North Unit Initiative:
Breaking Ground on
Crooked River Restoration
(Bend, Oregon) - The Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) and North
Unit Irrigation District (NUID) are pleased to announce that we will be
breaking ground this winter on the first phase of the largest streamflow
restoration initiative in Oregon’s history. This initiative will
provide a solution to address the irrigation needs of the farmers and
conservation needs of the river.
For over one hundred years, the
Deschutes River and its tributaries have supported agricultural
communities in Central Oregon. More than 700 miles of irrigation canals
deliver water to farmers whose crops make a significant contribution to
our national food production.
NUID, located near Madras and
Culver, serves Central Oregon’s most vibrant farming community. Farmers
in this district are the most junior water right holders in the
Deschutes basin, meaning they are last in line for water. To ensure that
farmers in North Unit have sufficient water supplies to grow their
crops, the district aggressively pursues innovative conservation
practices. NUID’s primary water source comes from the Deschutes River,
but they also rely heavily on costly water pumped from the Crooked
River.
The first phase of this exciting water conservation
project will line 4.9 miles of NUID’s main canal, conserving Deschutes
River water that would otherwise be lost through seepage. This conserved
water will then be used on lands that are currently irrigated with
water pumped from the Crooked River. As a result, more water will
remain instream in the Crooked River. It is important to note that in
2007, NUID received Congressional approval to restore streamflows
through its conservation effort. Without this legislation, this project
would not be possible.
When completed, this initiative will allow
North Unit farmers to reduce their reliance on pumped water from the
Crooked River and will restore up to 220 cubic feet per second (cfs) of
streamflow in the section of the Crooked River running through Smith
Rock State Park. With flows as low as 10 cfs, historically this section
has suffered from poor water quality and a degraded ecosystem. A win-win
opportunity for farmers and fish, the North Unit Initiative supports a
strong agricultural economy while permanently improving conditions for
fish, wildlife and recreation.
The Deschutes River Conservancy
worked with North Unit Irrigation District, The Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs, Portland General Electric, the Bureau of Reclamation and
the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to produce this innovative
solution to a complicated water management problem.
DRC Contact:
Tod Heisler, Executive Director (541.382.4077 ext. 19)
|
 |
|