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