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     WE  URGE  YOUR  SUPPORT  OF  SENATE  BILL  839  

 We  are  writing  to  voice  our  support  for  SB  839,  groundbreaking  legislation  creating  a  Water  Supply  Development  Account  to  provide  loan  and  grant  funding  for  a  variety  of  water  supply  and  management  projects.  We  are  a  diverse  group  of  water  users,  conservation  groups,  municipalities,  and  water  stakeholders  with  a  common  goal:  to  advocate  for  common  sense  water  policies  that  move  Oregon’s  economy,  communities,  and  environment  toward  a  secure  water  future.    Now  is  the  time  to  capitalize  on  the  momentum  of  Oregon’s  Integrated  Water  Resources  Strategy  (IWRS),  adopted  in  2012,  by  creating  a  funding  source  for  instream  and  out-­‐of-­‐stream  water  supply  projects  in  Oregon  that  can  create  jobs  to  help  grow  our  economy,  keep  our  cities  healthy,  strengthen  vital  agricultural  production,  and  protect  and  enhance  our  environmental  assets.  SB  839  represents  the  culmination  of  an  intensive,  collaborative  stakeholder  process  to  create  a  viable  funding  program  for  water  supply  development  projects  that  provide  multiple  public  benefits  (environmental,  economic,  and  social/cultural).    Funding  Program  for  Water  Supply  Development  Projects  At  its  core,  SB  839  creates  a  process  for  awarding  both  loans  and  grants  to  undertake  water  supply  development  projects.    SB  839  allows  for  applicants  to  propose  a  host  of  different  project  types  including  new  or  expanded  above  ground  storage,  water  conservation,  infrastructure  and  efficiency  improvement,  reuse,  stream  flow  protection,  and  more.    A  diverse  mix  of  project  types  are  needed  to  meet  Oregon’s  current  and  future  water  needs.  SB  839  fills  a  vital  niche  by  providing  a  viable  and  competitive  funding  source  for  these  types  of  projects.    Scoring  and  Ranking  Projects  Based  on  Public  Benefits  SB  839  proposes  developing  a  project  scoring  and  ranking  system  to  aid  the  Water  Resources  Department  (WRD)  in  making  funding  decisions.  This  system  will  be  based  on  the  degree  to  which  proposed  projects  provide  three  categories  of  public  benefits:  economic,  social  or  cultural,  and  environmental.    To  be  eligible  for  funding,  projects  must  provide  benefits  in  all  three  categories.  If  Oregon  is  going  to  invest  significant  public  funds  in  a  water  supply  project,  that  project  should  be  calibrated  to  provide  a  range  of  public  benefits  in  return.  The  actual  scoring  and  ranking  criteria  will  be  developed  in  rulemaking  along  with  other  program  details  discussed  below.    Instream  Requirement  Applicable  Only  to  Grants  for  New  or  Expanded  Above-­‐Ground  Storage  For  grants  to  build  new  or  expanded  above-­‐ground  storage,  SB  839  requires  that  the  project  dedicate  25%  of  newly  developed  water  instream.   This  requirement  does  not  apply  to  all  other  project  types,  though  it  is  an  optional  way  to  satisfy  the  environmental  benefit  requirement  for  those  project  types  (see  attached  flow  chart).   We  believe  this  is  a  workable  requirement  that  does  not  unduly  burden  projects  and  will  provide  necessary  environmental  benefits  to  justify  the  granting  of  public  dollars.    Furthermore,  the  amended  language  clarifies  that  this  requirement  is  not  in  addition  to  existing  federal  or  other  instream  requirements.  

