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Notice of Informal Online Scoping Public Meeting for Central Oregon Irrigation District 

Notice of Informal Online Scoping Public Meeting for Central Oregon Irrigation District 

The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess the potential environmental impacts from improvements to the Pilot Butte Canal.

Formed over 100 years ago, the Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) provides irrigation water throughout Central Oregon, with a service area of approximately 50,000 acres of irrigated lands and over 400 miles of main and lateral canals. A large portion of the canal system is open channel and unlined, which presents challenges for water loss in the system, providing reliable and efficient water delivery to patrons, and issues related to public safety. The District currently experiences up to 50 percent water loss in the District’s irrigation system from seepage and evaporation.

COID is proposing a continuation of its modernization of the main stem of Pilot Butte Canal, approximately 25 miles from current improvements in Redmond, Oregon to its diversion in Bend, Oregon.

Modernization and optimization options related to piping and partial pressurization will help address operational challenges and improve in-stream flows in the Deschutes River system, where altered streamflow due to water storage and diversion is a primary concern for aquatic habitat and organisms. This includes listed threatened and endangered species.

During the online meeting, project partners will provide background information on the proposed project, the National Environmental Policy Act including scoping and the Environmental Impact Statement process, NRCS-specific regulations, and public involvement activities.

Date: October 20, 2021
Time: 6 PM to 7 PM
Meeting: Online meeting link will be available prior to meeting at www.coidpiping.com

Due to COVID-19 public event restrictions, the meeting will be held virtually using Zoom. A recording of the meeting will be available afterward at www.coidpiping.com.