COID wants to remind you, canals are not for recreating
BEND, Ore. [KTVZ] -- As summer temperatures soar, many residents seek relief from local waterways. However, officials are issuing a stern warning: keep yourself and your pets out of the irrigation canals.
KTVZ News witnessed what appeared to be two people encouraging their dogs to jump in the irrigation canal and retrieve what they’d thrown in. Looks fun! It’s also prohibited and illegal. Why?
According to law enforcement, pets are not allowed off leash except for private property where you have prior approval and specific dog parks. What about swimming in canals?
Jon Skidmore, Deputy Managing Director said:
“So, canals are not a recreational facility. We’re a utility provider, and really, it's not a good idea for anybody, any pet, to try to use the canals, recreationally. We do have debris racks up against various pipes that the canals will flow into. We don't want anybody getting trapped up against them. It's a utility. It's not a recreational waterway. If you want to go swim, go find a pool. Maybe go to one of the safe areas on the river and take a swim, but please don't do it in the canals.”
Central Oregon Irrigation District’s system consists of two main canals which run north, through Bend, Redmond and Terrebonne; and east, through Bend, Alfalfa and Powell Butte. Both canals divert water from the Deschutes River.
KTVZ News headed over to the Bend Park and Recreation District and spoke to Community Engagement Director Julie Brown, who says if you want an area for you and your pet to recreate, they can help with that.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have the trail system that we have. We're also incredibly lucky to have the Deschutes River running right through the middle of our community. So, you know, we facilitate access to the water for people and dogs at many locations. Right here at River Bend Park, we have an off-leash dog swimming opportunity.”
Dog owner and Bend resident Mark Drummond said he loves taking advantage of these spaces and also says to keep your pet safe, follow the leash laws.
“Dogs should always be on leash unless it's explicitly an off-leash park. Bend and the surrounding area does pretty carefully post rules around these things.”
If you’re in Bend, there are plenty of spaces for your dog to relax.
“We have nine off leash areas and they're distributed across the community. So, you can go on to our website if you're not familiar with where all of those are located,” said Brown.
As for swimming or throwing objects into canals, here’s what Sheila Miller, from the Bend Police Department, said:
“People and pets are not allowed to swim in the canals. I think the important thing to remember is these canals are on private property. They (the canals) are owned by the irrigation districts and the trails have an easement that allow the public to use them. But we have to think about these canals and these trails as private property that we've been invited to, to be a part of, and so if you do something like swim in the canals, first of all, it's super dangerous. But if you do that and the irrigation district catches you, you could be trespassed from that property.”
Miller also emphasized that these canals serve a critical role in our community’s infrastructure.
To be clear: Irrigation canals are located on private property, and only some have recreation easements that allow public use, within safety and other guidelines the landowners can and do set. Other canals, however, have no recreation easement allowing public access, so they are private property without permission for public use.
Let's all do our part to stay safe and respect these guidelines.
