Last modified: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:24 AM PDT Future of water takes center stage By Larry Meyer Argus Observer ONTARIO — Quietly, and with little fanfare, the future use of water across the region and the West has evolved into a critical issue, and, while some states are locked in numerous skirmishes regarding where to find the wet stuff and how to secure it for the future, Oregon appears to be focused on maintaining its existing water supplies within the state. Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s water strategy, still in a draft form, focuses on protecting and improving water quality, developing more efficient water use and better conservation measures in an effort to find more ways to store water and balancing beneficial water uses with the need to protect ecosystems.                                                                                           The governor’s plan, though, outlines some key challenges to securing a future water supply. Protecting groundwater, securing adequate in-stream flow for fish, and wildlife, developing and capturing available winter water, using conservation, and preventing toxins from reaching water supplies and securing additional staff and resources to implement the strategies are some of the problems outlined in the draft plan. For local state lawmaker Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, the governor’s plan also sparks questions regarding cost and regulation. “There will be a lot more state involvement in how you are using water. We’re not enthused about that,” he said. Funding is also a lingering question, Bentz said. “Will there be this kind of money to pay for it?” Bentz asked. Bentz said the total cost of the state water blueprint is estimated at more than $100 million. He also said he is concerned the governor’s proposal spreads management of water over several departments, instead of keeping it within one, making it easy to have duplication. “I wish there had been more of an emphasis on protecting existing water rights,” Bentz said. The discussion needs to start on the existing conditions — water rights and all the good things are already in place regarding water, Bentz said. A round-table discussion regarding water will be held in Ontario Oct. 2, Bentz said. As the West rapidly begins to drain its existing water supplies, some have advocated states, such as Oregon, should work out a plan to transfer its water to areas grappling with drought or other harsh conditions. The idea, though, to ship water south is not new. Owyhee Irrigation District Manager Jay Chamberlin said a detailed plan existed in 1967 to transfer water from Oregon to Nevada and California. Chamberlin said he had  one person come to his office to ask about the process for transferring water rights from Oregon to Idaho. “We need some sort of water plan,”  Chamberlin said.