In the Media

Bend is looking at changes to the way the city gets its drinking water. The options include switching the source or adding a hydropower facility.

RiverSong: Group show celebrating the Deschutes River by more than 20 Tumalo Art Co. gallery artists; free; 5 to 9 p.m., runs through May; 136 N.W. Greenwood Ave., Bend; 330-9770 or www.tumaloartco.com.

The bill, which passed the Senate three weeks ago and still has to be signed by President Bush, also reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy to receive federal funds in coming years.

A group of local artists now wants to give something back to the river that needs some help.

Nearly $13 million could flow into the Deschutes River Basin to aid fish under a recent $900 million agreement between the Bonneville Power Administration and four Indian tribes.

The straws are drilled deep underground, sucking more water to satisfy the thirst of development across Central Oregon. Yet at the same time, there’s more water flowing down the Deschutes River during the dry summer months when once it ran low.

After more than a year in limbo, federal legislation that will clear the way for the lining of irrigation canals between Bend and Madras lurched back into gear Thursday after a senator from Oklahoma dropped his procedural hold on the bill and allowed a vote to occur.

Across Central Oregon, irrigation districts are replacing open canals with underground pipes to save water.

On Monday, the first of eight irrigation districts that distribute water to nearly 150,000 acres of land in Central Oregon began to divert water to canals in the region.