Bend Bulletin: Central Oregon starts irrigation season with high reservoirs
Water allocations for North Unit Irrigation District farmers have nudged higher for the third year in a row, thanks largely to increased snowpack and precipitation in Central Oregon.
Last week the North Unit board announced that farmers would receive 1.5 acre-feet of water per acre from the Deschutes River and 0.75 acre-feet from the Crooked River. That is better than the 1 acre-foot from the Deschutes and half an acre-foot from the Crooked they were allotted a year ago.
While higher than in previous years, the amounts are still below historic averages when North Unit farmers received 2.25 acre-feet from the Deschutes River. That amount has not been delivered since 2018. North Unit Irrigation District provides water to nearly 59,000 agricultural acres in Jefferson County.
“Things are looking better. We're definitely trending upwards here positively. We're still not fully out of the woods as far as drought conditions,” said Josh Bailey, general manager of the irrigation district. “So we are still shy on the allotments.”
Gradual releases
To prepare for the deliveries, North Unit has gradually started increasing releases from the Wickiup Reservoir spillway. The releases are gradual to protect wildlife habitat and reduce bank erosion.
As of Wednesday, 417 cubic feet of water per second was coming out of Wickiup. The releases are expected to rise to 600 cfs by mid-April to support habitat for the Oregon spotted frog, as required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Water deliveries for North Unit and other irrigation districts will also commence in mid-April.
“We were up ramping up, (the dam tender) was up at all times of the night making flow adjustments at the dam and then getting multiple adjustments after that to get everything dialed in to the 400 cfs required flow,” said Bailey.
Wickiup Reservoir is topping out this spring at 88% full. A year ago it reached 77% and two years ago it was just 66% full. Other regional reservoirs are similarly near capacity, with Prineville Reservoir at 85% full, Ochoco Reservoir at 86% full and Haystack at 85% full.
Increasing levels year after year are largely due to a North Unit strategy of keeping some water at the bottom of the reservoir, rather than draining it down to near empty.
These higher levels have been boosted by excellent snowpack this winter. As of Wednesday, snowpack in the Upper Deschutes and Crooked Basin was 148% of normal and precipitation for the water year is 124% of normal, according to data compiled by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Crescent Lake remains an outlier, as it starts the irrigation season at just 23% full due to drought and its unique location. The reservoir is just east of the summit of the Cascades in Northern Klamath County.
“The lake is much bigger than the drainage can supply,” explains Jeremy Giffen, the Deschutes Basin watermaster. “This means that it takes several wet years to fill it and several dry years to drain it.”
While the snowpack and reservoir levels are a positive sign for farmers, many remain concerned about low commodity prices. Many farmers this year plan to plant a cover crop to keep their field healthy but say actual production will be limited due to low prices for wheat, hay, grass seed and other crops.
Water for recreation
“Turning on” the Deschutes River in April also has impacts for river-goers in Bend. It typically takes two to three days for the increased amounts to reach Bend. When the water does arrive it increases the height of the river through the Old Mill District and the Bend Whitewater Park.
“Between snowmelt and runoff, and the increasing releases at the dam, the wave is growing every day,” said Ryan Richard, the official “wave shaper” for Bend Park & Recreation District.
Courtney Braun, owner of Bend-based Wanderlust Tours, said she is “thrilled” by the high reservoir levels and well-above-average snowpack.
“This means a recharge for our rivers, lakes and streams during a time in which water as a resource is not always abundant,” said Braun. “More water will mean a longer season of paddling for us as well as a chance to talk about water allocation with guests.”
Park district officials warn surfers to prepare for cold water temperatures due to the large amount of snowmelt in the river.
“Recreate with another person and have quality gear that is intended for a river environment,” said Julie Brown, a spokesperson for the district.
