EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Preliminary System Improvement Plan

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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Preliminary System Improvement Plan September 19, 2016

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3 As the General Manager of Central Oregon Irrigation District, it has become apparent to myself and our staff that we need to modernize our 100-year-old system of canals. Responsibly managing our water supplies is not only important to the families and businesses who rely on us for their water, but it is essential for the long-term sustainabity of Central Oregon s natural resources. I m proud that COID has taken the first step in creating a comprehensive Capital Project Plan that will help guide this much-needed modernization. The first phase is the System Improvement Plan that includes a detailed evaluation of our main water conveyance system and potential Hydro opportunities. The report identifies specific sections of canals COID should improve upon in the future. The report also describes the specific benefits we would realize from these actions, including water conservation and additional flows in the Deschutes River for fish, wildlife and recreation. COID has taken unprecedented steps to conserve water, improve fish and wildlife habitat and responsibly manage our natural resources. But there is more work ahead of us. While COID s System Improvement Plan is a valuable tool, it is just one of many steps we need to take in the future. For example, we will soon turn our sights to identifying on-farm conservation measures and additional fish and wildlife actions. All of these steps take time and can be expensive. We are committed to working with our partners on solutions that benefit farms, fish and families in the Deschutes Basin. Craig Horrell General Manager September 19, 2016

4 Farming and ranching have long played important roles in Central Oregon s development. Agriculture continues to contribute to the region s economy through job creation, capital investment and reliable economic activity. From thriving farmers markets in Bend and Tumalo to internationally competitive farms in Madras, Redmond and Terrebonne, farming is a critical part of our region s way of life. The irrigation districts (Districts) play an invaluable role in conveying water throughout the Deschutes Basin to many farm and ranch families, and are also improving fish and wildlife habitat. The Deschutes Basin Board of Control represents the eight irrigation districts. The Districts, in concert with conservation groups and local, state and federal agencies are increasing instream flows in rivers and creeks, improving fish passage into historical habitat and working to establish ecologically important wetlands. Since 2000, the Districts have reduced annual irrigation diversions by over 80,000 acre-feet to increase flows in the Deschutes River, Little Deschutes River, Crooked River, Ochoco Creek, Whychus Creek, Tumalo Creek and Crescent Creek and benefit salmon, steelhead, bull trout, Oregon spotted frog and other species. The Districts are also partnering with Fortune 500 companies to develop clean, renewable hydropower. Four small, micro-hydropower projects are now producing enough electricity for over 6,000 homes. The Districts are working with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and over a dozen basin stakeholders on the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (DBHCP). When complete, the DBHCP will result in the implementation of specific projects to protect, restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat. The DBBC is in integral part of the Upper Deschutes Basin Study. This collaborative initiative is being funded with $1.5 million by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Oregon s Department of Water Resources to develop necessary information for future water-management options in the Deschutes Basin. The study is scheduled for completion in early The information gathered from this study will be used to create a holistic approach to Central Oregon Irrigation District s System Improvement Plan.

5 Deschutes Basin Irrigation Districts Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) Lone Pine Irrigation District (LPID) Arnold Irrigation District (AID) Metoilus River JEFFERSON Lake Billy Chinook NUID Madras North Unit Irrigation District (NUID) Swalley Irrigation District (SID) Tumalo Irrigation District (TID) Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) Ochoco Irrigation District (OID) AF = Acre Feet Sisters Whuchus Creek Deschutes River HAYSTACK (NUID) 5,650 AF LPID OID McKay Creek Prineville TSID COID OCHOCO 44,247 AF Redmond CROOK Crooked River TID SID reek Tumalo C PRINEVILLE 148,640 AF Lava Lake Little Lava Lake Bend Deschutes River AID AID DESCHUTES CRANE PRAIRIE 45,000 AF Fall River Paulina Creek Paulina Lake WICKIUP 200,000 AF Little Des chutes River La Pine 15,000 AF 30,000 AF COID AID LPID OREGON SPOTTED FROG TID NUID CRESCENT LAKE 86,900 AF Crescent Creek Gilchrist CRANE PRAIRIE 45,000 AF CRESCENT LAKE 86,900 AF Stored Water Rights WICKIUP 200,000 AF 5 Irrigation Districts have stored water rights that effect the Deschutes river. Optimizing reservoir use is a critical component in providing reliable water for our basin and restoring habitat.