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Seasonally  Varying  Flow  Protections  One  promising  strategy  for  meeting  Oregon’s  future  water  needs  in  the  face  of  climate  change  and  population  pressures,  is  to  increase  our  ability  to  store  high  winter  and  spring  runoff  flows.  However,  high  flows  play  vital  biological,  ecological,  and  physical  roles  in  shaping  rivers  and  habitat  for  fish  and  other  species.  SB  839  lays  out  a  rulemaking  process  for  developing  a  methodology  to  set  Seasonally  Varying  Flows  (SVFs)  to  allow  storage  of  high  flows  in  a  way  that  is  compatible  with  the  biological,  ecological,  and  physical  needs  of  rivers,  fish,  and  wildlife.  For  a  subset  of  projects  seeking  funding  under  the  SB  839  process,  WRD  will  be  required  to  use  this  methodology  to  set  SVFs  before  funding  the  project  and  before  issuing  any  permits,  licenses,  or  certificates  involved  in  the  project.  WRD  may  pay  the  costs  of  establishing  SVFs  from  the  SB  839  account  to  relieve  applicants  of  this  burden.    In  the  amended  version  of  SB  839,  SVF’s  are  meant  only  to  apply  to  funded  projects  and  not  to  supersede  any  other  existing  requirements  and/or  flow  protections.    Funding  and  Fixing  Existing,  Ongoing  Efforts  in  the  Willamette,  Deschutes,  and  Umatilla  Basins    SB  839  also  includes  provisions  to  allow  WRD  to  fund  two  important  existing  projects.  A  diverse  group  of  water  users,  municipalities  and  conservation  groups  have  been  working  with  the  US  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  since  1996  on  reallocating  existing  Willamette  basin  stored  water  to  both  instream  and  out-­‐of-­‐stream  uses.  The  process  is  stalled  until  the  state  comes  forward  with  matching  funds  required  by  the  Army  Corps.  SB  839  would  allow  WRD  to  expend  funds  from  the  Water  Supply  Development  Account  for  this  purpose  and  leverage  federal  dollars  committed  to  the  effort.    The  second  existing  project  is  a  proposal  by  the  Deschutes  Water  Alliance  to  work  with  the  Bureau  of  Reclamation  to  engage  in  a  comprehensive  basin  planning  effort.   As  in  the  Willamette  example,  SB  839  would  allow  WRD  to  expend  funds  from  the  Water  Development  Account  to  match  expenditures  by  the  Bureau  of  Reclamation  for  this  important  project.  We  feel  it  is  vital  to  allow  WRD  to  provide  necessary  cost  match  for  the  Willamette  and  Deschutes  projects  because  it  leverages  federal  dollars  for  Oregon  that  could  be  lost  if  WRD  cannot  provide  timely  funding.    SB  839  also  contains  a  negotiated  fix  to  HB  3369’s  (2009)  funding  of  the  Umatilla  Basin  Aquifer  Recharge  Project.  This  change  will  help  the  project’s  proponents  successfully  complete  the  first  project  phase,  including  a  commitment  to  provide  significant  environmental  benefit.  The  work  group  and  the  undersigned  organizations  are  supportive  of  these  changes  and  urge  your  support  as  well.    In  addition  to  the  flow  chart,  we  have  attached  a  list  of  examples  of  potential  water  supply  projects  that  could  be  funded  by  SB  839.    

Meeting  our  water  needs  will  require  diverse,  innovative  projects  and  strategies  and  SB  839  has  been  carefully  tailored  to  do  just  that.  

The  future  of  water  management  in  Oregon  depends  on  taking  steps  now  to  encourage  and  fund  collaborative  water  supply  development  projects.  

 We  urge  your  support  for  SB  839.  

 Thank  you.  

 

SB 839 Water Supply Development Fund

     

Develop Project Application          

Grants for New or Expanded Above Ground Storage

Grants & Loans for All Other Project Types

     

Pre Application Mtg. w/OWRD (Optional)

           

Final Application            

Public Comment  

           

Grant Condition: - Twenty five percent (25%) of newly developed water must be dedicated to instream use

Technical Review Team  

Public benefit scoring and project ranking based on: - Environmental benefits;

- Social or cultural benefits; and - Economic benefits

       

Other Public Benefit scoring based on: - Social or cultural benefits; and - Economic benefits

Water Resources Commission Approval

         

Final Funding Award

 

 Optional automatic environmental benefit credit: - Volunteer to dedicate twenty five percent (25%) of conserved or newly developed water instream to satisfy environmental benefit requirement

 

POTENTIAL  WATER  PROJECTS  FUNDED  BY  SB  839  The  following  examples  of  potential  water  supply  projects  that  could  be  funded  by  SB  839  are  provided  for  

illustrative  purposes  and  are  not  meant  to  imply  that  all  projects  are  fully  designed  or  ready  to  be  implemented.  

