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Senate Passes Smith-Wyden Wallowa
Dam Bill
September 15, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today,
the Senate passed the Wallowa Lake Dam Rehabilitation and Water
Management Act introduced by Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden.
The Senate passed similar legislation, also sponsored by Smith
and Wyden, in 2002.
“The projects authorized by this bill represent a positive
approach to resolving the water issues facing the Wallowa River
Basin,” said Smith. “The hard work put into these
projects by federal, state, and local interests is one step closer
to being rewarded.”
"The Senate has done the right thing by listening to folks
in eastern Oregon and approving this home-grown, creative solution
to water management," said Wyden. "It’s my hope
to see this bill move to the President’s desk so rehabilitation
work can start at Wallowa Dam."
The act would authorize
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner
of Reclamation, to participate in, and provide funding for, the
rehabilitation of the Wallowa Lake Dam and the Wallowa Valley
Water Management Plan. Local entities have developed these two
projects with the participation of numerous state and federal
agencies and the support of local tribal leaders.
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