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8 WINTER Flows are held back in winter to fill the reservoir to ensure enough water is available for summer irrigation. Wickiup Reservoir SUMMER UPPER DESCHUTES Fish can become stranded when flows get too low. Flows can vary dramatically from cfs depending on climate conditions in winter. Average 40 cfs WINTER 1800 cfs SUMMER BENHAM FALLS Tributaries and natural springs add flow to the river above Benham Falls year round. BEND Irrigation diversions around Bend reduce streamflows in the Middle Deschutes in Summer. 550 cfs WINTER 1800 cfs SUMMER MIDDLE DESCHUTES 550 cfs WINTER cfs SUMMER Low flows and increased water temperature impact fish habitat. Lake Billy Chinook cfs = Cubic Feet per Second

9 SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PLAN OVERVIEW Central Oregon Irrigation District operates and maintains over 400 miles of canals that collectively deliver water to approximately 46,222 acres of productive land. The volcanic nature of the Central Oregon geology results in the propensity for seepage losses in many areas of the COID canal system. To become more efficient, COID is analyzing its entire system through a comprehensive System Improvement Plan (SIP). The purpose of the SIP is to: Evaluate the district s primary and secondary canal systems. Develop a mitigation plan for the seepage losses. Analyze the opportunities to deliver pressurized water to its patrons. Evaluate hydro power opportunities while delivering pressurized water. There are two primary alternatives for the mitigation of seepage losses: lining our existing canals or replacing the open canals with buried pipe. In our study, a 50-year life-cycle evaluation of lining versus piping alternatives revealed that lining may be less expensive to implement in its first installation cycle than piping. Canal lining, however, requires significant maintenance and replacement cycles that ultimately cause it to exceed the cost of piping over time. Coupled with the approximate 700 feet of elevation differential across the district, piping is the preferred choice for responsible water management because it supports the following: Opportunities for pressurized water for our patrons. Reduced power consumption (by eliminating the need for pumps). Long-term operation and maintenance cost benefits. In addition to pressurized deliveries, reduced energy consumption, power savings and reduced maintenance cost, this elevation differential will allow for potential hydropower opportunities to help fund our water conservation and restoration projects with the benefit of clean, renewable energy.

10 Aging infrastructure with high water loss on the Pilot Butte Canal

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12 CONSERVATION PHASES By piping COID s two main canals, the District could conserve 82,752 acre-feet of water. This is a significant amount of water equal to an increased flow of 276 cfs in the Upper Deschutes River during the winter months. Pilot Butte Canal Currently, the percent of public funding used for conserved water projects must equal the percent of conserved water protected in stream. COID s conserved water that is protected in stream currently benefits the Middle Deschutes. Conserved water that does not have to be protected in stream can be used forjunior water right holders, mitigation credits or expanding irrigated farmlands.conserved water through piping projects will be used to reduce the demand for stored water in the region s dams and reservoirs. For example, COID could use all or a portion of the conserved water to reduce its reliance on stored water in Crane Prairie Reservoir, or COID could transfer a portion of the conserved water as live flow with a priority date of 1907 to one of the other irrigation districts. Using the live flow, the district could then commit through the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan to limit storage as needed to maintain a corresponding increase in the minimum instream flow downstream of Wickiup Reservoir during the winter. COID s 42,666 acres are served by two primary canals, the Central Oregon Canal and the Pilot Butte Canal, as well as some direct deliveries from the Deschutes River that were not included in the SIP analysis. The Central Oregon Canal conveys water to 25,257 acres and at the time of measurement had an estimated loss of 99 cfs or 32,127 acre-feet. The Pilot Butte Canal conveys water to 17,338 acres and had approximately 156 cfs or 50,625 acrefeet of loss. 17,338 acres The Pilot Butte Canal delivers water to 17,338 acres of land. Piping Sections Estimated Conservation 171,819 AF 171,819 AF of water is diverted to service the patrons on the Pilot Butte Canal during the irrigation season. Estimated Cost -50,625 AF The main Pilot Butte canal showed a total loss of 50,625 AF of water. Cost per CFS Rivers Edge cfs $27,140,966 $735, Deschutes Market cfs $28,699,448 $1,090, Canal cfs $30,381,606 $1,100, Veterans Way cfs $23,516,216 $871, Redmond 6.34 cfs $33,285,710 $5,250, King Way cfs $25,068,026 $1,879, Smith Rock cfs $15,034,397 $812, Total cfs $183,126,369 $1,173,886.98

