DECLARATION. Whereas: Whereas: opportunity. There is an. Whereas: Whereas: a) Recent. uses. environment. objectives: stream.

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1 COLUMBIA RIVER UMATILLA SOLUTIONS TASKFORCE DECLARATION OF COOPERATION February, 2013 I. Whereas: Whereas: Whereas: Whereas: Backgrund, Prject Purpse and Hw We Will Wrk Tgether There is a great need fr additinal jbs and ecnmic activity in rural Oregn, and There is an pprtunity t supprt and enhance cntinued salmn and native fish recvery effrts in the mainstemm f the Clumbia River and in the Umatilla Basin; and There is an pprtunity t create additinal ecnmic activity thrugh irrigated agriculture in the Umatilla Basin; and There is an pprtunity tday t build upn: a) Recent effrts f Umatilla Basin irrigatrs, public agencies, Cnfederated Tribes f the Umatilla Indian Reservatin, and cnservatin interests t build wrking relatinships and implement the Umatilla Basin Aquifer Strage and Recvery Prject. b) Lessns learned frm the State f Washingtn Office f the Clumbia River, which has, ver the last six years, develped r wrked n 40 prjects t increasee Clumbia River water utilizatin fr in stream as well as ut f stream t salmn recvery in the Umatilla Basin and main uses. c) The many studies and actins related stem f the Clumbia River, d) The State s new Integrated Water Resurce Strategy Therefre: Gvernr Kitzhaber has designated as an Oregn Slutins prject the Clumbia River Umatilla Slutins Taskfrce, cnvened n the Gvernr s behalf by: Umatilla Cunty Cmmissiner Dennis Dherty and Richard Whitman, the Gvernr s Natural Resurcess Advisr. Oregn Slutins prjects are, by Oregn Statute, designed t help supprt a sustainable ecnmy, sustainable cmmunity, and sustainable envirnment. We, the members f the Clumbia River Umatilla Slutins Taskfrce, subscribe t the fllwing bjectives: 1. Identify ptins t increase utilizatin f Clumbia River water fr in stream and ut f fr fish species. The ptins cnsidered shuld include Oregn nly actins, as well as stream uses in the Umatilla Basin withut negatively impacting instream flws needed thse requiring jint agreements r actins with the State f Washingtn and/r ther

2 states r tribes. The ptins cnsidered shuld als include a range f shrt term (less than three years t implementatin) as well as lnger term ptins. 2. Develp and evaluate these ptins accrding t a set f criteria adpted by the Slutins Taskfrce. Optins shuld be as gegraphically specific as pssible, and develped with an eye tward ptimizing: a. technical feasibility, b. ecnmic feasibility, c. legal feasibility, and d. plitical feasibility 3. After evaluating ptins, develp an actin plan that includes: a. Optins fr which there is cnsensus t mve frward; b. Optins fr which there is nt cnsensus but enugh prmise t warrant further wrk and discussin; and c. Statutry, administrative rule, r institutinal actin, if any are needed, t implement the recmmended ptins. 4. The package f cnsensus ptins will, as a whle, result in bth ecnmic and envirnmental benefits, including aquifer restratin, tributary streamflw enhancement, and/r mainstem flw enhancement. 5. The package f cnsensus ptins shuld supprt, rather than impede, ther waterrelated planning effrts such as: a. The Tribal Water Rights Settlement discussins b. The Basin 2050 Water Plan c. Clumbia River Salmn and Steelhead Recvery plans d. The State s Integrated Water Resurces Strategy e. Umatilla Grundwater Management Area Actin Plan 6. The package f cnsensus ptins will be prvided t the Gvernr, The Oregn Legislature, and the Washingtn Department f Eclgy Office f the Clumbia River in December 2012 t supprt infrmed plicy decisins and prject develpment. 2

