Bend Bulletin: North Unit starts work in major project at canal headgate
Photo: John Conroy, left and Ken Ames prepare the head of the North Unit Irrigation District canal in Bend for upgrades and the start of the irrigation system. (Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)
By Michael Kohn
Following years of planning and rising costs, work is underway on a major overhaul of aging infrastructure along the Deschutes River, where North Unit Irrigation District is replacing fish screens that have operated continuously since the 1940s.
The project, centered at the district’s main canal diversion on Bend’s north side, will modernize a system originally installed in 1945 to keep fish out of irrigation canals while delivering water to farms in Jefferson County.
Backed in part by a $5.9 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the effort is expected to improve water efficiency, reduce maintenance demands and enhance fish protection. The project involves much more than just replacing the fish screen as work is being done across various parts of the canal headgate.
“Phase one of the project is nearly complete,” said Josh Bailey, North Unit’s general manager.
Initial work focused on reinforcing retaining walls on the east side of the diversion structure, said Bailey. Crews have also resumed water releases into the canal system, with additional prep work scheduled for the coming months.
Contractors will return later this spring or early summer to begin drilling and rock work on the west side of the site, where portions of the existing structure will be removed and rebuilt.
That work includes preparing for installation of a fish return system that will guide fish safely back into the Deschutes River. Bailey said the system will connect to an existing underground pipeline installed years ago in anticipation of future upgrades.
“Back in the mid-2000s … there was enough forethought to actually put that pipe underneath for the eventual upgrading of North Unit’s system,” Bailey said. “Our contractor is going to be tying onto that pipe and bringing that out near the new fish screen.”
The bulk of construction is expected to begin in October, when crews will dismantle much of the existing infrastructure and begin building the new facility. Bailey said the work will be complex and disruptive, requiring significant equipment and road closures.
The project will involve removing existing fish screens, control gates, automation systems and large sections of retaining walls, some of which will be rebuilt taller and shifted westward. Bailey said new retaining walls could reach heights approaching 20 feet.
A large crane will be brought in to handle demolition and installation, and both lanes of Division Street near the site may be closed during portions of the work. Residents and businesses have been advised to expect traffic disruptions, noise and congestion through the construction period, which is expected to continue into 2027.
Once completed, the new facility will feature a vertical flat-plate screening system with an automated cleaning mechanism that moves a brush along the screens to remove debris. The design will funnel fish to a single bypass point, returning them safely to the river downstream of the diversion.
Bailey said the system represents a significant upgrade from the existing equipment, which relies on large rotary drum screens and requires frequent repairs.
“It’ll be a very large, robust system,” he said. “It’ll be quite a dramatic change from what you see right now.”
The current screens, which date back to the early years of the irrigation project, are nearing the end of their usable life after roughly 80 years of continuous operation.
“They made it 80 years, but they’re getting tired,” Bailey said.
In addition to operational improvements, the project is expected to benefit fish populations in the Deschutes River, which has been affected by decades of dam construction and water diversion. The new system will slow water flow, reduce debris and provide a safer path for fish migrating downstream.
Bailey said the upgraded facility is designed with longevity and adaptability in mind, with components that can be replaced individually over time. “If the screens wear out, all you have to do … is pull the screens off and replace them,” he said.
As part of the project, the district also plans to preserve part of the old infrastructure for a public display near the site, offering a historical look at the irrigation system’s early engineering.
“We’re going to cut a section of the screens off and use that as part of the cultural display so people can actually see the actual screen,” Bailey said.
Read more at: https://bendbulletin.com/2026/03/31/north-unit-starts-work-in-major-project-at-canal-headgate/
