Can you rally the White Water Community? This is critical. Please pass this message on to all of your paddling brethren in and out of Oregon.
At 2:00 p.m. today Governor Kulongoski meets with a representative from Treasurer Edwards’ Navigability Workgroup to discuss his possible veto of Senate Bill 928. There is no guarantee the Governor will veto SB 928 in spite of what he said at the June 10 State Land Board Meeting.
He may still sign the bill even if it violates one or more of the four principles he put forth. This is politics. Take nothing for granted. We must keep up the pressure.
Call the Governors’ office before 2:00 pm today. Remind him he gave his word to all Oregonians during the June 10 State Land Board meeting. It is imperative that you call before 2:00 because at that time he will be asked to commit one way or the other on this bill. If he says he will sign SB 928, it will most likely pass.
Do not email! You must call to have an impact. Call before 2:00 p.m. today. The fate of this bill will be decided today.
Ted Kulongoski
Governor of Oregon
Phone: (503) 378-4582
Fax: (503) 378-6827
160 State Capitol
900 Court Street
Salem, Oregon 97301-4047
Email: http://governor.oregon.gov/contact.htm
The Governor stated he would not support a bill that did not meet four criteria:
First, the bill must provide clarity and certainty. Senate Bill 928 will only further muddy the waters with a set of unique regulation for one river. It also sets the stage for property owners along other rivers to create their own set of unique rules as well.
Second, the bill must clarify status quo regarding the publics right to use a stream and the submerged and submersible land up to the high water mark. SB 928 has a provision that will exclude the public from almost the entire streambed at times of lower water flows — the public and only use the land a scant 10 feet above the wet water line.
Third, the bill must move toward a realistic and long-lasting solution on a statewide basis by providing a pilot program. SB 928 would allow property owns, not the state to develop rules on a stream-by-stream, case-by-case basis. This will only further add to confusion uncertainty.
Fourth, the bill must not include any moratorium on any other navigability study in Oregon. SB 928 has a loophole in that will allow the management plan process to be applied to other rivers in lieu of a navigability study.
Call the Governor today. Remind him of his promise… especially the ten-foot rule issue. Insist that he veto the bill if it does not conform to the standards he put forth.
THIS IS URGENT.