Terrebonne, OR (August 17, 2021) - 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 Lone Pine Irrigation District Infrastructure Modernization Project.
NRCS has determined that the project will not cause significant local, regional or national impacts to the environment. With a completed environmental assessment in place, the project is now eligible for federal funding and may move forward into construction.
The project will realign the District’s conveyance system to achieve optimal efficiency of water delivery and reduce costs, construct a new river crossing at the Crooked River and enter the District from the southern boundary, install 10.9 miles of pressurized buried pipe, and decommission 9.7 miles of open canal. The project will improve irrigation water management and delivery, reduce district operations and maintenance costs, and enhance streamflow in the Deschutes River.
By converting open-ditch irrigation canals into underground, closed-pipe systems, the project will eliminate water losses from seepage and end spills, saving an estimated 2,103 acre-feet of water annually.
The project is a joint effort among NRCS, Lone Pine Irrigation District, the Deschutes Basin Board of Control, the Energy Trust of Oregon, Farmers Conservation Alliance, and in coordination with other agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
The Finding of No Significant Impact and Final Plan-EA can be found below under Final Documents.
The project may be partially funded through the Watershed and Flood Prevention 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.
Background
On October 2, 2018 the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced a public scoping period to consider improvements to aging irrigation infrastructure in Lone Pine Irrigation District, located primarily in northwest Crook County, as well as northern Deschutes County and southern Jefferson County. A public scoping meeting was held October 17, 2018 at the Wind River Conference Center in Terrebonne, Oregon. Public scoping comments were accepted October 2 through November 15, 2018. Documents from the scoping process can be found below under Archives.
On April 20, 2021, NRCS released a Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (Draft Plan-EA) for the proposed project. NRCS, the District, and FCA hosted a virtual public meeting May 5, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A recording of the meeting is available here. The meeting discussed the Draft Plan-EA and answered questions about the project. A printed copy of the Draft Plan-EA was made available at the Deschutes Public Library Redmond Branch (827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond, OR 97756). The Draft Plan-EA and related documents can be found below under Draft Documents.
Public comments on the Draft Plan-EA were accepted from April 20, 2021 through May 20, 2021.
Comments could be submitted the following ways:
1) Email: lonepinecomments@gmail.com
2) Online form on this website
3) By phone at 541-716-6085
4) Mail to:
Farmers Conservation Alliance
Lone Pine Watershed Plan
102 State St
Hood River, OR 97031
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.
Final documents for the project
Documents from the Draft Environmental Assessment public process.
Documents from the public scoping process.
Visit FCA for more information about irrigation modernization.