3 We als agree t the fllwing principles n hw we will wrk tgether: 1. We each cmmit t help this grup develp wrkable slutins, bth lng term and near term, and will d ur part in helping t implement thse slutins. 2. We will perate by cnsensus, striving t jintly develp a list f actins that we can all supprt, and which will be part f a Declaratin f Cperatin that we can all sign. 3. We recgnize that fr a slutin r cmbinatin f slutins t be implemented, they will need t be acceptable t ther parties at the table. We will therefre wrk hard t find slutins that are mutually satisfactry. 4. We accept ur respnsibility t raise issues r cncerns with the Slutins Taskfrce, rather than utside the grup. We als agree that the integrity f the Slutins Taskfrce requires each f us t wrk within this prcess, rather than seek t advance an independent interest, psitin r preferred utcme thrugh the media r ther frums. 5. Differences in pinin are t be expected in a grup with such diverse perspectives. We wn t shy away frm thse differences, but will wrk hard t recncile them. 6. We will wrk hard t make sure thers feel that their interests have been adequately heard and addressed in reaching a grup agreement. Until the signed Declaratin f Cperatin, we will be careful nt t represent ther s psitins in a public frum.. 7. We will cnduct urselves with civility and respect. We will listen (and nt interrupt) when thers are talking. During Slutins Taskfrce meetings, we will wait t be recgnized by ne f the tw Cnveners befre speaking. We ll respect each ther s time by being cncise and npint with ur wn remarks. 8. We are each cmmitted t this prcess, making the Slutins Task Frce meetings a pririty fr ur calendars, arriving n time, reviewing necessary materials, and helping the grup reach timely decisins. It als means nt undermining agreements f the task frce in ther frums. 9. We are cmmitted t bth representing and als bringing alng ur wn rganizatins as the Slutins prcess mves frward and decisins are made. 10. Meetings will be pen t the public, and there may be specific times made available fr cmments frm the audience, but generally speaking the participatin in discussins will be limited t Task Frce members and invited guests. 3

4 II. Overall Strategy and Actin Plan The Clumbia River Umatilla Slutins Taskfrce cnsidered nearly 30 separate ptins since June 2012, utilizing survey level infrmatin t screen thse ptins against fur criteria: a) Ecnmic develpment impacts, b) Eclgical impacts, c) Technical, legal, and plitical feasibility, and d) Ecnmic feasibility. The result was a set f cnsensus slutins that, taken tgether, we believe can result in mutual benefits fr bth agricultural ecnmic develpment and eclgical stream flws. The grup is nt recmmending changes t existing fish prtectin laws. Many f these slutins culd be implemented in the shrt term (1 5 years), and many f them can be implemented withut the need fr interstate agreements. **We emphasize that the cnsensus fr mving frward n these ptins des nt mean a carte blanche apprval fr implementing an ptin regardless f the ultimate specifics r parameters f the actin. Rather, it represents a gd faith agreement that these are the ptins we believe have the best chance f success and we recmmend taking the next steps tward determining and enhancing their technical, ecnmic, and plitical feasibility. The ptins fall under three basic strategies: Develp additinal water strage capacity. We need t develp bth in the shrt and lng term additinal capacity fr string Clumbia River water during winter mnths, fr later use during irrigatin and fish migratin seasns. This strategy includes bth aquifer strage and abve grund strage, primarily in Oregn. While pssible jint investments in large strage sites in Washingtn r Idah culd becme mre viable ver the next year, we are nt recmmending specific actin n thse ptins at this time. Imprve water management. Using water mre efficiently and mre prductively will help us get the mst value in the basin frm the water we have. This strategy includes greater investments in cnservatin practices, ptential transfers f develped water rights, and imprved water transactin mechanisms t mve water between users and uses. Develp a strnger interstate apprach t Clumbia River water. Sme ptins depend upn interstate agreements abut prtecting newly stred r cnserved water as it flws thrugh Washingtn r Idah. We need the institutinal capacity t develp these agreements and explre lnger term pprtunities fr ptential jint investments in State f Washingtn and elsewherein new large (up t 1 millin acre feet) water strage prjects. It is als imprtant t crdinate with discussins related t the Clumbia River Treaty Review. 4