 Deschutes  Basin  Deschutes  Basin  Study  | Deschutes  Water  Alliance  Irrigation  districts,  cities,  Tribes,  environmental  groups,    and  the  numerous  other  members  of  the  Deschutes  Water  Alliance,  along  with  the  state  and  related  agencies    have  joined  together  to  complete  a  comprehensive  Basin  plan  that  will  build  on  previous  studies  and  investments  with  the  goal  to  meet  all  water  needs  in  the  basin,  such  as:  restore  and  protect  instream  flows,  create  more  reliable  supply  for  critical  agriculture  and  municipal  use,  and  continue  to  balance  the  needs  of  growth  and  the  environment  into  the  future.   A  sum  of  $750,000  is  needed  to  match  federal  grant  funding  from  the  Bureau  of  Reclamation’s  (BOR)  WaterSMART  Basin  Study  Program  for  a  total  cost  of  $1.5  million.  This  study  would  be  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  federal  BOR,  which  has  both  the  resources  and  the  expertise  to  complete  this  task.    Multiple  Projects  | North  Unit  Irrigation  District  The  North  Unit  Irrigation  is  one  of  the  largest  irrigation  districts  in  Oregon,  serving  more  than  58,000  acres  of  irrigated  land  in  the  Deschutes  Basin.   The  District  has  a  variety  of  new  and  ongoing  water  supply  projects  that  need  state  funding  to  better  leverage  federal  funds  and  district  resources.    

• Lateral  58-­‐9  Piping  Project–  The  North  Unit  Irrigation  District  is  in  process  of  piping  5  miles  of  open  ditch  delivery.   This  is  a  phased  project  with  Phase  I  nearing  completion.   Phase  II  and  III  will  pipe  the  remaining  3.5  miles.   All  three  phases  of  the  project  combined  will  cost  $1.3  million.  $237k  was  spent  to  complete  Phase  I  of  the  project,  with  funding  assistance  from  the  US  Bureau  of  Reclamation  (USBR),  Oregon  Watershed  Enhancement  Board  (OWEB),  and  other  funds.    The  district  is  requesting  funding  assistance  from  multiple  agencies  for  Phase  II  and  III,  some  of  which  require  matching  funds.    The  benefits  to  this  project  include  increasing  water  quality,  700  acre  feet  (af)  of  conserved  water  benefit,  minimizes  or  eliminates  end  user  reliance  on  power  supply  via  pressurized  system,  and  provides  an  opportunity  for  inline  hydroelectric  power.  

 • Lateral  58-­‐11  Piping  Project  –  The  district  is  also  piping  3.5  miles  of  open  ditch  delivery  on  a  

different  lateral  which  is  estimated  to  be  $1.2  million  to  complete  the  project.   The  benefits  include:  565  af  conserved  water  annually,  minimize  or  eliminate  end  user  reliance  on  power  supply  via  pressurized  system,  and  provide  opportunity  for  inline  hydroelectric  power.  The  district  is  requesting  funding  assistance  from  multiple  agencies.   2,400  feet  of  48”  pipe  will  be  installed  in  2012/2013  and  has  received  some  USBR/OWEB  and  other  funding  to  initiate  part  of  the  project.  

 • Lateral  37  Piping  Project-­‐  A  feasibility  evaluation  has  been  completed  for  piping  another  12  miles  

of  open  ditch  delivery.    The  project  cost  is  an  estimated  $17  million.     The  conserved  water  benefits  include:  minimize  or  eliminate  end  user  reliance  on  power  supply  via  pressurized  system  and  provide  opportunity  for  inline  hydroelectric  power.   The  district  is  looking  for  large  funding  grants  to  complete  the  project.  

 • South  Juniper  Butte  Piping  and  Re-­‐Use  Project  -­‐  North  Unit  Irrigation  District  is  partnering  with  

Jefferson  County  Soil  and  Water  Conservation  District  and  are  proposing  to  redesign  and  implement  a  water  conservation  and  re-­‐use  project  in  the  South  Juniper  Butte  Area.  The  project  

 

area  is  4,700  acres  of  irrigated  farm  land  with  re-­‐use  and  conservation  benefits.   A  feasibility  study  is  currently  in  progress  and  made  possible  through  funding  by  an  OWRD  grant.    Costs  unknown.  

 • Bend  Diversion  Fish  Screen  Project  -­‐  Replace  two  rotary  fish  screens  with  fisheries  compliant  

fish  screens.   The  project  is  needed  to  meet  current  screening  approach  velocity  and  screen  size  requirements.  This  project  was  studied  in  2003  with  recommendations  provided  by  the  USBR.  The  project  cost,  based  on  USBR  estimates,  is  $3  million.    The  District  is  looking  for  applicable  grant  funding  to  pursue.  

