News Release Archive

Reclamation and its partners sign agreement to implement Deschutes Basin conservation measures

Media Contact: Erika Lopez, (208) 378-5101, ealopez@usbr.gov

For Release: January 12, 2018

BEND, Oregon –In an effort provide for more reliable flows on the Deschutes River, the Bureau of Reclamation has entered into an agreement with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, the Central Oregon Irrigation District, and others. The Memorandum of Agreement is part of the compliance process necessary for COID to proceed with piping 3,000 linear feet of their main canal near the crossing of Brookswood Blvd. Other signatories to the MOA are the Deschutes River Conservancy, the Deschutes Basin Board of Control, and the Coalition for the Deschutes.

COID and other agencies in the Deschutes Basin have been seeking conservation measures that will benefit the Deschutes River such as, providing for more reliable flows to meet the needs of fish and wildlife. Also, the water conserved by this piping project will remain instream to improve flows on the Deschutes River. This five cubic-feet-per-second of water would otherwise be lost to evaporation and seepage into the fractured basalt formation underlying the canal. Piping is more economical in the long term and increases public safety for recreationists and motorists by replacing the current open canal with a buried pipe. The project is expected to begin this month and be completed by April 2018.

COID is coordinating with the City of Bend Parks and Recreation Department to develop future recreational opportunities along the piped section of canal.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Reclamation completed a final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the piping project, which is available at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/oregon/coid/index.html.

For additional information, please contact Gregg Garnett, Bend Field Office Manager at 541-389-6541, ext. 226 or ggarnett@usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/oregon/coid/index.html