13 AID JEFFERSON NUID Smith Rock Dry Canyon Metoilus River Lake Billy Chinook Madras Whuchus Creek Deschutes River HAYSTACK NUID 5,650 AF LPID OID McKay Creek King Way Sisters Prineville TSID COID OCHOCO 44,247 AF TID SID Redmond Crooked River CROOK Redmond Tumalo Creek Bend Deschutes River AID DESCHUTES PRINEVILLE 148,640 AF Redmond Fall River Paulina Creek Paulina Lake Veterans Way Brasada Deschutes River Canal Copley Deschutes Market Rivers Edge PILOT BUTTE CANAL DIVERSION Powell Butte Bend Bear Creek Ferguson Alfalfa Market Brookswood Gosney Sky Wagon CENTRAL OREGON CANAL DIVERSION

14 AID JEFFERSON NUID Smith Rock Dry Canyon Metoilus River Lake Billy Chinook Madras Whuchus Creek Deschutes River HAYSTACK NUID 5,650 AF LPID OID McKay Creek King Way Sisters Prineville TSID COID OCHOCO 44,247 AF TID SID Redmond Crooked River CROOK Redmond Tumalo Creek Bend Deschutes River AID DESCHUTES PRINEVILLE 148,640 AF Redmond Fall River Paulina Creek Paulina Lake Veterans Way Brasada Deschutes River Canal Copley Deschutes Market Rivers Edge PILOT BUTTE CANAL DIVERSION Powell Butte Bend Bear Creek Ferguson Alfalfa Market Brookswood Gosney Sky Wagon CENTRAL OREGON CANAL DIVERSION

15 Central Oregon Canal 25,257 acres 250,297 AF -32, AF The Central Oregon Canal delivers water to 25,257 acres of land. 250,297 AF of water is diverted to service the patrons on the Central Oregon Canal during the irrigation season. The main Central Oregon Canal showed a total loss of 32, AF of water. Piping Sections Estimated Conservation Estimated Cost Cost per CFS Dry Canyon 4.00 cfs $16,913,502 $ 4,228, Brasada 4.65 cfs $30,415,122 $6,540, Copley 7.87 cfs $25,296,243 $3,214, Powell Butte 6.01 cfs $27,914,928 $4,644, Alfalfa Market cfs $32,241,838 $1,519, Sky Wagon cfs $21,476,997 $922, Gosney 5.62 cfs $28,092,126 $4,998, Bear Creek 8.11 cfs $21,381,153 $2,636, Ferguson cfs $24,929,530 $1,910, Brookswood 5.18 cfs $26,457,287 $5,107, Total cfs $225,118,726 $2,576,956.83

