Water: Wells, Rivers, and Rights

What I believe: Water is life. Rural families, tribes, farms, fish, and wildlife all depend on reliable, clean water.

Policy

• Private well protection first. Federal mapping of aquifers, emergency funding for well deepening/filtration, and contamination cleanup with strict enforcement.

• Honor treaties & senior rights. Uphold tribal water rights and collaborative basin management, especially in places like the Klamath Basin.

• Drought resilience. Aquifer recharge, leak reduction, and on-farm efficiency grants that save water without bankrupting family farms.

• Polluter pays. Enforce Clean Water Act standards equally in rural and urban Oregon..

Data Center Guardrails (Water)

No industrial project, including data centers, may draw from over-allocated aquifers, dry up wells, or hide water use. Full disclosure, enforceable withdrawal limits, and automatic mitigation for affected residents.

Prineville Reservoir Aug. 2015 & June 2020

Fishing: Healthy Runs, Open Access

What I believe: Fishing is culture, food security, and small-town economy. Conservation works when access is protected.

Policy

• Habitat first. Restore riparian zones, remove barriers, and improve stream flows to rebuild salmon and trout runs.

• Science-based seasons. Protect spawning while keeping family fishing traditions alive.

• Access guaranteed. Protect public river access points from privatization or exclusion.

Data Center Guardrails (Fisheries)

Projects must prove no net harm to stream flows or water temperature; mitigation funding is mandatory where impacts are unavoidable.

Deschutes River photo credit Jim Doyle

Big Fish photo credit Jim Doyle

Hunting: Conservation Works When Hunters Are Partners

What I believe: Hunters fund conservation and know the land. Wildlife policy must be science-led and fair.

Policy

• Science-led wildlife management. Balanced predator/prey decisions guided by biologists, not politics.

• Habitat investment. Use Pittman-Robertson funds to improve winter range and migration corridors. (https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12229)

• Public access protected. No pay-to-play schemes that fence out local families.

Data Center Guardrails (Wildlife)

No siting that fragments habitat or blocks access corridors; mitigation and access guarantees are non-negotiable.

Yes, our family hunts!

Forests, Logging & Rural Jobs

What I believe: Healthy forests mean jobs and safety. Stewardship beats neglect.

Policy

• Active forest management. Mechanical thinning and prescribed fire to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk.

• Local mills, local workers. Keep value-added processing in rural Oregon; prioritize safety and fair wages.

• Sustainable yield. Log where it makes forests healthier; protect old growth and sensitive habitat.

• Community partnership. Stable funding and collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and counties.

Data Center Guardrails (Forests)

No projects that increase wildfire risk via new transmission without fire-hardening, local response funding, and liability for infrastructure-sparked fires.

Off the beaten path in the Wilderness.

Wildfire: Prevent the Megafires

What I believe: Fire seasons shouldn’t bankrupt communities or shut down schools.

Policy

• Front-end prevention. Thinning, prescribed burns, and defensible-space grants.

• Rapid response. Modernize detection, aviation, and initial attack capacity.

• After-fire recovery. Rebuild watersheds, roads, and homes, fast and fair.

Data Center Guardrails (Fire)

No siting in high-risk zones without mitigation; companies must fund prevention and response proportional to risk.

Public Lands: Not for Sale. Not for Lock-Up.

What I believe: Public lands are a birthright. They belong to the public

Policy

• No sales to corporations, hedge funds, or speculators. Full stop.

• No access denial. Prevent land grabs that gate, fee, or exclude the public.

• Multiple use, done right. Recreation, grazing, conservation, and cultural uses balanced transparently.

• Local stewardship agreements. Tribes, counties, and local contractors.

Data Center Guardrails (Public Lands)

Public lands and public water are not corporate infrastructure. No land swaps, exclusive leases, or access restrictions to benefit private data centers.

Moms & Kids Camping Trip in Oregon CD2

Agriculture & Rangelands

What I believe: Family farms and ranches are stewards, not scapegoats.

Policy

• Family-farm priority. Target USDA support to small and mid-size producers.

• Right-to-repair. Keep equipment affordable and fixable.

• Soil & water health incentives. Practices that reduce runoff and protect downstream communities.

Data Center Guardrails (Rural Economies)

No subsidies without binding local job guarantees, prevailing wages, and community benefit agreements.

Accountability & Rule of Law

What I believe: Fair rules protect everyone.

Policy

• Follow the science and the law. No backroom deals with public resources.

• Transparency. Public reporting on land exchanges, leases, and enforcement actions.

Bentz’s pattern: Emphasizes “development first,” with fewer enforceable guardrails on water use, grid priority, and public-land access.