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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, May 18 Why is Bear Creek so muddy? Blame Emigrant silt and winter storm Jackson County students to graduate June 13 Corps opts out of blue-green algae advisories at Lost Creek Lake Four South Medford seniors build soccer lockers Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 18 Body found in southeast Medford field Emergency services, May 17 Public meetings for May 18-22, 2015 Feds go after Rogue River lawyer for failing to pay $125,000 in taxes Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Education Four South Medford seniors build soccer lockers SOU student's project tells story of devastating Weed fire South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Medford garage sale will put books in African kids' hands Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Environment Why is Bear Creek so muddy? Blame Emigrant silt and winter storm Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State News Oregon wildlife officials eye phased-in hunting, fishing fee increases Wyden's gambit on trade deal pays off Panel sends Jackson, Josephine drought declarations to governor Court overturns $85 million award for Oregon soldiers Oregon families should get $284 in tax rebates next year Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Nita Day Alan Leslie Robins Kathryn "Kay" Blanche White Eva Robarts Donald Kent Hoyt Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Leroux, Wambach lift U.S. past Mexico Oregon track sweeps at Pac-12s Jack of all trades Allred finishes in 16th at BMW Charity Pro-Am Buescher rallies for Iowa triumph Varsity 541 College Sports Oregon track sweeps at Pac-12s Hovinga stars on mound as Ducks advance Duck men, women lead in Pac-12 track meet Wu falls just short of advancing to NCAAs Beavers continue hot streak, trip Cardinal Pro Sports Leroux, Wambach lift U.S. past Mexico Allred finishes in 16th at BMW Charity Pro-Am Ducks down Chicago in opener Rockets overcome 3-1 deficit, eliminate Clips McIlroy finishes 21-under, wins Wells Fargo Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Blog: L is For... Blog: Cash deals for homes inches toward normal levels Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, May 18 Kathleen Parker: Jeb Bush's unfortunate honesty Our View: Kicking state government down the road Letters to the Editor, May 17 George Will: Santorum — The return of the GOP's runner-up Editorials Our View: Kicking state government down the road Other Views: Keeping marijuana away from minors Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 18 Letters to the Editor, May 17 Letters to the Editor, May 15 Letters to the Editor, May 14 Letters to the Editor, May 13 Columns Kathleen Parker: Jeb Bush's unfortunate honesty George Will: Santorum — The return of the GOP's runner-up Dana Milbank: The domain of 'dot-sucks' Arthur I. 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The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters Community Events Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ will leave your inner 12-year-old giggling with glee Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Dining 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food From rustic to elegant: Wine tasting in Southern Oregon Quick, easy, versatile Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Jack of all trades ... White City homeowner starts grass fire, manages to contain it ... Body found in southeast Medford field ... Jack of all trades ... White City homeowner starts grass fire, manages to contain it ... Body found in southeast Medford field ... ASHLAND Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Comment By Alec Dickinson for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Alec Dickinson for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated May 8, 2015 at 4:58 PM By Alec Dickinson for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated May 8, 2015 at 4:58 PM » Social News A typical Ashland water bill payer would see about a $16 increase per year to fund ongoing maintenance of Ashland’s watershed after the City Council decided on a 5-1 vote Tuesday to pursue a rate increase based on meter size. That approach was preferred by most councilors to a property tax increase that would have amounted to about $27 per year for a typical property owner. The Ashland Forest Resiliency (AFR) project began in 2010 as an effort to reduce buildup of undergrowth and debris that could fuel a wildfire in the Ashland watershed. Funding thus far has come from grants and a budget surplus, but reduced water usage and revenues due to the ongoing drought have largely eliminated surplus funds. Roughly $10 million dollars has been spent so far on the project, much of it from outside sources, to remove debris and conduct controlled burns to protect the watershed from a catastrophic fire. The city proposed some thinning of timber in the watershed as a fire prevention measure which, according to Mayor John Stromberg, attracted the partnership of the U.S. Forest Service, in large part due to the city’s willingness to commit funding to the project — to have “some skin in the game.” Other partners include the Nature Conservancy and the Lomakatsi Restoration Project. With the current budget expiring at the end of June, the city must identify a funding source for an additional $175,000 annually to continue work on the project. That’s enough to maintain about 10 percent of the 7,300 acres covered by the project, meaning the entire area would be maintained every 10 years. Councilman Rich Rosenthal said the money spent on the AFR project was fundamentally different than other expenses. “This is a very important issue,” he said, “and it’s not an expense, but an investment. You could argue these are all expenses, but we received $3.16 million dollars from public and private partners. That’s an 18-to-1 return on the city’s $175,000 dollar investment. I’ll take that return on any investment. This is an insurance policy and a smart investment.” City Administrator Dave Kanner says the decision to tie funding for the AFR project to water rates is logical. One of the primary concerns in the event of a fire in the watershed is that erosion would contaminate the water supply and fill in the Reeder Reservoir, the source of most of the drinking water in Ashland. Though protecting wildlife and property is part of the equation, the long-term impact on the city of losing its water supply is considered the most significant risk to the community. Councilwoman Pam Marsh noted that while she did not like raising fees, she felt the Council would be remiss in its duties if it did not secure continued funding for the project. “It would be criminal to waste the millions of dollars we have spent so far and that we hope to receive in the future. Our watershed is an ongoing issue and provides our water. It needs to be funded,” she said. The council directed Kanner to pursue a funding option based on a charge tied to water meter size, so larger water users would pay more, rather than a flat fee where all users would pay the same amount regardless of consumption. The vast majority of water customers in the service area use a 3/4-inch water meter to supply their homes and businesses. Staff used the capacity of the three-quarter inch line as a base rate, increasing the surcharge proportionately with the capacity of larger meters. By Alec Dickinson for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Alec Dickinson for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated May 8, 2015 at 4:58 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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