Bundle home & auto to save $$.
The Cottage Grove
$1.00
entinel
Friday, November 17, 2023
Officials: Permitting must change to keep wells from going dry
Klamath County has struggled with persistent drought and lawmakers have directed millions to residents who have had their wells dry up. (Courtesy of the governor’s office) By Alex Baumhardt Oregon Capital Chronicle
TODAY’S EDITION
The Oregon Water Resources Department must update its 68-yearold rules for permitting new wells or double down on regulating existing ones, department officials said. If it doesn’t, the growing problem of the state’s depleted groundwater reserves “is going to get very expensive,” said department director Doug Woodcock. Many of Oregon’s 20 groundwater basins are being sucked dry faster than water can naturally be replaced, according to the agency. This is an issue across the West, where drought, river diversions and groundwater depletion have left parts of seven states scrambling to ration what water is available to them from the Colorado River Basin. Woodcock presented updates to Oregon’s groundwater permitting laws at a hearing last week by the Oregon House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water. The agency – with input from farmers, environmental groups and well owners – has worked for more than a year on proposed rule changes that would bring Oregon water permitting laws up to date. Most importantly, the agency is attempting to define a “stable level” of groundwater and has committed to withholding new water rights in areas where the level is not deemed stable. Not everyone is happy. Some farmers and the water districts that serve them fear it’s a moratorium on all new groundwater allocations around the state. Mark Landauer, a lob-
Obituaries — A2 Opinion — A4 Sports — B1 Classifieds — B4-5
byist for the Special Districts Association of Oregon, said the state water agency’s proposed changes are too broad. “We believe that we should be looking at basin-specific rules rather than this one-size-fitsall approach,” he said. State Reps. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, and Mark Owens, R-Crane, tried earlier this year to do just that. The lawmakers proposed a bill that would direct the state water resources department to stop issuing any new water rights until officials could provide an inventory of how much groundwater was left in each of the state’s 20 basins. The bill died in committee but set the stage for many of the changes the water resources department is proposing. Oregon’s 1955 Groundwater Act requires the state to maintain stable levels of groundwater but does not define what a stable level is. The new rules would define stability as maintaining spring water levels year over year. The water level after a winter recharge period and before summer irrigation should return to about the level it was the year before. “So we’ll pump down groundwater systems in the summertime, but we always want those to come back up after the wet season,” said Justin Iverson, a groundwater manager at the water agency. New wells could not be permitted if they were found to diminish the quantity of surface water and instream water needed by the senior water rights holders. Iverson said if permitting rules don’t change, it’s possible up to 50,000 Oregon wells that are 50 feet below See WELLS page 2A
Number 46 • 134 years
Get an insurance plan —not just a policy.
(541) 942-0555 MMANorthwest.com
Pleasant with a blend of sun and clouds with a high of 61 and a low of 46. See more weather on Page 4A. Serving the communities of Cottage Grove and Creswell
Breya Middleton’s cancer battle continues By Cindy Weeldreyer Sentinel Community Reporter COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. — The Middletons are your typical American family. Scott and Amanda are two hard-working parents raising two fun-loving daughters, sixteen-yearold Kylee and five-year-old Breya. Prior to last May, Amanda loved her job working in the Harrison Elementary School cafeteria. Scott went to work every day at Starfire Lumber Company. Both grew up in Cottage Grove then, moved away and came back again – Amanda returned in 1999 and Scott in 2003. Amanda attended Al Kennedy High School then earned her GED at Lane Community College. Scott
earned his GED while living in California. In November of 2005, Amanda, 18, and Scott, 20, began a phone friendship that, seven-months later, evolved into a committed relationship and loving family that endeavors to this day. Their daughter, Kylee is a sophomore cheerleader at Cottage Grove High School and Breya attends kindergarten at Harrison Elementary. At the begin-
