On Sept. 24, The Bulletin posted this article: “Drought marks one of Central Oregon’s warmest summers.” The article reported: “(last) Saturday marked the formal transition to fall, officially ending one of the hottest and driest summers in Central Oregon history.”
On Tuesday, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced he helped secure nearly $30 million in funding for the Tumalo Irrigation District, as part of the District’s watershed plan to improve water conservation, delivery reliability and public safety through canal piping.
Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley took credit this week for securing nearly $30 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to pay for piping in the Tumalo Irrigation District system. The pipes will replace about 70 miles of inefficient open-air canals.
It might look idyllic on its surface, but downtown Bend's iconic body of water remains embroiled in controversy about dredging the sediment underneath, who should pay for it and when and where its stakeholders can meet about it.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced Tuesday nearly $30 million of U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for the Tumalo Irrigation District to pipe more than 68 miles of its canals and laterals to improve water conservation, water delivery reliability and public safety.
Advancements in irrigation efficiency are on the horizon for farmers and ranchers in the Swalley Irrigation District, pending completion of a federal environmental planning process that began two years ago on a project to pipe more than 16 miles of canals and laterals, a federal agency said Monday.
Saturday marked the formal transition to fall, officially ending one of the hottest and driest summers in Central Oregon history.
A new City Council subcommittee will consider ways to pay for dredging Mirror Pond that could mean higher utility bills for Bend residents or fees for people floating the Deschutes River.
The city of Sisters and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council are collaborating to enhance and restore Whychus Creek in the reach that flows through Creekside Park and Campground between Locust Street and Highway 20 in Sisters.
More than a century ago, Bend’s Mirror Pond was formed by a dam in the Deschutes River. But the pond that is so emblematic of Bend is in trouble. And nobody seems all that eager to pay to dredge it before it becomes mostly mudflat.
Canada and the U.S. states of Alaska, Oregon and Washington would all reduce their catch of fragile salmon species under the terms of an updated international agreement that, if approved, will spell out the next decade of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada to keep the migratory fish afloat in Pacific waters.
Last year was one of the poorest on record for steelhead in the Deschutes. After some initial optimism for a modest rebound, the forecast for returns this season has been lowered to be even worse.
Water levels at Central Oregon’s largest reservoir are lower than they’ve been in 27 years. And with no rain in the forecast, those water levels likely aren’t done dropping.
Central Oregon is on an explosive growth path. Roads, housing, public transportation—all are hot-button issues in Bend and the surrounding communities. But without water, the region would have been just another high desert land mass on the map. Over the last 100 years, the Central Oregon Irrigation District has managed the Deschutes River—one of the most precious resources in the area.
It can be a relief to see two opposing groups find a way to compromise. But a possible compromise between Central Oregon Irrigation District and landowners who border a COID canal southeast of Bend could be a bad deal if you care about water.
A Bend political activist abandoned his lawsuit asking the Deschutes County Circuit Court to force the city of Bend and the Bend Park & Recreation District to hold open meetings about Mirror Pond — after their closed-door meetings were done.
Plans to modernize aging irrigation infrastructure in the Tumalo Irrigation District through piping of canals and laterals have been approved to move forward into construction, following Tuesday’s release of a Finding of No Significant Impact by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in partnership with the irrigation district, the Deschutes Basin Board of Control and the Farmers Conservation Alliance.
My Indian name is Mustalik. I am a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and am privileged to serve as chairman of the Tribal Council. I come from the Wasco and Warm Springs people on the Columbia River, and I write to address issues raised in The Bulletin’s recent editorial, “Judge deals blow to enviro group in local dam lawsuit,” and a guest column in response to that editorial from the group that filed the lawsuit.
The Forest Service permit that allows Bend to take water from source springs for Tumalo Creek is up for renewal. It should be renewed.
The city of Bend currently diverts water from the Tumalo Headwater Springs. This diverted water would otherwise flow down Tumalo Creek, over Tumalo Falls and down through Shevlin Park.