 • Hydro  Development  Plan  -­‐  The  district  has  identified  8  potential  in-­‐conduit  hydropower  

generation  sites  (with  the  exception  of  Haystack  Reservoir)  with  the  potential  to  generate  nearly  13  MW  of  power  project  with  an  average  site  cost  of  $3.5  million  (all  combined  it  is  a  $30  million).   A  feasibility  study  to  further  define  identified  opportunities  and  potential  new  opportunities  is  currently  underway.   These  projects  will  also  contribute  to  conservation  as  portions  of  the  projects  will  be  piped.  The  district  is  looking  for  incentives/grants/loans  to  pursue  feasible  projects.  

 • Crooked  River  Pump  Retrofit  Project  –  The  district  would  like  to  replace  nine  450  HP  pump  

motors  (40+  year  old)  with  high  efficiency  motors  with  Variable  Frequency  Drives  (VFD).    Current  energy  costs  alone  to  the  district  are  $300k  a  year  to  pump  20k  –  25k  af  of  water.   High  Efficiency  Motors  with  VFD  could  reduce  costs  and  energy  demands  as  much  as  30%  to  50%  and  maintains  consistent  river  levels.  VFD  control  estimate  is  $90k  per  motor.   Pursuing  VFD  control  to  utility  company  funding  is  not  available  for  public  agencies.  The  district  is  currently  looking  for  grants,  incentive  funding,  and  loans.  

 • Main  Canal  Radial  Arm  Gate  and  Telemetry  Modernization  Project  -­‐  Installation  of  radial  arm  

gates  at  5  district  structures  linked  to  telemetry  will  modernize  and  improve  existing  canal  structures  to  allow  for  the  better  management,  use,  efficiency  and  conservation  of  irrigation  water  by  providing  for  real-­‐time  adjustments  to  meet  changing  demand  conditions.    The  project  will  cost  $200k  per  site.  

 • Haystack  Reservoir/Main  Canal  Ramp  Flume  Project-­‐  The  district  would  like  to  pursue  

construction  of  a  ramp  flume  downstream  of  the  Haystack  Reservoir  discharge.   Installing  a  ramp  flume  at  the  base  of  Haystack  Reservoir  will  modernize  our  system  of  measurement  allowing  water  conservation  of  approximately  3600-­‐acre  feet  annually.   The  flume  will  cost  $150k  and  the  SCADA  cost  is  $30k.  

 • Lateral  58  Lining/Piping  (Portion)  –  The  District  would  like  to  line  or  pipe  a  portion  (approx.  

1200’)  of  Lateral  58  where  significant  seepage  occurs.  Estimated  costs  will  be  $300  –  $500k  depending  on  application.   Public  benefits  include:  public  safety,  conservation,  and  operational  efficiency.    The  conserved  water  will  be  stored  to  supplement  the  district’s  supply  during  dry  years  and/or  could  contribute  to  the  basin  water  bank  and/or  in-­‐stream  program.  

 • Bend  Headworks  Automation  Project  -­‐  The  current  float  type  controller  system  has  been  in  use  

since  1942.  This  system  is  also  responsible  for  maintaining  flows  in  the  Deschutes  River  during  the  irrigation  season.    Installing  SCADA  with  the  Programmable  Logic  Controller  will  modernize  their  measurement  and  control  system.  Estimated  cost  is  $50k.    Applied  for  USBR  funding.  

 

• Water  System  Optimization  Study  –  The  district  is  pursuing  a  system  optimization  study  for  conversion  of  open  ditch  to  piped  facilities.   The  results  of  the  study  will  provide  for  prioritization  of  piping  projects  within  the  district  based  on  hydraulic  computer  modeling  and  data  analysis  identifying  the  projects  that  provide  the  most  gain.   This  study  will  also  identify  optimum  piping  sizes  and  delivery  locations.   The  estimated  cost  is  $40k-­‐$60k.  

 • Irrigation  System  Efficiency  Review  and  Benchmarking  –  The  district  would  like  to  do  a  study  

that  identifies  potential  for  water  conservation  within  the  project,  specific  weaknesses  in  project  operations,  management,  resources  and  hardware,  and  specific  modernization  actions  that  can  be  taken  to  improve  project  performance  and  efficiencies.    The  estimated  cost  is  $15k  performed  by  Cal  Poly  San  Luis  Obispo.  

