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Blog commentary: Columbia River water next export to California (?)

Posted by: Maven on December 12, 2009 at 9:09 am

columbia river gorgeFrom Oregon Catalyst:

“Speculation is high that Oregon has, for the first time, begun formal exploration into the feasibility of sending surplus water from the Columbia River south to thirsty California. The success of the recently announced giant wind farm has water export proponents salivating at the chance to tap just a small portion of the average 265,000 cubic feet of water per second that slips by Oregon, unused but for power generation, fish habitat and limited shipping.

Closed-door sessions have been held privately in recent months to discuss the very future of the Columbia River as we know it today. People have been asking for Oregon’s water for a long time. In 1990 Kenneth Hahn, an LA County Supervisor, formally requested water from Oregon via pipe to offset the severe water shortages they were experiencing. Then governor Neil Goldschmidt said no to the request, as did then Washington governor Booth Gardner.

Oh, how times have changed. With Oregon now leading the way in green power exports with the proposed Shepherds’ Flat Wind Farm, many around the state see the opportunity to export water as the next logical export. … “

Read more of this blog commentary from the Oregon Catalyst by clicking here.

Picture of Columbia River Gorge by flickr photographer WSK 2005.

December 12, 2009 · Filed Under Weird & Wacky Water News

Comments

2 Responses to “Blog commentary: Columbia River water next export to California (?)”

  1. dfb on December 12th, 2009 2:47 pm

    This has as little chance as tapping the Klamath – zilch. First, the price tag would be astronomical. How much are we talking about just for the peripheral canal? Ten billion? The money would be better spent on desal and local reclamation. Second, it will take too much power to move that water. It will dwarf amount of power used to pump SWP water over the Tehachapis and take a good chunk of the power we already get from Oregon. Third, Oregonians would soundly reject it at the ballot box on principle alone.

  2. rick on September 3rd, 2010 10:15 pm

    could it be done by building underground pipeing along the coastline to the s.f. bay area. how about shipping the water in like we do with oil or rail it in by train in the oil tankers.

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