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Rural Preservation
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What started as a small trickle of opposition
to the proposed Cogentrix power plant has now exploded into thousands of Central
Oregonians taking a firm stance against the Grizzly Power Project. The threat of
Duke Energy and several other large power companies who are eyeing our area and resources
for their corporate gain has added impetus to the determination to not allow even
one gas-fired power plant into the region.
This past month, researchers have discovered that Cogentrix knowingly placed their
well field within a quarter mile of sensitive Golden Eagle nesting habitat and actually
did the well drilling during the nesting cycle for the birds, violating Jefferson
County Zoning Ordinances. In addition, the well field is located within the Wild
and Scenic Corridor of the Crooked River, an area restricted from development.
Cogentrix, which still has not obtained
any of their permits, is awaiting the outcome of the water mitigation rules now being
presented for public comment. While the new set of draft rules prohibit large water
users from mitigating with money (which we are pleased about), there is still no
protection for the aquifer, and the technical aspects of the actual mitigation seem
shaky.
To be very blunt, the big problem with mitigation is that it cannot create more
water. Therefore, granting new water rights in the Deschutes Basin where all surface
water is already appropriated and the groundwater feeds the stream flow, means that
someone is not going to get their share of water. We have regular drought cycles
in our area; what will be the effect during the next drought if we over-appropriate
the water now? Remember, the purpose of mitigation is to make up for damage done
in one area by doing something nice in another area, which will not be very comforting
if it is your well that goes dry.
STOP Cogentrix will have a comment sheet available to assist you in writing letters
to the WRD. You can receive this sheet via email by requesting them from mzemke@earthlink.net or by calling the Hotline at (541) 475-4446.
Attend the Water Resources Department Public Hearing on April 22, 7:00 p.m. in Bend
at Hollinshead Barn, 1237 NE Jones Road. The Water Resources Department is very attentive
to public input and has made changes to the mitigation rules based on public response
in the past.
This is the time for all of us to speak up to protect Central Oregon! Duke Energy,
Calpine, and several other power companies are nosing around our little paradise
at this moment. Check out areas that have high concentrations of power plants, note
the effects of the acid rain on people and vegetation, the ruination of water tables
that were supposed to be "limitless", and the reduction in quality of life
from air emissions and visibility impacts of these monstrous plants.
What we have here is worthy of our best efforts.
See Stop Cogentrix
by Mary Zemke for more details.
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