deschutes basin board of control bend – may 8, 2009
TRANSCRIPT
Deschutes BasinBoard of Control
Bend – May 8, 2009
North Unit ID
Three Sisters ID
Ochoco ID
Central Oregon ID
Tumalo ID
Arnold ID
Swalley ID
3
4
5
6
Deschutes Basin Board of Control
Irrigation Districts•TSID 1895 - 7,568 acres•Swalley 1899 - 4,359 acres•COID 1900 - 44,784 acres•Arnold 1905 - 4,384 acres•Tumalo 1905 - 8,094 acres•North Unit 1913 - 58,908 acres•Ochoco 1928 - 20,145 acres
TOTAL 148,242
Irrigation DistrictConcerns
Preserve water rights & supplies
Continue to serve patrons
Wanting to support reintroduction
ESA exposure
-No legal protections
THE FEAR OF LOSS
DBBC Action Steps
Contacted LicenseesCTWS & PGE
Contacted Congressional Delegation
Meetings with NOAA, USFWS & USBR
Framework of Plan developedImmediate to Long Term
Operating Framework
Enforcement Discretion Letters to Irrigation Districts – May 2010
10j Rule
Experimental, Non-Essential
Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)
Enforcement Discretion Letters
NMFS Will Not Legally Target Irrigation Districts – 2010
Based on Unprecedented and Continuing Conservation Work Piping inefficient canals and placing
water permanently instream over last 10 years
10jExperimental, Non-Essential
Proposed Rulemaking Underway by NOAA
Requires Scientific Study Could Run 5-7 Years or More Protects All Who Operate Within the
Law- Including Landowners, Cities, Counties,
Farmers & Ranchers
HCP
DBBC Leading the HCP Effort City of Prineville joined 2008
DBBC Convening Stakeholders
Seeking Long-Term Year Incidental Take Permits
Contractual Commitment to Conservation & Restoration Actions
HCP
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Deschutes River Conservancy
Trout Unlimited Bureau of Land
Management ODFW
Portland General Electric
American Rivers Water Watch NOAA US Fish & Wildlife Bureau of
Reclamation Many others
Challenges Ahead
$500K per year for HCP development – 5 to 7 years Grant funding of $306K thru Sept 2009 Grant request not awarded for 2009-2011
Desire to continue conservation projects during HCP development
Funding for Conservation Projects Reclamation, Stimulus and Appropriations
HCP success benefits all Parties but not all share the costs
“Minimize and mitigate to maximum extent practicable” is not same standard for all Parties
No guarantees on obtaining ITPs
Deschutes BasinBoard of Control
Steve Johnson – Manager COID