Redmond, OR (July 9, 2020)- Plans to modernize a portion of Central Oregon Irrigation District’s irrigation infrastructure have been approved to move forward into construction.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has released a Final Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Central Oregon Irrigation District Smith Rock-King Way Infrastructure Modernization Project. NRCS has determined that the project will not cause significant local, regional or national impacts to the environment.
The project is a joint effort among NRCS, Central Oregon Irrigation District, the Deschutes Basin Board of Control, Farmers Conservation Alliance, Energy Trust of Oregon and in coordination with other agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
With a completed environmental assessment in place, the project is now eligible for federal funding and may move forward into construction.
The EA and other supporting documents for this project are available below under Project Documents.
The purpose of this project is to improve water conservation in 7.9 miles of District-owned infrastructure, improve water delivery reliability to District patrons within the project area, and improve public safety on up to approximately 7.9 miles of District-owned canal and laterals.
By converting open-ditch canals into underground, closed-piped systems, the project will reduce water loss from seepage by an estimated 29.4 cubic feet per second, or 9,392 acre-feet annually. Water saved from the project will pass to North Unit Irrigation District during the irrigation season for agricultural use. In return, North Unit Irrigation District will release an equal volume of water into the Deschutes River from Wickiup Reservoir, protecting the water through instream leases in perpetuity during the winter for instream flows when it is needed most for fish and aquatic species.
The project may be partially funded through the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program, administered by NRCS and authorized by Public Law 83-566. Through this program, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to local organizations (project sponsors) for planning and carrying out projects that help solve natural resource and related economic problems in a specific watershed. These issues can include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, and wetlands creation.
For more information about this and other irrigation modernization efforts, visit the NRCS Oregon public notice webpage.
Background
On June 16, 2017 the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced a public scoping period to consider improvements to aging irrigation infrastructure in Central Oregon Irrigation District. A public scoping meeting was held July 10, 2017 at the Redmond Grange (707 SW Kalama Ave, Redmond, OR 97756). Public scoping comments were accepted from June 16, 2017 to July 24, 2017.
A Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment was released January 16, 2020 for public review. NRCS and project partners held a public meeting Monday, February 3, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Terrebonne Community School, 1199 B Ave, Terrebonne, OR 97760 to discuss the Draft Plan-EA, answer questions about the project, and collect public comments during a breakout session.
Public comments on the Draft Plan-EA were accepted from January 16, 2020 through February 18, 2020 via the following methods:
1) Email: centraloregon.id.comments@gmail.com
2) On this website
3) Mail to: Farmers Conservation Alliance Central Oregon Watershed Plan 102 State St Hood River, OR 97031
For more information about Central Oregon Irrigation District, please visit their website.
For further information please contact:
Farmers Conservation Alliance
541-716-6085
Farmers Conservation Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which, as a federal contractor, is assisting NRCS and the sponsors in the Watershed Plan - Environmental Assessment process.
Please note: Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Further information on the public involvement process can be found at the Council of Environmental Quality's Citizens Guide to NEPA.