5 Gvernance ging frward Other pprtunities may becme available, and the cnsensus ptins we ve identified may change as new infrmatin becmes available. The current descriptin f these ptins shuld nt preclude flexibility ging frward. T ensure apprpriate fllw up and implementatin f these strategies ging frward, we need the institutinal and staffing capacity fr recmmended Clumbia River planning, water cnservatin, instream and ut f stream water develpment, and interstate agreements. A structured discussin with the apprpriate stakehlder representatin is needed t further develp the lnger term institutinal framewrk and capacity t address these issues and pprtunities, and t fully develp the strategies and ptins recmmended, belw. III. Cnsensus Optins fr Develping Additinal Strage Capacity Testing and Cmpletin f the Stage I Umatilla Basin Aquifer Recvery Prject The State f Oregn has invested $3 millin in the Umatilla Basin, t facilitate the preliminary design, and build ut f the first Clumbia River recharge prject. Remaining wrk is t test recvery and utilizatin f realized alluvial strage capacity, and identify if any additinal strage capacity ver what is currently develped can be develped in the future. Next steps: Umatilla Basin Water Cmmissin is currently wrking with Westland Irrigatin District t develp a cntract fr an initial 8,000 acre feet frm the Aquifer Recvery prject. This initial wrk wuld need t be crdinated with Cnfederated Tribes f the Umatilla Indian Reservatin t ensure cmpatibility with the Tribal Water Rights Settlement discussins. Cntinued discussin f net envirnmental benefit requirements that wuld apply if there is public finance f this prject. This plicy is being addressed n a state wide basis by a wrk grup cnvened by the Gvernr s ffice, thugh the CRUST has taken n psitin n whether it supprts that wrkgrup s cnclusins. A lnger term ptin, building upn the current aquifer recvery prject, is t develp additinal aquifer strage capacity in the regin, up t 100,000 acre feet. 5

6 Time Frame: Shrt term, shuld be implementable within 3 years. Budget Needs: N specific request at this time. Wallwa Lake Dam Repair Summary: The Wallwa Lake Dam is wned by the Assciated Ditch Cmpany and is an ld cncrete dam in pr cnditin. Fr safety reasns, water levels in the lake have been significantly reduced, and repair f the dam culd allw higher lake levels and subsequent release f 4,000 14,000 acre feet f additinal stred water during irrigatin seasn. This prject s strng supprt is based upn the prject s intended purpse t benefit bth in stream habitat fr fish in the Grande Rnde basin as well as prvide additinal water fr irrigatin t Umatilla Basin irrigatrs n a ne fr ne basis as it ultimately flws int the Clumbia River. This prject is a high pririty fr Wallwa Cunty fr fld prtectin purpses, and has been actively pursued and supprted by the Umatilla Cunty Critical Grundwater Task Frce. It is seen as a mdel t shw hw water users in dwnstream regins statewide can wrk with partners in ther cnnected watersheds r ther regins n multi gain prjects. In additin, the instream benefits f this prject can be enhanced thrugh cnservatin investments described in a separate ptin described belw. Next Steps: Agreement frm Assciated Ditch Cmpany t wrk with ther stakehlders, including Umatilla Basin irrigatrs, ther public agencies. Cllabrative prcess t define prject parameters, address fish passage and ther design issues, and identify financing surces. Develp financing package fr repairs, including ptential State bnding authrity and private (irrigatr) cmmitments fr purchase f water. Agreements with the State f Washingtn will be needed t prtect the water, as it flws thrugh Washingtn. Sme additinal study and design wrk, amending r augmenting previus design wrk will likely be needed. Time frame: Relatively shrt term. Assuming successful agreements and financing, cnstructin culd be cmpleted within 5 years. 6

