Columbia River shoreline should be under local control | Guest Opinion

Two million in local taxpayer dollars are spent annually for maintenance and operations on land we do not own. Far too much of our river shoreline is underutilized, not maintained, and deteriorating. Our residents deserve better. We deserve to enjoy a beautiful waterfront with more recreational opportunities, well-managed parks and trails, and safe access to the Columbia River.

The idea to return much of the 34 miles of Columbia River shoreline from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ownership to local control has enjoyed strong, widespread support across our community. My support for the effort has always been grounded in my belief that when there is more local control over matters of land and water, the more likely that local voices will be heard and consulted in decision-making.

However, some in the Tri-Cities community have expressed concern that the reconveyance could be intended for undisclosed or ill-advised purposes and that this effort was being negotiated without transparency behind closed doors.

The reconveyance idea has always been rooted in the idea of empowering local governments to manage and enhance these public lands and natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of all in our community. Fortunately, significant efforts over the past year and a half have been made – at my urging – to ensure transparency, public input, and accountability are staples of this proposal moving forward.

In May of 2018, I took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to engage in a discussion with the then-Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services, the committee with jurisdiction over land conveyances from the Department of Defense. We discussed the hurdles to legislating land transfers and the many components needed for success.

I called for more substantive coordination between reconveyance advocates and local government jurisdictions to ensure our cities understand the full scope of the responsibilities that would be placed upon them should these assets be returned. Further, I stated that tribal nations must be consulted and that more public meetings were necessary to seek input from the community in order for me to consider taking further action legislatively.

Since that exchange over a year and a half ago, this community-led effort has made substantial progress in all of these areas.

Three public meetings were held in the fall of 2018 in each of the Tri-Cities providing open opportunities for local voices to be heard. I attended one of these meetings personally, and my staff was present at all three.

In addition, the reconveyance proposal has been discussed before numerous local government meetings, all of which were open to the public, as well as Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, community groups, chambers of commerce, and environmental associations. Multiple meetings have also been held between reconveyance proponents and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) staff. Moreover, an official government-to-government meeting was held between the CTUIR Board of Trustees and elected officials of our local cities, counties, and ports — the first time such a meeting has been held in the memory of everyone in attendance.

Importantly, the proposal has changed to reflect the feedback received throughout these venues. Based on input from the CTUIR, I will ensure important protections for any Native American cultural sites within the conveyed land and affirm that the reconveyance will not alter tribal consultation requirements or any treaties with regional tribes. I will also ensure that any legislative proposal explicitly states that all federal and state environmental protection laws remain in place. Each city, county, and port has been able to identity exactly which portions of the shoreline they would like to receive, and flood control infrastructure will continue to be operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

It is because of the efforts conducted over the past year and a half — consulting local stakeholders, making changes based on public input, and building a stronger, more accountable proposal — that I am confident we can, and should, move forward in seeking the legislative conveyance of this land. It is my commitment to the Tri-Cities community and my constituents wholly that next steps taken by my office will reflect this open, honest, and transparent discourse.

I am more hopeful today than ever — based on the concerted community-led efforts and significant progress made in refining this proposal — that we will be successful in returning the shoreline to local control once and for all.