Dear Friend, In February we urged you to speak in support of SB 427, a bill that would safeguard streamflows in water right transfers, and you came through! Today we're asking for your support for SB 1153, a similar bill that would ensure fish and water quality are not harmed in water right transfers. The problem SB 1153 seeks to fix: Under current law, the state can approve water right transfers without considering impacts to streamflows and the fish and water quality they support. Senate Bill 1153 will close this harmful regulatory loophole in Oregon's water transfer laws that allow old water rights to serve new uses, move to new diversion points, or change the place of use without any environmental review. This loophole effectively nullifies Oregon's ability to protect instream values on hundreds of streams across the state. Now is the time to close this dangerous loophole and keep our rivers from further harm. SB 1153 does this! Please support SB 1153: The bill would require the state to ensure fish and water quality are not harmed when reviewing proposed water right changes. We need your testimony in support of SB 1153 NOW so it's considered as part of a hearing on the bill this Tuesday, March 25th. This aim of SB 1153 is to solve the same problem as SB 427, brought by the Oregon Water Partnership (OWP) that WaterWatch of Oregon is a member of, which saw over 300 supportive testimonies submitted by enthusiastic Oregonians. Let's do the same here! PLEASE ACT NOW! The public hearing for SB 1153 is this TUESDAY, March 25th, at 1 p.m. Written testimony can be submitted up to 48 hours after the start of the hearing, so you have until Thursday, March 27th, at 1 p.m. to submit your comments — but the sooner you can submit them, the better. Submit your testimony in support of SB 1153 TODAY. Here's how: - Go to the Oregon State Legislature Written Testimony Submission form.
- Fill in your information, including your name, email, and address.
- Regarding the "on behalf of" box, either skip it or put an identifying title in it (e.g., river enthusiast, business owner, rafter, angler, farmer, member of the public, etc.).
- Select "support" (it's the third option).
- Upload your testimony or paste it into the text box.
- Click "submit testimony" at the bottom left corner, and you're done!
Tips for Testimony: Keep your testimony simple and clear, and make sure you clearly state you SUPPORT SB 1153. You may also want to add personal statements about why rivers are important to you and family. NOTE: Testimony will be visible on the public record. Suggested Messaging: Keep your message simple and to the point. You're welcome to copy and paste the message below, but consider enhancing it with your personal experiences about the value of healthy streams. Adding relatable "customization" strengthens your message and makes it more relatable. Sample Testimony (feel free to copy and paste): Dear Chair Golden, Vice Chair Nash, and Members of the Committee, I support Senate Bill 1153. For far too long, an outdated loophole in Oregon law has allowed the Oregon Water Resources Department to approve applications for water right transfers without adequate consideration of whether the change will harm fish and wildlife or water quality. Senate Bill 1153 ensures that fish and wildlife and water quality will be protected in water right transfers. This fix closes a dangerous loophole and brings modern environmental values into Oregon's outdated water right transfer review process. I urge you to support SB 1153. Sincerely, (your name) Thank you for your time, and thank you for supporting Oregon's rivers by speaking up for SB 1153! For rivers and fish, The WaterWatch of Oregon Team | 