7 Budget Needs: Up t $250,000 fr additinal feasibility wrk. New Juniper Canyn Strage Reservir Summary: A prpsed dam in Juniper Canyn, an intermittent stream apprximately 25 miles nrthwest f Pendletn and ne mile upstream frm the Clumbia River. The ptential strage reservir is estimated at 49,000 acre feet f water, which wuld be pumped frm the Clumbia during winter mnths. Current law requires a 25% net envirnmental benefit if there is public financing invlved. Next Steps: A mre detailed appraisal study f the site is needed. OWRD will cntract fr services with apprpriate technical experts t cmplete this study, cntingent upn available funding. This appraisal wuld include: getechnical evaluatin, hydrlgy evaluatin, envirnmental impact evaluatin, prperty wnership status, histrical preservatin evaluatin, cnceptual design, prject critical path, and ecnmic assessment. The appraisal study, which is what the CRUST is recmmending, prvides initial infrmatin t determine if further cnsideratin is warranted. Additinal analysis wuld be required t determine ultimate feasibility f the prject. Nte: Other ptential strage facilities (either new r expanded) culd be cnsidered, including Carty Reservir, Malheur Dam, and Sand Hllw, depending upn the availability f funds, r if the result f the appraisal study f Juniper Canyn, which is currently seen as the preferred ptin amng these strage sites, is negative. Time Frame: Lng term cnstructin wuld be 5 10 years ut. Appraisal study culd be cmpleted within ne year. Budget Needs: Additinal feasibility wrk. Estimate is fr $250,000, based upn experience f Washingtn s Clumbia River Prgram appraisal studies. 7

8 IV. Cnsensus ptins fr Imprving Water Management Leasing Unused Develped Washingtn Water Rights Summary: The Prt f Walla Walla has apprximately 4700 acre feet wrth f fullydevelped water rights that it has temprarily leased t the Washingtn Trust Water Rights Prgram. Currently, abut 1500 acre feet f thse rights culd be leased at an estimated $105 per acre ft t stay in stream and then used as mitigatin fr acquiring Oregn time limited water rights fr Clumbia River withdrawal. (Additinal amunts may becme available ver time.) The rights wuld be temprary fr up t 8 years, with the ptential t interrupt their availability. This ptin has been discussed with the Washingtn Plicy Advisry Grup which supprts mving frward t a frmal prpsal. It has been cnfirmed by Washingtn s Department f Eclgy that these rights were nt purchased by BPA fr meeting Bi p instream cmmitments, which means that they are eligible t be used fr mitigatin purpses. Use f these water rights is nt subject t the requirement f Washingtn s Clumbia River prgram that ne third f the stred water be used instream. There may be additinal pprtunities beynd the Prt f Walla Walla rights. Fr example, there are additinal water rights n the Jhn Day Pl, held by the Klickitat P.U.D. The P.U.D has indicated an interest in pssible leasing r marketing f thse rights thrugh the Washingtn Trust Water Rights prgram, thugh it is currently unclear hw thse rights might be used as mitigatin. Wrking thrugh the Washingtn Trust Water Rights prgram water culd pssibly result in additinal water fr use in Oregn. Next Steps: Cntinued discussin with State f Washingtn and their Trust Water Rights Prgram t wrk thrugh details f a lease. Determinatin by Oregn Water Resurces Department what type f temprary permit r lease wuld be issued n the Oregn side, using the Washingtn rights as mitigatin The marketing f these rights t Oregn water users, and the develpment f agreements fr leasing. Once ptential lessees are identified, the develpment f a master lease with the Washingtn Trust Water Rights prgram n a temprary basis. Time Frame: Shrt term, culd be dne within 1year. 8