ning of the school year, Amanda asked Breya if she had made any new friends and she responded, “My whole class is my friend.” According to her Mom, Kylee is the “brains” of the family and Breya is a typical second child. The five-year-old has no fear and is willing to do new things and offers to help others when needed. She likes to play with her friends. She loves art and anything that might
make a big mess. She likes playing with her toys and reading books. She loves babies the most – both her dolls and other people’s newborns. Amanda said, “Breya is smart and learns things quickly. If you need help carrying something she would be right there. She’s always had a big heart and loves others in big ways. Her memory is phenomenal! Don’t make promises you can’t keep because she will remind you.” Kylee and Breya have the typical big sis, little sis relationship. They sometimes squabble, especially when Breya gets into Kylee’s makeup. “Kylee is pretty patient for the most part, but I hear, ‘Mom, come get your kid.’ at least twice a week,” Amanda said. See CANCER page 3A
PeaceHealth’s inpatient rehab unit to relocate to RiverBend With these services provided at RiverBend, the University District hospital tower will close on Dec. 15.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — PeaceHealth announced today that its inpatient rehabilitation unit at University District in Eugene will relocate to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield on Dec. 15. PeaceHealth is taking this step after announcing in August the start of a comprehensive process to close the underutilized University District hospital. After the closure of the emergency department at University District at 7 a.m. on Dec. 1, the inpatient rehabilitation unit will be the only service remaining at the hospi-
tal until the unit moves to RiverBend on Dec. 15. Following the unit’s relocation to RiverBend, the hospital tower at University District will close. All PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics on the west side of Hilyard Street and the outpatient rehabilitation clinic, plus the inpatient behavioral health unit on the corner of Alder
Street and 11th Avenue, will remain open and serving patients. Oregon Rehabilitation Center, PeaceHealth’s inpatient rehabilitation unit, serves adults recovering from such conditions as stroke, neurological disease, or brain or spinal cord injuries. The center will operate temporarily at RiverBend until the state-
of-the-art, 50-bed rehabilitation hospital PeaceHealth is developing with Lifepoint opens in 2026. “PeaceHealth is deeply committed to Lane County and we remain focused on providing safe, highquality and compassionate care for all in the region,” said Dr. Jim McGovern, interim chief executive for PeaceHealth Oregon network. “We are proud of our Oregon Rehabilitation Center caregivers who make such a difference in the lives of our patients who are recovering from illness or injury. We celebrate their recent national recognition and See REHAB page 3A
Creswell Winter Lights event with silent auction held Dec. 9 CRESWELL, Ore. — The Creswell Chamber of Commerce Board is excited to host the annual Creswell Winter Lights event on Saturday, December 9. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there with children’s activities, music in the street, a light parade, a vendor market, and hot cocoa and cookies in various locations downtown. The Light Parade on Oregon Ave begins at 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. A Vendor Market with both handmade goods and direct sales businesses will be open from 10 a.m. to 7
541- 942-3325 ph | 541-942-3328 fax 1498 E. Main Street, STE 104 P.O. Box 35 Cottage Grove, OR 97424
p.m. Sign up to be in t h e parade here: https://tinyurl.com/5e9wh87h. Their vendor marketplace is full. Vendors include: Tiffanie’s Scentsy, Christys Creations 73, Tiny Babe Co., Thats Sew Q Reusable Produce Bags, Tarra K Creates, Scotch, Rocks Leather, Nuts 4 Life, Country Girls Resin, Sienna’s Crafts, Amanda Klitz-
ke, Sudsy S a s quatch, D e b ’s Unique C r e ations, Ambers Lovely Loveys, Mike and Layna, Brooks Homemade Creations, and Mirandys Design. Festivities include: • Holiday Market 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Vendors, Gifts, Food, and Crafts, at the Community Center, 99 S. 1st St. • Photos with Santa 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the
Community Center, 99 S. 1st St. • Light Parade w/Santa, Cider & Cookies, and More! 5-7pm, Where: 1st Street & Oregon Ave. • Christmas Tree Silent Auction benefits Creswell First, 10 a.m. to 7p.m., at Masonic Lodge, 73 C St. • Creswell Grange Vendor Marketplace, 10 a.m. to 7p.m., at Creswell Grange, 274 W Oregon Ave. View the Winter Lights website for more details: https://tinyurl.com/ ctwmnwdt
Cottage Grove Sentinel Follow us for the latest news: 2 Sections | 12 Pages @CGSentinel Copyright 2023 CGSentinel.com
Joe Piscopo Plumbing