The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) – Pilot Butte Canal Infrastructure Modernization Project.

COID aims to modernize irrigation infrastructure to improve the efficiency of its system by conserving water, improving water delivery reliability to COID and North Unit Irrigation District patrons, and reducing long-term operation and maintenance costs on approximately 18.5 miles of the COID-owned Pilot Butte Canal. The project addresses watershed problems and resource concerns including water loss in COID conveyance systems, water delivery and operations and maintenance inefficiencies, including risks to public safety. Implementation of the proposed action, the Modernization Alternative with the Pilot Butte Canal Alternative Alignment options in both the City of Bend and the City of Redmond, would address COID’s objectives and goals to reduce seepage loss and provide better-managed water diversions for farm use, support agricultural land use and increase public safety.

The project is a joint effort among NRCS Oregon and Deschutes Basin Board of Control as lead sponsor and Central Oregon Irrigation District as co-sponsor, in coordination with other agencies, stakeholders, and the public.

This Notice has been forwarded to various Federal, State and local agencies and interested parties. The Record of Decision will be published no sooner than 30 calendar days after publication of the Final EIS. Find the Final EIS and other information on the project page here.

For more information, contact Gary Diridoni, NRCS, at (503) 414-3092 or gary.diridoni@usda.gov.