SMS Summary: The measure prohibits the approval of water right transfer applications that result in a loss of in-stream habitat for sensitive, threatened, or endangered aquatic species in certain stream reaches or contribute to water quality impairment in certain streams. The measure also allows federally recognized Tribes to elect to review water right transfer applications in specific counties and provide information on the applications to the Water Resources Department.
Transcript:
Good afternoon. My name is Ryan Krabill, and I am here on behalf of the Oregon Farm Bureau, which represents over 6,500 family farms and ranches across the state. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony today.
I am here to express strong opposition to SB 1153.
For what it’s worth, I’m struggling to reconcile the competing claims that this bill simultaneously maintains the status quo yet implements overdue reforms.
SB 1153 is a solution in search of a problem. There are indeed serious water management challenges that demand thoughtful policy—the 135% water user fee increase in HB 2803, persistent agency accountability issues, and a permit review process that takes years, not months. But SB 1153 does nothing to address those concerns and it stands to reason that it will make the situation worse while simultaneously claiming that it is “modernizing” a broken system.
Furthermore, SB 1153 was developed without input from the agricultural community. Even today, on the day of this hearing, no promised amendment has been made available—draft or otherwise. If the goal was to sideline stakeholders, create redundant red-tape, introduce disproportionate risk of litigation to responsible water users, paralyze our waters and undermine Oregon’s working lands along the journey, this bill accomplishes exactly that.
In closing, I urge this committee to elevate the voices of Scio over San Francisco and Nyssa over New York. SB 1153 is unnecessary, redundant, and actively counterproductive. It erodes trust in the policymaking process and would paralyze water flexibility that is the lifeblood and foundation for all of us, but especially family farms and ranches that have been the backbone of Oregon’s agricultural economy for generations.
I respectfully ask the committee to reject this proposal and instead work with Oregon’s farmers and ranchers on practical, science-based solutions that protect water resources while supporting the people who steward the land every day.
Thank you for your time. I am happy to answer any questions.