Deschutes River Conservancy salutes Tumalo Irrigation District
Praises agency's record flows in Tumalo Creek
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Tumalo Irrigation District’s water stewardship responsibilities may have already come to an end for the year, but they have not gone unnoticed by the Deschutes River Conservancy, which said "the district "set the bar quite high for 2019 Tumalo Creek water restoration efforts."
Given the large diurnal fluctuations, the mix of water rights,and over-appropriation of Tumalo Creek, water management can be quite challenging, the organization said in a news release, which continues below:
With continuous improvements to Tumalo Irrigation District’s delivery system, conservation, careful water management, and participation in the Deschutes River Conservancy-facilitated instream water leasing program, the district was able to leave over 18 cubic feet per second (cfs) in Tumalo Creek during the hottest part of the summer and an average of 45 cfs over the full season.
Maintaining flows in Tumalo Creek is important for aquatic habitat, wildlife and maintaining riparian areas. Tumalo Creek’s cool, clean water also contributes significantly to the health of the middle Deschutes River. The district has made great strides in continuing to improve flows in Tumalo Creek while serving its patrons.
Ron Nelson, DRC’s executive director, commends the efforts: “The staff and board of the Deschutes River Conservancy thank Tumalo Irrigation District for the excellent job performed this summer. We observed that they took their water stewardship responsibilities seriously and worked hard to assure that both patrons and Tumalo Creek were well served this year.”
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About the Deschutes River Conservancy: Twenty-three years ago, the Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) formed with a mission to restore streamflow and improve water quality in the Deschutes River Basin. The DRC specializes in programs and projects that employ voluntary, market-based incentives to restore flows. The DRC is non-litigious and serves as leaders and facilitators of basin-wide water management conversations. The board is comprised of key private and public stakeholders in the basin. The organization has worked with eight irrigation districts and over 200 landowners to restore over 200 cubic feet per second of streamflow to the basin’s rivers and streams. A part of this work includes the DRC’s Water Leasing Program which restores over 14 billion gallons of water per year (60 cubic feet per second) to the Deschutes River Basin. That makes up 30% of the summer flows in the Middle Deschutes.
About Tumalo Irrigation District:
Tumalo Irrigation District (TID) is a community of people united in their respect for the critical role sustainable agriculture plays in the region. For nearly 120 years, Tumalo Irrigation District has been the steward of critical water resources in Central Oregon, serving more than 665 families, managing 80 miles of piped and open canals, and irrigating 8,100 acres. TID is dedicated to improving water flows in the Deschutes River, Tumalo Creek, and Crescent Creek; restoring and protecting native habitat; ensuring reliable water supply for agriculture and recreation; and supplying glacial water to cool the warming Deschutes River.