9 Budget Needs: Nne at this time. Pilt Transactin fr a prpsed Umatilla Basin Water Bank and Brkerage Summary: Cnduct and analyze a mdel transactin (using current law and rules) during the 2013 irrigatin seasn that represents a type f transactin that culd be facilitated thrugh a water bank, which wuld be intended t facilitate transactins in an effective, time sensitive manner. The pilt wuld be administered by the Umatilla Basin Water Cmmissin r ther entity, and wuld be subject t existing legal requirements.. Next Steps: Umatilla Basin Water Cmmissin t identify and get apprvals fr pilt water transactin r transactins. Cnduct transactins fr 2013 seasn. Have grup f stakehlders, including OWRD, cnservatins interests, irrigatrs, review the results Building upn the pilt transactin(s), cnvene a brader stakehlder grup t cntinue discussins n whether a water bank shuld be develped. Time Frame: Shrt Term, the pilt transactin culd be accmplished in Budget Needs: Nne. Water Cnservatin investments in Wallwa Basin Summary: Water cnservatin measures related t agricultural use in the Wallwa basin, and ptentially ther parts f the Grand Rnde basin, might prvide additinal water fr bth eclgical flws and ptential irrigatin in the Umatilla Basin. There may be sme additinal cnservatin investments in the Umatilla Basin as well, but it appears there may be greater pprtunity in the Wallwa Basin and larger Grand Rnde basin, which may nt have as many new cmpeting needs fr water. Additinal water in these basins wuld als prvide mre stream miles with fish flw benefits. The ttal vlume saved is unknwn. The Wallwa Sil and Water Cnservatin district has a current cnservatin prgram which is studying target watersheds. This ptin wuld be subject t the Oregn Cnserved Water Law, which wuld require a percentage f the water t be saved in stream. It wuld enhance the instream flw benefits related t the Wallwa Dam Repair prject, described abve. Next Steps: Cmpletin f the target watershed analysis by Wallwa Cunty SWCD 9

10 Discussins with Wallwa SWCD, Wallwa Cunty, Freshwater Trust, and OWRD t determine ptential investments, savings, and subsequent ut fstream uses. Agreements with the State f Washingtn will be needed t prtect the flw f water, as it flws int the Snake and Clumbia Rivers, in Washingtn. Time Frame: Shrt term culd be cmpleted in 1 3 years. Budget Needs: $200,000 $400,000 fr matching funds t cmplete water cnservatin prjects V. Cnsensus actins fr develping a strnger interstate apprach t Clumbia River water Agreements with State f Washingtn (and/r Idah) t prtect water cnserved r stred in Oregn Summary: Water newly cnserved r stred in Oregn (see: Wallwa Dam and Wallwa Basin Cnservatin ptins) which flws thrugh Idah and Washingtn prir t becming available t the Umatilla Basin runs the risk f being apprpriated by Washingtn irrigatrs, thus erasing any benefit t Oregn users. Recent discussins with the Clumbia River Plicy Advisry Grup in Washingtn indicate their interest in wrking ut an agreement t prtect that water as it flws thrugh Washingtn. Next steps: Further discussin with State f Washingtn Plicy Advisry Grup. Develp interstate agreement. Time Frame: Shrt term, shuld be implementable within 2 years. Budget Needs: Funding fr interstate plicy psitin t help negtiate this agreement 10

