Local Policy Makers Visit Blue River Water District
Today a group of local elected Representatives, Environmental Groups & Agencies visited the Blue River Water District Wellhead to discuss the effects of the fires and the plans for reconstruction and expansion of the District to include a new Sanitation District. Water District board member Alice Bonasio, Water District Superintendent Al Artero and Jason Carman of the RCAC hosted the group in hot and smoky conditions.
Attendees included:
- Joe Moll (MRT)
- Celine Swenson Harris (Lee Beyer Staff)
- Rep Paul Holvey
- Rep Jeff Reardon & Staffer
- Dan Brown (EPA)
- Alan Henning (EPA)
- Kelley Beamer (COLT) Executive Director
- Torey Mill (COLT)
- Ethan Snyder (COLT)
- Kelsey Kuhnhausen (COLT)
- Thomas Albertson (COLT)
- Jason Heuser (EWEB)
- Karl Morgenstern (EWEB)
State Senator Lee Beyer was represented by Celine Swenson and Representatives Paul Holvey and Jeff Reardon were there along with Joe Moll, Executive Director of the McKenzie River Trust. The two EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) representatives work on watershed conservation where their work intersects with EWEB and their important watershed and habitat restoration work. COLT is the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts, and Kelley Beamer works closely with the legislature to get funding directed to land and water conservation.
Several in this group played a key role in securing the millions of dollars that will provide the McKenzie with the resources to rebuild and upgrade our community infrastructure. It was great to hear their enthusiasm for restoring and revitalizing the area after the Holiday Farm Fire as well as their recognition of the importance of a new Sanitation District to the community’s resilience in the future.