16 HYDROPOWER The purpose of COID s System Improvement Plan (SIP) is to identify opportunities to conserve water, to provide pressurized water to our patrons and to improve our overall water management. Hydropower generation is a secondary consideration. Nonetheless, renewable energy is becoming increasingly important in Central Oregon. For decades, irrigation districts like COID have been using water flowing through existing irrigation canals to generate electricity. This type of energy generation is clean, renewable and carbon-free. Throughout the process of developing the System Improvement Plan COID evaluated a number of potential micro-hydropower options throughout the district s service area, on both the Pilot Butte and the Central Oregon canal systems. While large-scale hydropower projects at dams are often criticized for their impacts on fish and wildlife habitat, these smaller micro-hydropower projects do not cause the same impacts. Located along irrigation canals, and not on a river or stream, these small facilities use the energy from water rushing through a canal to spin turbines and produce electricity, cleanly and efficiently. Micro-hydropower projects are beneficial for a number of reasons. First, these projects generate revenue. This revenue can be used to help defray the cost of large-scale water conservation projects, which often result in increased instream flows in the Deschutes River for salmon, steelhead, Oregon spotted frogs and other species and for recreation. Second, micro-hydropower projects are usually built in conjunction with buried pipe to replace older, open canals. Piping canals helps to improve public safety. Finally, because these projects result in the replacement of older, open canals with new, pressurized systems, local farmers and ranchers benefit. Pressurized systems conserve water, and provide a more consistent, reliable flow of water for crops, livestock and for other uses. COID will work closely with the local community, state and federal agencies and all stakeholders to evaluate the potential for any new micro-hydropower projects in its service area. COID HYDRO PILOT BUTTE CANAL Cooley Hydro 2.9 MW The Greens Hydro 80 kw Yew Hydro 110 kw Salmon Hydro 2.3 MW Coyner Hydro 500 kw Smith Rock Hydro 25 kw Sedgewick Hydro 500 kw Project Cost Estimate $9,609,375 $923,438 $923,438 $7,560,938 $2,515,313 $513,750 $2,874, Year Total Revenue $12,317,608 -$629,315 -$245,553 $10,003,756 $1,024,001 -$488,006 $897,316 Cost Per MegaWatt $3,313, $11,542,975 $8,394,890 $3,287, $5,030,626 $20,550,000 $5,749,376 NOTE: Juniper Ridge Phase 2 adds 1.7 MW to the existing Juniper Ridge hydro facility COID HYDRO CENTRAL OREGON CANAL Dodds Hydro 2.7 MW Alfalfa Hydro 1.5 MW Riggs Hydro 150 kw Wiley Hydro 225 kw Project Cost Estimate $8,811,563 $6,231,250 $1,016,875 $1,196, Year Total Revenue $6,024,135 $2,008,608 -$19,064 $398,634 Cost Per MegaWatt $3,263, $4,154, $6,779, $5,318,057.78

17 AID Crooked River Sedgewick Hydro Smith Rock Hydro Metoilus River JEFFERSON Lake Billy Chinook NUID Madras Coyner Hydro Deschutes River HAYSTACK NUID 5,650 AF McKay Creek Whuchus Creek LPID OID Sisters Prineville TSID COID OCHOCO 44,247 AF Redmond CROOK TID SID Tumalo Creek Bend AID PRINEVILLE 148,640 AF Salmon Hydro Fall River Deschutes River DESCHUTES Paulina Creek Paulina Lake Yew Hydro The Greens Hydro Redmond Riggs Hydro Wiley Hydro Deschutes River Alfalfa Hydro Existing Juniper Ridge Hydro 3.3 MW PILOT BUTTE CANAL DIVERSION Cooley Hydro Bend Existing SSP Hydro 5.5 MW Dodds Hydro CENTRAL OREGON CANAL DIVERSION MW = Megawatt

18 WHAT S NEXT? September 2016 Phase One: System Improvement Plan Phase one is a water loss and cost analysis of COID s main canal system as well as the cost and revenue potential for micro hydropower opportunities within the canal system. April 2017 Phase Two: On-Farm Analysis Phase two is an analysis of on-farm and private lateral water loss and inefficiencies as well as a cost analysis for improvements. June 2017 Phase Three: Capital Project Plan Phase three is a comprehensive capital project plan that combines a variety of information from phase one and two as well as other studies that are currently underway. This plan will optimize efficiency and cost as COID looks to package projects for funding.

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20 STAKEHOLDERS Throughout our history, local, state and federal agencies, agricultural and conservation groups and other stakeholders, have supported the District s efforts to responsibly manage our water supplies. Their support has been invaluable. We plan to continue to work closely with these groups and many, many others as we implement the System Improvement Plan. Deschutes Basin Board of Control Arnold Irrigation District Lone Pine Irrigation District North Unit Irrigation District Ochoco Irrigation District Swalley Irrigation District Three Sisters Irrigation District Tumalo Irrigation District Bend Metro Parks and Recreation Department Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Deschutes River Conservancy Deschutes Water Alliance Energy Trust of Oregon Oregon Department of Energy Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Water Resources Department Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Portland General Electric Company The Bureau of Reclamation The City of Bend The City of Prineville The City of Redmond The City of Sisters The Family Farm Alliance Trout Unlimited Upper Deschutes Watershed Council U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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22 1055 SW Lake Court Redmond, Oregon coid.org