11 Interstate discussins n ptential jint investments r jint utilizatin f water strage sites. Summary: Several f the ptins cnsidered by the C.R.U.S.T. invlve jint investment in large (1 millin acre feet plus) water strage sites fr winter strage and release during irrigatin seasn. There are ptential sites being studied in Washingtn as well as Idah. In additin, there are ther pprtunities related t Canadian water and the Clumbia River Treaty. *Mst f the discussin f the CRUST fcused n partnership with the State f Washingtn. Nne f the ptential Washingtn strage sites were ranked as cnsensus ptins fr mving ahead at this time, in large part because f ecnmic and envirnmental feasibility cncerns. All are in the appraisal level analysis stage, s mre infrmatin may becme available. In additin there have been recent vertures frm the State f Idah that the CRUST has neither discussed nr evaluated. Canadian water ptins were als nt listed r ranked, thugh there are currently n ging discussins explring this pssibility, bth within and utside f the Canada Treaty discussins. The State f Washingtn has indicated the physical layut f the Crab Creek site in Washingtn may be altered and subject t a new appraisal study in 2013, with a new design that they believe culd significantly reduce the ftprint and related envirnmental mitigatin issues. The State f Idah is ding preliminary gelgic testing f a prpsed Weiser River strage site, and this als shuld be cmpleted in Next steps: Cntinue discussins with Washingtn and Idah regarding the appraisal wrk being cnducted n ptential new strage sites. Further explre their interest in ptential jint investments and utilizatin. Depending upn the results f these r future preliminary studies, Oregn may cnsider jining ne r bth states in prpsing t Cngress authrizatin fr a mre cmplete feasibility analysis. Such a feasibility analysis wuld invlve State matching funds. Time Frame: Very lng term, culd take years fr cmpletin. Budget Needs: Funding fr interstate plicy psitin (see belw) 11

12 Develp Oregn institutinal capacity and staffing t pursue reginal agreements and ptential interstate investments in water develpment prjects. Summary: Oregn needs t prvide staffing t implement the cnsensus actins describe in parts III, IV, and V f this Declaratin. Fr 2013, a minimum f ne new senir level psitin shuld be funded in the OWRD budget t begin building this capacity, and additinal supprt is desirable. Fr the lnger term, the Gvernr s Natural Resurces ffice will cnvene a wrk grup ver the interim t detail the apprpriate structure and elements f a statewide prgram f new water strage, cnservatin, utilizatin, and instream flw prtectins and augmentatin. That effrt will include an advisry bard made up f apprpriate stakehlders. Next steps: Oregn 2013 Legislative sessin budget apprval Develp prgram gals and psitin descriptin. Structured stakehlder discussin thrugh the Gvernr s Office, t develp the lnger term institutinal framewrk fr multi use water develpment Time Frame: Shrt term, shuld be implementable this next biennium. Budget Needs: Funding fr psitins VI. Other Optins Cnsidered by the Clumbia River Umatilla Slutins Taskfrce. The Slutins Taskfrce identified an initial list f 29 different ptins, trying t be as inclusive as pssible, s that any pprtunities fr mutual gain were cnsidered. Thse ptins fr which there was cnsensus t mve frward are listed abve and we recmmend fcusing ur effrts n thse ptins at this time. Other ptins, listed belw, were cnsidered but fr varius reasns there was nt cnsensus t mve frward with them. T keep the fcus n the cnsensus agenda and give it the best chance fr success, we jintly agree nt t develp r supprt legislatin in the 2013 Legislative Sessin that wuld prmte spring and summer Clumbia River withdrawals, r any f the ptins listed belw. 12

13 Prviding access t Clumbia River water in spring and summer but nly when flws exceed bilgical target flws fr fish. Cnstructin f new reservir n Suth Frk Umatilla River Cnstructin f new reservir n Bear Creek Expansin f Cld Springs Reservir Expansin f McKay Dam and Reservir Managing Clumbia River t increase flw in the Spring and Summer Additinal draw dwn f Lake Rsevelt Revised Management f Run f River Reservirs, including additinal withdrawals in spring and summer Evaluate peratin f Jhn Day Pl at Minimum Operating Pl, r reduced levels in rder t increase velcity f water flw in Spring and Summer Washingtn State large strage site candidates: Crab Creek (at currently prpsed ftprint), Ninemile Flat, and Gse Lake. Washingtn investment in Oregn Strage Optins Washingtn cnservatin prjects Washingtn aquifer strage VII. Gvernance recmmendatins ging frward: Hw we will g abut getting things dne. We agree n the fllwing institutinal framewrk fr hw we will g abut n ging cllabratin, prject planning, and implementatin f pririty slutins. We als believe there are relatively shrt term actin steps pssible that shuld be fllwed up immediately t bth prduce near term tangible results, and imprtantly als help strengthen cllabrative relatinships ging frward. Hwever, ther pprtunities may becme available, and the cnsensus ptins we ve identified may change as new infrmatin becmes available. The identificatin f these ptins shuld nt preclude flexibility f these effrts ging frward. A. Oregn needs t prvide staffing t implement the cnsensus actins describe in parts III, IV, and V f this Declaratin. Fr 2013, a minimum f ne new senir level psitin shuld be funded in the OWRD budget t begin building this capacity, and additinal supprt is desirable. 13

