Information & Updates
Please Note: COID is aware of a survey that has been sent to our patrons by Owen Murphy. COID has not authorized or endorsed it in anyway and is not a partner in the requested information. As a public entity COID is required to release information per the Freedom of Information Act, therefore COID patron information was acquired by Owen Murphy through this process. Also, COID is not receiving any of the information or survey results.
TENTATIVE 2023 IRRIGATION SEASON START UP
*Season start-up is weather dependent. Please check back for updates as we get closer to the dates below.
Central Oregon Canal (Services east side of Bend, Alfalfa & Powell Butte)
*Tentatively scheduled to turn on 4/3/23 at a stock water run level and will increase to 50% with live flow availability. Due to the extremely dry conditions, it will be a very slow turn-on as it will take time to saturate the canal beds.Â
Pilot Butte Canal (Services north end of Bend, Redmond & Terrebonne)
*Tentatively scheduled to turn on 4/5/23 at a stock water run level and will increase to 50% with live flow availability. Due to the extremely dry conditions, it will be a very slow turn-on as it will take time to saturate the canal beds.
Rotation Schedules are scheduled to be mailed out the week of 04/03/23 and start on 4/10/23. Please remember that we will start-up at stock water run levels to get the system filled and to replenish stock ponds. Typically, this is not enough water to get irrigation systems up and going the first couple of weeks.
Flow Schedule for Season:
These flows are the maximum allowable delivery Rate. Our ability to meet these rates is dependent on available water.
50% flow from Start Up Date – April 30th
75% flow from May 1st – May 14th
100% flow from May 15th – September 15th
75% flow from September 16th -September 30th
50% flow from October 1st – ?
Season shut off October (Specific date to be announced in September)
*Due to the drought conditions these flows are subject to change as flows in the Deschutes River decrease.
January 13, 2023
RE: Center for Biological Diversity Files Formal 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue
On January 12, 2023, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), alleging that the two federal agencies are violating the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Among other things, the letter alleges that Reclamation is violating the ESA by continuing to operate the Deschutes River Basin Project, and that the Service is violating the ESA because it approved the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and issued an incidental take permit under the ESA to the DBBC irrigation districts. At its core, CBD’s allegation is that the Service and Reclamation are not doing enough to protect the Oregon spotted frog, a species that is listed as threatened under the ESA. The letter serves to notify the Service and Reclamation that CBD intends to sue them under the citizen suit provisions of the ESA.
As required by the ESA, a party must provide 60 days’ notice before it may bring a citizen suit. Thus, it appears the earliest that CBD will formally sue the agencies is March 14, 2023. We would note that CBD has not indicated in its letter that it intends to sue the irrigation districts, and as such, when CBD does file suit, the Service and Reclamation will be the defendants. Also, the letter does not allege that the districts are failing to implement the conservation measures included in the HCP or are otherwise failing to comply with the terms and conditions contained in the permit issued to them by the Service. Rather, CBD is asserting that the terms and conditions in the permit should be even more stringent than what’s currently required.
The new CBD notice of intent to sue follows prior litigation brought in 2015 by CBD and WaterWatch of Oregon (WaterWatch) against the Service, Reclamation, and five of the irrigation districts. In that litigation, CBD and WaterWatch moved for a preliminary injunction to significantly alter irrigation water storage and use in the basin. The U.S. District Court of Oregon denied that motion. The litigation ended in a settlement, pursuant to which the irrigation districts agreed to complete the HCP. The HCP was completed and approved by the Service at the end of 2020, and the irrigation districts have been implementing the HCP and honoring their commitments since that time.
We will continue to monitor actions that may result from CBD’s notice. In the meantime, the districts remain fully committed to following the terms and conditions contained in their incidental take permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under section 10 of the ESA. Moreover, we intend to take necessary and appropriate actions to ensure that our permit remains valid and continues to provide the districts with the certainty they need to store and deliver irrigation water to their patrons.
The DBBC strongly believes that our communities should continue to work collaboratively and together from within rather than take direction from the outside, and we remain firmly committed to implementing the conservation measures outlined in the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan.
