Bend Whitewater Park to close for adjustments, modifications

Construction at the Bend Whitewater Park will resume during this year’s seasonal low-water period, resulting in a temporary closure of the park stating next week, the Bend Park and Recreation District said Monday.

“This next phase of construction was anticipated,” said Project Manager Chelsea Schneider. “Projects of this kind and magnitude often require modifications and adjustments after initial startup.”

The park will be closed to land or water access from Oct. 19 to Dec. 31 to allow construction equipment on site and to safeguard measures taken to protect fish and wildlife during the construction period, the district said.

Sedimentation booms will be in place to reduce turbidity downstream, officials said, and regular monitoring for water quality standards will take place.

The community will see a drop in water levels at Mirror Pond during the initial phase of this construction period.

The park district said it is working with PacifiCorp to allow more water to bypass the dam at Mirror Pond, in order to reduce “tail-water” at the Bend Whitewater Park.

A three-foot drop at Mirror Pond is anticipated as early as next week, with pond elevations returning to seasonal levels by the end of November.

For information on the project, go to http://bendparksandrec.org/Bend%20Whitewater%20Park/