REGULAR BOARD MEETING
MAY 13, 2003, 10:05 A.M.
TUMALO IRRIGATION DISTRICT
64697 COOK AVENUE
BEND, OREGON 97701
BOARD: Steve Putnam, Gary Blake, Jim Schlueter
STAFF: Elmer McDaniels, Shelby Smith, Jan Wickham, Ken Rieck
ATTORNEY: Bill Hopp
ENGINEER: Kevin Crew
GUESTS: Greg Card, Carl Yee, Jan Roofener, Jeff Rola, George Bach
Director Schlueter called the meeting to order at 10:05 A.M. and appointed Shelby Smith scribe.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Director Putnam made a motion that the minutes of the April 8, 2003 Regular Board Meeting and April 8, 2003 Executive Board Meeting be approved, seconded by Director Blake, motion carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF VOUCHER LIST
Director Putnam made a motion that the May 2003 Voucher List be approved, seconded by Director Blake, motion carried unanimously.
DESCHUTES SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT - JEFF ROLA, JAN ROOFENER, & GREG CARD
Mr. Rola with Deschutes Soil & Water Conservation District explained that one of their goals is increased availability of water for instream use. He said they have been working with Kristina Shockey (Whisenhunt), a District water user, on a cooperative agreement to pipe a portion of the Kickbush Lateral (a 5000-foot private ditch), which would improve her ability to receive her 4.0 acres of water rights at the farm. See attached map. There is a total of 60 acres of water rights on this lateral. Ken Rieck explained that each water user takes his/her water through an automatic divider, and if he/she stops irrigating, the water backs up and seeks its own level to the ditch and stops drawing water, all of which then flows to the end. If everyone on the lateral is irrigating, approximately 50-60% of the water reaches the water user. The last 1300 feet of the ditch was piped incorrectly several years ago. That pipe would have to be taken out and replaced. It would require a new delivery for John McNutt and Ms. Shockey. Ms. Roofener said Ms. Shockey would not need to apply for a conserved water right, because her conserved water would be part of the District’s Bend Feed Canal conserved water instream right of 5.8 cfs. Attorney Hopp said the District could resolve that the Bend Feed Canal water conservation project is for the benefit of all water users, and that as water users do water conservation projects, saving additional water will firm up the District’s commitment not only to serve those water users, but also to guarantee the requirements under the Bend Feed Piping Project to put water instream.
Director Putnam made a resolution that “the District accept the Deschutes Soil & Water Conservation District’s proposal for an on-farm water conservation project, and that the conserved water enhance the availability and supply of the Bend Feed Canal Project’s 5.8 cfs conserved water right, because the Bend Feed Canal Project’s conserved water right is for the benefit of all patrons of Tumalo Irrigation District”. Director Blake amended the resolution to include “the conserved water from this or any possible future on-farm projects will be part of
-2- Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, May 13, 2003
the 5.8 cfs conserved water right, and will belong to the District, and not to any eventual end user. District water users are encouraged to implement on-farm water conservation projects that insure compliance with the rules and policies of the 5.8 cfs conserved water right and the District’s Conservation Plan”. Director Putnam accepted the amendment to the original resolution. Director Blake seconded the resolution and the amendment, resolution carried unanimously.
CRESCENT LAKE WATER REPORT
Manager McDaniels said that Crescent Lake has 48,197 acre-feet. We have about 100 second feet total, and Tumalo Creek has 6 - 7 feet going by.
PROJECT 1B
Mr. Crew said the Project 1B pipe is holding 6 - 7 feet. We have been running water through it since May 1. The project is nearly complete, with sprinkler system and seeding still to be done.
LEGISLATION - WATER RIGHTS
House Bill 3298 “defines owner for purposes of water right. Specifies that owner of water right is person who holds water right and owns land to which right is appurtenant”. If this bill passes it could have negative impact on the Conservation Plan, possible future monetary transactions with the Bureau of Reclamation, and the District’s control over water transfers and water leases. It could require expensive construction projects by the District in order to deliver water to difficult sites. Attorney Hopp will write a letter to House Majority Leader Tim Knopp today, outlining the negative impact of this bill on the District. He suggested that the Board members individually call Ben Westlund, Tim Knopp, and Bev Clarno.
SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT - MEETING WITH CHRIS HUGHES
Manager McDaniels, Bob Varco, and Shelby Smith met with Chris Hughes with the Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Division. Our report is due by June 30, 2003. We have met the criteria of less than 15 connections. Mr. Hughes suggested that we might want to get signed and notarized affidavits from those accounts who claim to be hauling water. Current information is: total accounts - 623, wells - 552, hauling water - 32, treatment systems - 32, and no responses - 7. Those people who have not responded are not receiving water. The Board approved submitting the report with the current information.
WINTER GROUND WATER RECHARGE - MEETING WITH DAVID NEWTON
Manager McDaniels met with David Newton, consultant with the City of Bend. They discussed running water through our system and either dumping it in Tumalo Reservoir or building a channel down to the dry dam. Manager McDaniels said the problems would include winter maintenance, freezing in cold weather, gates, and fish screens. This is probably not a viable project, unless the City of Bend is prepared to deal with these problems.
-3- Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, May 13, 2003
FIRE DISTRICT
Manager McDaniels took two people from the Bend Fire Department on a tour of the District’s 240 acres next to Marianne Walker. The Fire Department wants the 150 acres the District sold to Mrs. Walker included as in our petition to include the 240 acres in the Fire District.
NEXT MEETING DATE
The next Regular Board Meeting will be Tuesday, June 10, 2003, at 10:00 A.M., at the District Office.
ADJOURNMENT
Director Putnam made a motion that the Regular Board Meeting be adjourned at 11:45 A.M., seconded by Director Blake, motion carried unanimously.