Oregon Public Broadcasting

One year ago Thursday, the Governor put his signature on a plan for a study – a study about whether to change the way Columbia River water is used.

Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey updates us on how it’s going.

Farmers wanted to see if they could increase the amount of water they could use, by withdrawing water during the winter – to use in the hot summer.

Many different groups hailed the plan as a good compromise – taking water from the river when it didn’t hurt fish.

Rick George is the program manager with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla.

He says at this point, the study shows the project could work –- now all that’s needed is funding.

Rick George: “We’re hopeful that because the project is such a high priority, and there is such a dramatic need for it, that we made be able to squeak around.”

In his next budget, the Governor has asked for $2.5 million in lottery backed bonds to begin installing pipes.

The deal also included grant funding for 22 water conservation projects. Those could be cut  -- each project may get 40-percent less money than expected.