 Grande  Ronde  Basin  Wallowa  Lake  Dam  Rehabilitation  Wallowa  Lake  dam  needs  to  be  fixed  in  order  to  store  its  full  permitted  amount  of  water.    For  years  the  reservoir  has  been  operating  below  full-­‐pool  for  safety  reasons.   With  an  investment  in  rehabilitating  the  dam,  the  additional  water  that  could  be  stored  under  the  existing  storage  permit  could  be  put  to  multiple  beneficial  uses  including  summer  in-­‐stream  flow  restoration  in  the  Wallowa  River  and  tributaries,  and  downstream,  out-­‐of-­‐stream  beneficial  use  for  irrigation,  perhaps  as  far  away  as  the  Umatilla  Basin.    Lostine  River  Water  Conservation  | Landowners,  Local  Restoration  Groups,  and  the  Bureau  of  Reclamation  Landowners,  local  restoration  groups  (SWCD,  Grande  Ronde  Model  Watershed,  others)  and  the  Bureau  of  Reclamation  have  long  been  studying  the  potential  for  major  irrigation  facility  upgrades  for  Lostine  River  irrigation.   More  than  8,000  acres  are  irrigated  with  Lostine  River  water.   Yet  the  delivery  systems  for  that  irrigation  are  in  varying  states  of  disrepair  and  many  are  inefficient.  Project  partners  estimate  that  a  comprehensive  re-­‐design  of  Lostine  River  irrigation  could  result  in  major  Instream  benefits  (10-­‐35  CFS)  while  also  providing  irrigators  with  a  more  reliable,  pressurized  irrigation  system.   In  addition  to  instream  and  irrigation  benefits,  project  proponents  also  believe  the  project  could  have  a  significant  micro-­‐hydro  component  to  provide  ongoing  community  economic  benefit.  

   Catherine  Creek  Managed  Underground  Storage  Project  SB  1069  funding  was  used  to  study  the  feasibility  of  using  Aquifer  Storage  and  Recovery  (ASR)  to  store  high  winter  and  spring  flows  in  Catherine  Creek  for  late  summer  release  to  benefit  listed  Chinook  salmon.  In  addition  to  obvious  instream  benefits,  this  project  would  also  relieve  pressure  on  local  irrigators  who  face  potential  ESA  liability  if  the  listed  Chinook  are  negatively  impacted  by  their  water  use.  

   

Hood  River  Basin  Multiple  Projects  | Middle  Fork  Irrigation  District  

• Inlet  Tower/Fish  Passage  –  The  District  would  like  to  install  a  new  variable  inlet  tower  on  reservoir  to  provide  better  water  temperature  management  with  criteria  fish  screen  and  downstream  trap  and  haul  facilities  with  alternate  outlet  from  reservoir  (~  8  million).       Issues  addressed  by  this  project  would  be  water  quality,  fish  passage  and  protection  with  criteria  screening.  

 

• Piping  Project  –  Also,  the  District  would  like  to  convert  existing  diversion  to  an  approximately  6000  ft  pipeline  that  would  improve  on  farm  water  quality  by  removing  glacial  sediment,  improving  the  ability  of  the  district’s  irrigators  to  deploy  new  efficient  irrigation  methods  (micro  and  drip  systems).  Additionally,  this  would  free  up  stored  water  in  the  lake  for  late  season  use  to  improve  stream  flow.    Additionally,  this  project  would  make  efficiency  improvements  in  their  hydropower  operation.     This  project  will  cost  approximately  $2  million.  

 • Downstream  Fish  Passage  Improvement  –  They  would  also  like  to  pursue  Clear  branch  dam  

downstream  improvements  and  fish  trap  facility  by  establishing  trap  and  haul  program.  The  Clear  branch  dam  project  will  cost  an  estimated  $1  million  in  consultation  permitting.    The  district  has  completed  fish  passage  feasibility  studies,  stream  flow  studies  and  has  had  many  meeting  with  all  the  regulatory  agencies  for  several  years  related  to  this  and  the  other  potential  projects.  

