Commissioners approve letter supporting removal of WRP designation for Conley Lake parcel

The Union County Board of Commissioners on June 3 accepted a letter expressing support for removal of the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) designation on a 180-acre Conley Lake parcel in the Grande Ronde Valley.

Administrative Officer Shelley Burgess read the draft letter for commissioners' consideration. Commissioner Jake Seavert said a primary reason for pursuing WRP removal is that the program "limits the ability of excavation or restoration of the wetland project. It is capped at a total depth of 6.5 feet deep, which is not a significant amount of water to be stored on the piece of property." Seavert said the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife supports removing the WRP designation and that the board is at a preliminary stage of investigation; he noted prior attempts elsewhere to lift WRP designations had not always succeeded. Commissioner Seavert moved to accept the letter of support; Commissioner Paul Anderes seconded and the motion "carried unanimously." The transcript also records an emailed public comment from Tim Wallander opposing county consideration of the Conley Lake project, saying the idea "will create more problems than it would solve."