14 B. Fr the lnger term, the Gvernr s Natural Resurces ffice will cnvene a wrk grup ver the interim t detail the apprpriate structure and elements f a statewide OWRD prgram f new water strage, cnservatin, utilizatin, and instream flw prtectins and augmentatin. That effrt will include an advisry bard made up f apprpriate stakehlders. C. The Clumbia River Umatilla Slutins Taskfrce may be cnvened as needed during the 2013 Legislative Sessin. It will als meet subsequent t the 2013 Legislative sessin in the early fall f 2013, t review prgress n the wrkplan and cnsensus ptins, and revise any agreements as necessary. Once Executive r Legislative actin is taken n the recmmendatins fr lng term institutinal capacity, it is envisined the CRUST will be replaced by an advisry grup as nted abve. D. Wallwa Dam Oregn Slutins team A newly cnfigured grup f stakehlders will be cnvened t wrk specifically n the Wallwa Dam prject, beginning in early VIII. Budget needed t supprt the cnsensus ptins and gvernance recmmendatins ( ). OWRD Staff Psitin and supprt fr Interstate/Clumbia related effrts $250,000 - $400,000 Feasibility and Design Wrk fr Strage $500,000 Wallwa Dam Juniper Canyn Other sites as funds are available Initially appraisal level wrk will be cmpleted that will identify any fatal flaws that can put prjects n hld r eliminate them frm further cnsideratin. Additinally, these appraisal level investigatins are intended t analyze elements f the prjects t a pint that wrk plans, timelines and cst estimates fr cmprehensive feasibility wrk can be prepared and feasibility investigative wrk can be implemented. Als included will be varius cnstructin alternatives, general estimates fr cst f the varius cnstructin alternatives, and a list f the varius elements f the prjects that require 14

15 cmprehensive feasibility analysis. If appraisal wrk indicates prpsed prjects warrant additinal study, t the extent resurces are available feasibility studies will be fundedd that will prvide the infrmatin needed fr prject implementatin While there will need t be financing mechanisms fr ultimate cnstructin f strage ptins (and ptentially ther ptins, the amunt, nature, and cnditins f this financing have nt been agreed upn by the Slutins Task Frce. Matching funds fr Additinal Water Cnservatin $200,000-$400,000 IX. Declaratin This Declaratin f Cperatin, while nt a binding legal cntract, is evidence t and a statement f the gd faith and cmmitment f the undersigned parties. The undersigned parties t this Declaratin f Cperatin have, thrugh a cllabrative prcess, agreed and pledge their cperatin t the abve findings and actins: Gvernr f Oregn Gvernrs Natural Resurce Advisr Umatillaa Cunty Cmmissin _ American Rivers Oregn Water Resurces Department Hale Cmpanies Bnneville Pwer Administratin 15

16 Cnfederated Tribes f the Umatillaa Indian Reservatin The Freshwater Trust Oregn ffice f the NW Pwer and Cns.Cuncil Oregn Department f Agriculture Blue Muntain Cmmunity Cllege Oregn Department f Fish and Wildlife Prt f Mrrw OSU Cllege f Agricultural Sciences Umatilla Electric C p US Bureau f Reclamatin Umatilla Basin Water Cmmissin Washingtn Department f Eclgy Windy River Farms Water Watch f Oregn 16