Paying the water bill : community support for agriculture and river restoration in central Oregon
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Date
2013
Authors
University of Oregon. Ecosystem Workforce Program
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon
Abstract
Fish recovery in rivers depends on sufficient instream flows to maintain water quality and habitat. In many areas, water rights for agriculture present direct competition for these flows, and “use it or lose it” water rights provide little flexibility to landowners who may be able to contribute unneeded rights.
An innovative partnership between a nonprofit and a private water company in Bend, OR is tackling these challenges with a new twist on traditional water banking. The Blue Water program offers a novel way to pay for water banking, giving municipal water users a way to pitch in for their local river while enhancing instream flows and financially benefiting agricultural landowners.
Description
2 pages