 Fifteenmile  Comprehensive  Irrigation  and  Water  Management  Upgrades  | Multiple  Irrigators    Irrigators  in  the  Fifteenmile  watershed  are  strong  supporters  and  early  adopters  of  many  water  and  energy-­‐saving  management  practices  through  existing  USDA  and  OWEB  funding  sources.  Continued  investment  in  irrigation  infrastructure,  in-­‐stream  gauging,  and  diversion  measurement,  could  help  this  watershed,  which  suffered  a  major  steelhead  kill  during  low  flows  in  2009,  manage  their  ongoing  exposure  to  ESA  liability,  while  providing  more  efficient,  higher  productivity  water  management  options.    Klamath  Basin  Multi-­‐Purpose  Water  Conservation  Project  | Klamath  Irrigation  District  Klamath  Irrigation  District  is  seeking  funding  to  pipe  portions  of  open  canal,  replace  an  existing  siphon  and  flume,  and  other  improvement  to  aging  infrastructure  that  is  essential  to  delivering  scarce  water  supplies.    The  benefits  of  this  project  include  increased  water  conservation  and  efficiency,  increased  capacity  for  existing  hydropower  project,  reduced  pumping  costs  to  the  district  and  its  water  users,  and  improved  conditions  for  ESA  listed  fish  species.   The  district  has  used  its  own  resources  to  fund  a  feasibility  study  and  is  seeking  Bureau  of  Reclamation  (BOR)  WaterSMART  grant  funding  to  implement  the  identified  projects  and  will  need  access  to  state  matching  funds.    The  total  project  cost  is  estimated  to  be  $8-­‐15  million  and  can  be  implemented  in  phases.    Water  Conservation  &  Efficiency  Project  | Enterprise  Irrigation  District  The  Enterprise  Irrigation  District  is  seeking  funding  to  assist  with  ongoing  efforts  to  improve  water  conservation  and  efficiency.    The  district  has  already  invested  $80,000  and  received  additional  assistance  from  the  BOR  that  resulted  in  successfully  piping  90%  of  previously  open  canals  but  additional  funding  is  needed  to  continue  the  piping.    As  part  of  the  project  the  district  is  also  seeking  funding  to  update  or  replace  an  old  pumping  station,  install  a  Variable  Frequency  Drives  (VFD),  and  install  updated  meters  for  improved  water  measurement.    The  benefits  of  these  efforts  include  increased  water  conservation,  improved  efficiency  in  water  delivery,  reduced  electricity  costs  to  the  district  and  its  water  users,  and  other  benefits  to  the  local  economy  and  community.     Estimated  total  cost  is  ~$150,000-­‐250,000.    Owyhee  Basin  Water  Quality  &  Water  Conservation  Project  | Owyhee  Irrigation  District  The  Owyhee  Irrigation  District  is  undertaking  several  efforts  to  improve  water  quality  and  increase  water  conservation  in  the  district.    They  have  already  been  awarded  a  $300,000  BOR  WaterSMART  grant  to  complete  phase  I  of  a  project  that  converted  flood  irrigation  systems  to  a  pressurized  sprinkler  system.  

 

