I overheard about twenty minutes of Parry’s radio program for the first time and if you think he overuses the same, repetitive, worn out flowery adjectives as a commissioner, listen to him pitch local restaurants, “and the desserts!”, or heap praise on a guest. One of the techniques Parry uses is to qualify each statement first with phrases like, “we have looked at this extensively”, or “we talked about this a lot”, or “he has done extensive work”… listen closely and you will hear these phrases again and again.
Unfortunately, Parry is undeterred by the process, facts, as usual. I really believe he was wise in NOT running for office. He should cease and desist proposoing these idea for future revenue for the county or maybe he and Freddy’s friends – big agribusiness before these possibilities are thoroughly researched etc. Thanks for your background information Mary. I know that water – particularly potable water is the battle of the future. I fear for our children, grand and great grandchildren.
Yes, you would think it was almost as big as that prime rib serving at the restaurant. “it is just soooo big”
Parry is a walking commercial. Look how he describes 491 acre feet. “The second largest water right in Southern Oregon”.
No I don’t but it was around the time when Fred moveded the comments to the beginning of the meetings hope that will help and it was held in the boc court room.
So the max the mill pond might bring in annually is at the high end $98K or more likely the low end of $14K. And Yockim gets what??? for working this out?
In some parts of the State water goes for as much as 200 dollars an acre foot. Other areas you’ll find rates as low as 30 dollars. It depends on the type of use, the location and the tax base in the area. Among other variables. Mary is correct. Anyone using water they might purchase from the County will need an individual right to do so. Or…..it will take a major legislative change. Neither scenario is going to occur very soon, and both would be subject to public comment and protest. More than likely by every environmental group that exists. Any protest would be at the State level and not at the BOC level.
Do you remember when that was, Rickey?
The board okyed $10000 for yokum to do prelim work on this pipe dream my question would be will this change public access and use of the property. C am himself said that the market for and acre foot of water was worth nothing
Dry pipe indeed! How much we paying this Yockim to waste everyone’s time?
Cam’s plan, which must go through at least a couple of State agency processes, will not provide water for anything in the next year. Another pipe dream is ight. A dry pipe, in this case.
Cam has another hidden agenda up his sleeve. Bet on it.