The Leasing Program partnership between COID and the DRC is a win-win for irrigators, the district, fish, wildlife, and river restoration.

COID’s leasing program has been a big factor in the progress made to restore flows in the Middle Deschutes River, defined as the reach between Bend and Lake Billy Chinook. Historically, the seasonal disruptions of streamflow in the Middle Deschutes have contributed to a decline in the overall health of this reach including degraded habitat for fish and wildlife and poor water quality. COID’s proactive approach has produced significant benefits for the district and the community by improving conditions in the river and reducing potential liabilities, while at the same time protecting district and irrigator water rights.

Don’t use all of your water and not sure what your options are?

COID has partnered with the Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) to devise a win-win solution for patrons who don’t need or want to use all of their water in a particular year.

Oregon State Law requires that water rights be put to beneficial use in a specific area for a specific purpose. The full water right must be beneficially used one year out of every five years to prevent forfeiture and maintain the validity of the right. Water rights can have different types of use, such as irrigation, industrial and municipal. Any of these can be temporarily leased instream to satisfy a year of beneficial use.

How does instream leasing prove beneficial use?

Since the passage of Oregon’s Instream Water Rights Act in 1987, the state of Oregon has considered instream leasing to be a beneficial use. One year of instream leasing is equal to one year of beneficial use.

Leasing provides an opportunity to protect your water right against forfeiture as well as improve streamflow in the Deschutes River.

What does it cost to lease your water?

There is no cost to you to lease your water. State and district fees will be paid by the DRC. There are specific deadlines that apply and you are still responsible for paying your district assessment and controlling weeds on your property. Please contact COID for more information.

Please note: Certain leases are eligible for a per acre payment; it depends on how many acres you want to lease.

Can all COID patrons participate in the DRC’s Leasing Program?

Yes; with District approval. COID gives priority to those patrons who are in the 5th year of non-use of their water and need to immediately prove beneficial use to prevent forfeiture. After 7/1/2024, Instream leasing is considered an acceptable farming practice and will no longer jeopardize farm deferral.

Each summer, up to 130-135 cubic feet per second (cfs) of flow is protected – which is close to 4 times the amount of flow you would have seen in the Middle Deschutes just 20 years ago. In addition to the blue shaded 32 cfs of leased water in the chart above, another 115 cfs are protected in the Middle Deschutes through conservation during the irrigation season running from April through October.