Information & Updates
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.
2022-23 Winter Stock Water Runs
Winter Stock Water Run Update: Due to low flows in the Deschutes River no stock runs have been scheduled. We will post an update as soon as we know when we will be able to schedule them. We will also send text and email messages out to those that have signed up.Â
Please check back frequently for updates and for future stock water run scheduling.
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 …
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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: …
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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…
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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…
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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
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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“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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