State Mandates Meters for Landowners with Water Rights
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C M C M Y K Y K TIME FOR DISTRICT ALABAMA BOY RESCUED Pirates, Bulldogs compete this week, B1 Kidnapper killed after six-day standoff, A6 Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013 theworldlink.com I 75¢ The meter is running No need to clean house I Lehman looks to sharpen rather than reshape ORCCA BY TIM NOVOTNY The World COOS BAY — Oregon Coast Community Action has had its share of controversy, but its new leader says the organization is achieving great things and doesn’t need major change. Mike Lehman has been working in a challenging position as human resources director for Coos County and says he leaves reluctantly. But the ORCCA opportunity was too good to pass up. “Pure and simple, it was the challenge of working for a great organization that does great things for our communi- By Thomas Moriarty, The World ty,” Lehman said Water2013dWor The5, l Thomas , yb. eByF t Morar i moves slowly along the South Fork Coos River on Monday afternoon. Landowners who use or border on natural water sources such as the Coos River are being Monday. “From required by the Oregon Water Resources Department to meter their usage. Head Start to CASA to the food banks, I just like what they do.” He has had a Mike Lehman varied career in ORCCA director State mandates meters for some challenging roles, including the state Legislature and the Coos County Airport Board. But he says he was not brought in to make sweeping changes. landowners with water rights The challenges are not over- whelming, he said, despite some high-profile controversies. His predecessor, Mary Schoen-Clark, BY THOMAS MORIARTY “We’re pretty firm on the requirement to divided and sold off. “We match the location endured bruising disputes with The World actually install the meter,”Lewis said, but the where use is allowed with nearby property.” food banks and criticism of department is willing to work with landown- Caldwell said some of her friends already ORCCA’s leadership before resign- COQUILLE — If you hold a water right, or if ers on time and cost issues. “They can still get had a meter on their property and hadn’t ing last year. your property borders one, you may have back to me to work something out.” received the letters. “Fundamentally, this organiza- received an unpleasant surprise recently. Under Oregon law, all water sources are “Newer water rights within the last 20 years tion works pretty well,” he said. The Oregon Water Resources Department considered public property. Any diversion or so include language about metering,”Lewis “They don’t need me wandering in has been sending letters to landowners, requires the issuance of a water right. Lewis, explained. Many of the properties on or near with any great solutions. We just demanding they install metering devices to who covers Coos, Curry and Douglas counties, these newer water rights have been sold with want to work on doing what we do monitor water diversion. The meters generally is responsible for about 260 water rights. meters already installed. well now. I don’t come in with this cost between $100 and $400, and they’re Delores Caldwell of Coos Bay is one of the For the moment, watermasters are more big housecleaning agenda.” required even if landowners aren’t using residents who recently received letters. Cald- concerned with putting meters in place than Three primary challenges await water. well said she has no water right on her Daniels with collecting regular flow reports. his attention after he takes over “It’s basically a statewide program that Creek Road property. “We can’t force landowners to physically we’re working on,”said District 19 Watermas- “Our stream just flows in from BLM land,” report their water usage at the end of the year,” ter Mitch Lewis. Lewis, who overseas water she said. Lewis said. “But there have been several ses- SEE LEHMAN | A8 resources in Coos, Curry and Douglas coun- Since she was neither holding nor exercis- sions now in a row where the Legislature has ties, said the state has long had the power to ing a water right, the letter mystified her. pushed for an across-the-board requirement.” require metering of water rights. In recent “The water rights carry the name of the Reporter Thomas Moriarty can be reached at years, the Oregon Water Resources Commis- original applicant,” Lewis explained. In the 541-269-1222, ext. 240, or by email at sion has been increasing its efforts to monitor case of older water rights, the owner often is [email protected]. Follow Stolen water usage. deceased, and the original property has been him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. taxi leads Effort builds to chase, to change U.S. arrest marijuana laws THE