This article was published on: 04/24/23 2:18 PM
The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced new funding to help pay for canal piping projects Central Oregon. The piping is expected to save water that will eventually help boost water levels in the Deschutes River.
On Friday, the Bureau of Reclamation announced an award of $2.7 million to the Deschutes River Conservancy, the nonprofit that is helping three irrigation districts convert their open ditches to pipelines.
The total cost of the project is $5.4 million. The Conservancy will seek matching funds from state agencies to cover the balance.
In addition to water conservation, these projects help districts adhere to targets established by the Deschutes River Habitat Conservation Plan, which requires increasing the level of the Deschutes over a 30-year period to improve habitat for the threatened Oregon spotted frog and several species of fish.
Central Oregon, North Unit, and Arnold irrigation districts are among those impacted by the infrastructure upgrades.
Kate Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Deschutes River Conservancy, said construction of the project is slated for 2024-25. She explains that a major focus of water conservation is still replacing the main canals with large pipes. But optimizing the efficiency of those large pipes requires that the smaller ditches that branch off the main canal also receive piping upgrades.