This  project  resulted  in  reducing  and  eliminating  sediment  and  nitrates  from  returning  to  the  Lower  Owyhee  River.  In  conjunction  with  this  they  also  piped  many  of  their  canals,  which  led  to  further  water  conservation.  For  the  second  phase  of  this  project,  they  plan  on  applying  for  an  additional  WaterSMART  grant  of  $300,000,  but  need  local  or  state  funding  to  meet  the  matching  funds  requirement  for  the  grant.    The  benefits  of  this  project  include  increased  availability  of  water  supplies  to  support  local  food  production,  improved  stream  flows  that  benefit  a  variety  of  fish  species,  and  variety  of  other  environmental,  economic,  and  social  benefits  to  rural  Eastern  Oregon.    Rogue  Basin  Oak  Street  Water  Conservation  Project  | Talent  Irrigation  District  As  per  the  recently  published  Biological  Opinion,  the  BOR  is  required  to  improve  fish  passage  on  Ashland  Creek  at  the  District’s  Ashland  Creek  Diversion.    The  preferred  design  alternative  is  to  remove  the  diversion  dam  and  allow  the  creek  to  follow  its  natural  channel  to  Bear  Creek.   The  total  dam  removal  is  contingent  on  the  District’s  ability  to  replace  the  water  that  has  historically  been  diverted  through  the  diversion  by  water  conservation  through  piping  4,700’  of  the  upper  reach  of  the  Talent  Canal,  called  the  Oak  Street  Water  Conservation  Project  (OSWCP).   It  is  estimated  that  the  OSWCP  will  cost  nearly  $2  million.   The  District  has  already  applied  for  $763,750  in  funding  through  the  BOR’s  WaterSMART:  Water  and  Energy  Efficiency  Grant  and  is  looking  for  additional  funding  partners.  Without  additional  funding  sources,  the  District  would  be  unable  to  proceed  with  the  OSWCP,  and  Reclamation  would  need  to  pursue  a  much  less  desirable  alternative  for  the  Ashland  Creek  fish  passage.   These  two  components  combined  will  restore  and  enhance  the  natural  flow  in  the  lower  3,000’  of  Ashland  Creek  while  at  the  same  time  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  District’s  delivery  infrastructure.     These  are  major  goals  of  the  Water  for  Irrigation  Stream  and  Economy  (WISE)  Project,  an  Oregon  Solutions  Project,  and  the  reason  why  the  OSWCP  is  being  promoted  as  a  WISE  demonstration  project.    Umatilla  Basin  Lateral  Piping  Project  | Hermiston  Irrigation  District  The  Hermiston  Irrigation  District  (HID)  has  used  BOR  and  OWEB  grants  to  pipe  their  existing  open  canal  laterals  over  the  last  several  years.  Their  projects  consist  of  replacing  the  open  canals  with  PVC  pipelines,  and  requiring  anyone  flood  irrigating  to  convert  to  a  water  efficient  irrigation  system  such  as  sprinkler  or  drip  irrigation.  They  use  the  grant  funds  to  pay  for  the  new  pipe  and  materials  while  meeting  the  grant  matching  fund  requirements  with  an  in-­‐kind  match  using  the  districts  own  labor  and  equipment  to  build  the  project.  Being  able  to  use  an  in-­‐kind  match  is  what  makes  these  projects  economically  feasible  for  the  district.  The  district  would  be  interested  in  using  other  grant  opportunities  in  the  future,  the  projects  that  we  do  typically  range  between  $150,000  to  $200,000  depending  on  the  size  of  the  project,  and  the  cost  of  materials.    Willamette  Basin  Willamette  Basin  Reallocation  Study  | Oregon  Water  Resources  Department  &  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  There  are  thirteen  federal  storage  projects  in  the  Upper  and  Middle  Willamette  Basin  that  collectively  store  1.64  million  acre-­‐feet  of  water.    The  Army  Corps  of  Engineers,  who  operates  and  manages  these  reservoirs,  is  required  to  reallocate  some  of  the  stored  water  to  meet  Endangered  Species  Act  (ESA)  instream  flow  obligations  for  listed  fish  species.   The  Willamette  Basin  Reallocation  study  will  determine  the  appropriate  amount  of  stored  water  to  meet  future  and  current  fisheries,  municipal,  agricultural,  and  recreational  needs.   The  study  will  take  four  years  and  an  estimated  $2  million  to  complete.   The  study  requires  that  the  State  (WRD)  provide  50%  in  matching  funds  to  participate,  which  is  approximately  $1  million  over  the  next  4  years.   Additionally,  improving  access  to  built  storage,  including  

 

access  to  federally  managed  water  supplies,  to  serve  a  range  of  beneficial  uses,  is  a  recommended  action  of  the  Integrated  Water  Resources  Strategy  (Recommended  Action  10B).    Fish  Screens/Passage  Restoration  | Santiam  Water  Control  District  Santiam  Water  Control  District  would  like  to  upgrade  their  existing  fish  screens  to  meet  more  stringent  criteria  and  also  needs  funding  to  study  options  for  improving  fish  passage  in  the  Santiam  River  while  ensuring  reliable  water  supply  for  the  district’s  water  users.    These  options  include  rebuilding  an  existing  diversion  dam  to  be  more  efficient  and  fish  friendly,  as  well  as  streambed  restoration  and  other  mitigation  components.    The  district,  and  more  importantly  the  water  users  who  pay  for  water  delivery,  does  not  have  the  resources  to  fund  these  items  on  their  own  and  needs  access  to  additional  funding  sources  to  apply  for  and  match  limited  federal    funds.   The  benefits  of  the  project  would  include  improved  fish  passage  and  increased  water  efficiency  and  certainty  for  the  farmers  and  other  water  users  that  depend  on  reliable  water  supplies.