Public Notice Announcing Scoping Meetings Joint System Canal Modernization Project

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon, with Medford Irrigation District (MID) as the project sponsor, is considering improvements to the aging Joint System Canal. Rogue River Valley Irrigation District (RRVID) is a partner organization. Improvements under consideration may be partially funded through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Public Law 83-566) and would address water conveyance and operation inefficiencies while improving water delivery and drought resilience for the local agricultural community.

The proposed project is located in Jackson County, Oregon. The National Environmental Policy Act and the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500–1508 require an evaluation of potential environmental impacts associated with federal projects and actions with input from the public. A Notice of Intent for the project was published in the Federal Register on July 19, 2023.

You are invited to attend a public scoping meeting where your input is requested. One meeting will be in-person on August 17, 2023 and a virtual meeting will be held online on August 22, 2023. The range of resource issues and conceptual alternatives addressing system improvements to the Joint System Canal will be presented and discussed. Participants will have an opportunity to submit their comments, ideas, and concerns.

Public Scoping Meetings

In-Person Medford Public Meeting

August 17, 2023
6 – 7 p.m.
Medford Library, 205 South Central Ave., Medford, OR 97501

Virtual Medford Public Meeting

August 22, 2023
6 – 7 p.m.
Register for the online virtual public meeting at: oregonwatershedplans.org/medford-id

The meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to Kate Hart at (541) 716-6085 or kate.hart@fcasolutions.org.

Comments may be submitted during the public scoping period starting July 19, 2023 and ending on September 2, 2023. Comments may be emailed to medford.id.comments@gmail.com, submitted online at oregonwatershedplans.org/medford-id, left as a voice message at the Farmers Conservation Alliance’s office (541) 716-6085, or mailed to: Farmers Conservation Alliance, Attn: MID Scoping, 102 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031.

Additional information is available online at oregonwatershedplans.org/medford-id.​​​​​​​