WORLD GOLD BEACH — An 18-year- old man was lodged in the Curry County jail after leading Curry permit. Oversight of marijuana BY GENE JOHNSON County sheriff’s deputies on a would be removed from the Drug The Associated Press chase north on U.S. Highway 101 Enforcement Administration and in a stolen van. SEATTLE — An effort is build- given to the newly renamed Cody Pettit is charged with ing in Congress to change U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Mar- first-degree robbery, attempt to marijuana laws, including moves ijuana and Firearms, and it would elude by vehicle, unlawful posses- to legalize the indus- remain illegal to bring The Associated Press sion of methamphetamine, reck- trial production of marijuana from a Jake Dimmock, co-owner of the Northwest Patient Resource Center medical mari- less driving, second-degree crimi- hemp and establish a state where it’s legal juana dispensary, works with flowering plants in a grow room in Seattle. “It’s past time nal mischief, two counts of men- hefty federal pot tax. to one where it isn’t. Congressional lawmakers from both parties are working to change U.S. marijuana acing, five counts of harassment, While passage this for us to step The bill is based on laws, including altering tax codes to let marijuana dispensaries deduct business reckless endangering, theft of year could be a long- a legalization meas- expenses on federal taxes. services, unauthorized use of a shot, lawmakers from in and try to ure previously motor vehicle and coercion. both parties have pushed by former sort this stuff n’t yet have an estimate of how federal pot prohibition, Blume- Deputies arrested Pettit after a been quietly working Reps. Barney Frank of much the taxes might bring in. nauer said. chase following the theft of a van on several bills, the out. Massachusetts and ” But a policy paper Blumenauer Washington state officials have from a 412 Taxi driver near Brook- first of which Democ- Ron Paul of Texas. and Polis are releasing this week estimated that its legal marijuana ings. ratic Reps. Earl Blu- U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer Blumenauer’s bill suggests, based on admittedly market could bring in about half a The driver had driven Pettit to menauer of Oregon Oregon, Democrat would create a federal vague estimates, that a federal tax billion dollars a year in state taxes. Eureka, Calif., and returned him to and Jared Polis of Col- marijuana excise tax of $50 per ounce could raise $20 “You folks in Washington and the Brookings area. Once back in orado plan to intro- of 50 percent on the billion a year. They call for direct- my friends in Colorado really Brookings, Pettit allegedly threat- duce today, Blumenauer told The “first sale” of marijuana — typi- ing the money to law enforce- upset the apple cart,”Blumenauer ened the driver with a knife and Associated Press. cally, from a grower to a processor ment, substance abuse treatment said. “We’re still arresting two- drove off with the van. Polis’ measure would regulate or retailer. It also would tax pot and the national debt. thirds of a million people for use Police chased the white van marijuana the way the federal producers or importers $1,000 Last fall’s votes in Colorado and of a substance that a majority feel north on U.S. Highway 101 until it government handles alcohol: In annually and other marijuana Washington state to legalize should be legal. ... It’s past time crashed into a landslide off Meyers states that legalize pot, growers businesses $500. recreational marijuana should Creek Road. Pettit was arrested would have to obtain a federal His office said Monday it does- push Congress to end the 75-year SEE POT LAWS | A8 without further incident. Dr. Wayne Frostad, Medford Police reports . A2 Sports . B1 Elli Schulz, Lakeside T S S Robert Ratlief, Reedsport E A H Roy Buckner, Coos Bay D What’s Up. A3 Comics . C4 Sandra Potter, Bandon I C T Fawn Roadruck, Coos Bay E A S South Coast. A3 Puzzles. C4 Michael Herrick, Bandon Rain E R N Betty Wilson, Coos Bay | 52/43 I Obituaries A5 D Opinion. A4 Classifieds . C5 O F Weather | A8 C M C M Y K Y K C M C M Y K A2 •The World • Tuesday, February5,2013 Y K South Coast City Editor Ryan Haas • 541-269-1222, ext. 239 theworldlink.com/news/local Thefts & Fifth-grader beats rare brain tumor Mischief BY HEATHER WHITTY n’t eat,”she said. about two months of COOS BAY The Marshfield Times The Morks sought medical Sometimes bad chemotherapy at Contributions Jan. 28, 6:41 a.m., unlawful entry help and diagnosis, but doc- “ Doernbecher Children’s This story is reprinted with permis- into a motor vehicle, 600 block COOS BAY — Fifth grader tors had difficulty finding a things happen to Hospital in Portland, fol- sion from Marshfield High School’s of 12th Court.