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State cancels GPID water right in Savage Rapids dispute GRANTS PASS -- Irrigators lost another round in their battle to save an antiquated, fish-killing dam Friday when Oregon's Water Resources Commission voted unanimously to cancel a water right. Defiant directors of the Grants Pass Irrigation District vowed to fight on to save Savage Rapids Dam, despite the loss of one-third of their water. But some district patrons called for new leadership before mounting legal costs drive GPID into bankruptcy. And a stay issued automatically in contested cases will keep water flowing until the water right expires on Oct. 15, 1999, unless the water commission takes a separate action to turn off the spigot. "I strongly feel that today nobody's a winner in this arena," said Hermiston rancher Tyler Hansell, after joining five other water commissioners in voting against GPID. A seventh commissioner, Mike Jewett of Ashland, excused himself from deliberating or voting on the issue after GPID board chairman Dennis Becklin accused him of conflict of interest. "The water district is a loser, the fish haven't gained a thing and we, the commission, come out looking like the bad guy," Hansell said. Becklin led off the public comment session following the commission's vote, saying he'd recommend that GPID appeal the water right revocation to the Oregon Court of Appeals. At the same time, he promised to ask the 1999 Legislature to rewrite Oregon's water laws in ways that would benefit his embattled irrigation district and its 77-year-old dam. But some district patrons say Becklin himself is GPID's biggest problem. "We have a board that is led by a man that I would characterize as a war lover. He enjoys fighting," said Herbert Neeland. "We need a new board." Patron Judy Gove, a candidate in a board of directors election to be decided on Nov. 10, echoed that view. "I support this decision in hopes that this will galvanize our patrons so we can stop this irresponsible behavior," she said. Following four years of study, irrigators in 1994 agreed to remove the dam, which wildlife officials say prevents 26,700 fish each year from spawning, including coho salmon now protected on the endangered species list. In return, the state agreed to provide an additional 52 cubic feet per second of water. But after hearing two hours of legal arguments and compiling thousands of pages of evidence, the Water Resources Commission found Friday that almost immediately GPID began working to undermine the 1994 agreement, soliciting help from federal and state legislators to save the dam, and seeking to delay dam removal by calling for more engineering, scientific and financial studies of alternatives. GPID lawyers employed similar tactics on Friday. Attorney Laura Schroeder suggested the proper place for commissioners to decide the issue was a private retreat rather than the open meeting required by Oregon law. And attorney Chris Cauble argued more time and study was needed. "The district is willing at this time and trying to make the dam more fish-friendly," he said. But Assistant Attorney General Meg Reeves said further delays weren't warranted. "The district is asking you to do an about-face, and go back to 1990 and study it again," she said. "You have been patient with this district." At least two GPID patrons blamed their board of directors for loss of the water permit. "This whole meeting this morning, an unpleasant experience for so many, could have been avoided if GPID had advanced a credible dam removal plan in the last year," said Stan Vejtasa. "We have a board here that has done nothing but confuse the public and wasted all the money," said Bob Buckmaster. The water right cancellation was hailed by fishermen, who cited studies that project a 20 percent increase in fish populations and $5 million in additional economic benefits following removal of Savage Rapids Dam. Steve Beyerlin of Curry Guides drove over from Gold Beach to endorse the water commission's action. "The Rogue River does exist some place besides Grants Pass," he said. "And fish are very important to our area." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA