Cascade Business News: New Solution to Better Allocate Water
By Noah Nelson — CBN Feature Writer
It is no secret that water in the Deschutes River Basin can be a contentious issue. Everyone, from municipalities and resorts to the farmers that grow our food, needs access to water to function. While water is generally available, moving it between uses is not always as simple as it sounds, especially when dealing with complex and sometimes even outdated water laws.
According to Central Oregon LandWatch, by 1913 all the water rights were already over allocated in the Deschutes River Basin. Assessments have revealed an annual short of up to 355,000 acre feet. (For reference, Wickiup Reservoir holds about 200,000 acre feet of water).
Whether there’s a drought or not, the rivers and creeks front the problem, resulting in different species becoming endangered; not to mention the concerns of many farmers in the area who have had to contend with water scarcity when their irrigation water is cut early.
“Rivers and streams bear the brunt, as do farmers in Jefferson County with old water rights,” said Jeremy Austin, Wild Lands & Water program director for Central Oregon LandWatch.
In collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, irrigation districts and local municipalities in coordination with the Oregon Water Resource Department, the Deschutes River Conservancy is developing the Deschutes Water Bank.
According to LandWatch, “A water bank is a set of pre-approved processes that allow water to be voluntarily transferred between uses to meet community needs. Water that is not needed in its historical use, either temporarily or permanently, can be deposited in the bank and made available for withdrawal to serve other uses. Bank rules guard against speculation, waste and harm to the river or other water users. All bank transactions are voluntary, and participants receive payment for their water. It supports basin water right holders in securing water for agriculture, municipal use, and instream flows.”
Essentially, a water bank helps address the main problems faced by the Deschutes River Basin, including allocation, addressing water scarcity and taking steps to preserve the health of the river itself.
Irrigators who do not need all their water can deposit it in the bank and receive payment, enhancing farm revenue. Farmers who need more water can purchase it through the bank, reducing fallowing and enhancing the agricultural economy. Municipalities can access a reliable, affordable source of water to meet growing demand, and river flows can be enhanced through allocation of a portion of banked water to instream use.
“In simple terms, the bank is improving our ability to move and allocate water,” said Austin.
A bill is currently going through the Oregon state legislature that would affect the future of this project. Oregon HB 3806, which “authorizes the Water Resources Commission to approve a Deschutes River water bank pilot program,” would directly impact whether or not local groups can move forward with the proposed water bank. Central Oregon LandWatch and other supporters of the water bank project are in support of HB 3806, and eagerly await a decision from the house committee.
According to LandWatch, “We’re optimistic about legislation that would help address inefficient water management practices in the Deschutes Basin, better align water deliveries with crop water needs, and open up pathways to move water more easily to better meet agricultural, environmental and municipal needs into the future.”