Central Oregon Irrigators Ask Counties to Declare Drought
On February 21, 2022, the Deschutes Basin Board of Control submitted drought declaration requests to commissioners representing Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties. The letter also requests that …
Read moreCentral Oregon Irrigators Ask Counties to Declare Drought
On February 21, 2022, the Deschutes Basin Board of Control submitted drought declaration requests to commissioners representing Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties. The letter also requests that …
Read morePilot Butte Canal Watershed Plan & Environmental Impact Statement
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Submitting comments is the most effective way to make your voice heard in the EIS process. Please feel free to send comments at any time during the process. Comments may be: …
Read moreDeschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan Complete
On December 31, 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the completion of the Deschutes River Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The HCP is a collaborative strategy to share water resou…
Read moreDistricts make last-ditch effort to conserve water for Deschutes River
By MICHAEL KOHN The Bulletin Dec 12, 2020 Habitat Conservation Plan could require district to release 300 cfs of water into the Deschutes by 2028 As farmers across Central Oregon face a third straight…
Read moreFeds sign off on Ochoco Irrigation’s nearly 17-mile canal piping project
By KTVZ news sources Published December 15, 2020 Goal is to boost streamflows in the Crooked River, McKay Creek PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service ann…
Read moreTug of water: Plan restores flows to Upper Deschutes but may fall short for threatened species
OPB By Bradley W. Parks (OPB) Bend, Ore. Dec. 2, 2020 Frogs and fish in the Upper Deschutes River will get more water in the winter, but it may not be enough to protect them. The U.S. Fish and Wildlif…
Read moreFeds OK Central Oregon Irrigation District $30 million canal-piping project
By KTVZ news sources Published July 9, 2020 Water savings will pass to North Unit Irrigation District REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Plans to modernize a portion of Central Oregon Irrigation Distri…
Read moreNew ‘Raise the Deschutes’ campaign aims to raise awareness of river’s issues
A coalition of Central Oregon conservation-focused partners announced Monday they are launching a regional public awareness campaign to increase knowledge about the opportunities to improve the health…
Read moreMORE WITH LESS: HOW IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR FISH, FARMS AND FAMILIES
https://oeconline.org/more-with-less-how-irrigation-modernization-makes-life-better-for-fish-farms-and-families/ The post MORE WITH LESS: HOW IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR FISH, FARMS…
Read moreMORE WITH LESS: HOW IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR FISH, FARMS AND FAMILIES
https://oeconline.org/more-with-less-how-irrigation-modernization-makes-life-better-for-fish-farms-and-families/ The post MORE WITH LESS: HOW IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR FISH, FARMS…
Read moreMORE WITH LESS: HOW IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR FISH, FARMS AND FAMILIES
https://oeconline.org/more-with-less-how-irrigation-modernization-makes-life-better-for-fish-farms-and-families/ The post MORE WITH LESS: HOW IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR FISH, FARMS…
Read moreThe post appeared first on Deschutes Basin Board of Control.…
Read moreThe post appeared first on Deschutes Basin Board of Control.…
Read moreEditorial: Close the gap on water in the Deschutes Basin
Bend Bulletin Editorial Board, Published Sept. 9, 2019 Farmers near Madras and Culver have had to again this year let some of their land fallow because of lack of water, as The Bulletin reported on Sa…
Read moreEditorial: Close the gap on water in the Deschutes Basin
Bend Bulletin Editorial Board, Published Sept. 9, 2019 Farmers near Madras and Culver have had to again this year let some of their land fallow because of lack of water, as The Bulletin reported on Sa…
Read moreEditorial: Close the gap on water in the Deschutes Basin
Bend Bulletin Editorial Board, Published Sept. 9, 2019 Farmers near Madras and Culver have had to again this year let some of their land fallow because of lack of water, as The Bulletin reported on Sa…
Read moreDESCHUTES BASIN HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN UPDATE
The eight irrigation districts that serve Central Oregon and the City of Prineville have committed over a decade to working with local municipalities, state and federal agencies, the Confederated Trib…
Read moreDESCHUTES BASIN HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN UPDATE
The eight irrigation districts that serve Central Oregon and the City of Prineville have committed over a decade to working with local municipalities, state and federal agencies, the Confederated Trib…
Read moreSwalley Modernization Project Authorized to Move Forward
Piping project will keep more water in-stream for fish and sustain local agriculture (April 4, 2019) – Plans to continue modernizing aging irrigation infrastructure in the Swalley Irrigation …
Read moreSwalley Modernization Project Authorized to Move Forward
Piping project will keep more water in-stream for fish and sustain local agriculture (April 4, 2019) – Plans to continue modernizing aging irrigation infrastructure in the Swalley Irrigation …
Read moreArnold Irrigation canal-piping project public meeting set
KTVZ.COM April 2 BEND, Ore. – The Arnold Irrigation District and project partners are holding a public meeting later this month to gather public input on a canal piping project to modernize ag…
Read moreArnold Irrigation canal-piping project public meeting set
KTVZ.COM April 2 BEND, Ore. – The Arnold Irrigation District and project partners are holding a public meeting later this month to gather public input on a canal piping project to modernize ag…
Read moreAnother irrigation district piping project coming to Bend
Bend Bulletin Published April 5, 2019 Central Oregon residents will have a chance to weigh in later this month on a massive project to pipe canals to the south of Bend. The Bend-based Arnold Irrigatio…
Read moreAnother irrigation district piping project coming to Bend
Bend Bulletin Published April 5, 2019 Central Oregon residents will have a chance to weigh in later this month on a massive project to pipe canals to the south of Bend. The Bend-based Arnold Irrigatio…
Read moreSystem Improvement Plan Overview
Central Oregon Irrigation District operates and maintains over 400-Miles of main and lateral canals combined to deliver water to approximately 46,222 acres of irrigated land. The volcanic nature of th…
Read moreSettlement Agreement in Oregon Spotted Frog Lawsuit
On October 28, 2016, five central Oregon irrigation districts (Arnold, Central Oregon, Lone Pine, North Unit, and Tumalo), the United States Bureau of Reclamation, and two environmental groups submitt…
Read moreMr. and Mrs. Drake Come To Town
It was a long way from Minnesota to the quiet bend in the river that was to become the bustling town of Bend. The year was 1900, and it was no accident that the Drakes found their way to the high dese…
Read moreWater Outlook 2017
Winter has started off with a bang. All basins within the State are at or above average for precipitation and snowfall. The wintery blast will give our 2017 season a boost but more importantly it will…
Read moreInstream Lease Program
The Instream Lease Program is a cooperative effort between COID, The Deschutes River Conservancy, and Oregon Water Resources Department. The program allows water rights to be temporarily leased back t…
Read moreBeneficial Use - Use It Or Lose It
We’ve talked about it in our newsletters, on our website, in our educational outreach, and still, many of our users are surprised when they receive a letter from COID regarding non-use of…
Read moreCongratulations to Barbara Fehl
“40 years? Wow, seems like she just got out of high school”, said Ron Nelson the District manager from 1980-2006. He added, “Barb had an unwavering dedication to customer service. No …
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