REGULAR BOARD MEETING
March 10, 2007, 10:00 A.M.
TUMALO IRRIGATION DISTRICT
64697 COOK AVENUE
BEND, OREGON 97701
BOARD: Bob Morrow, Steve Putnam, Patricia Gainsforth
STAFF: Elmer McDaniels, Cyndi Presnell, Jan Wickham, Ken Rieck, Bob Varco
ATTORNEY: Bill Hopp
ENGINEERS: Kevin Crew, Jon Burgi
GUESTS: Steve Chapman, Elizabeth Van Horn, Jeff Rola
Vice-Chairman Morrow called the meeting to order at 10:05 A.M. and appointed Cyndi Presnell scribe.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Director Putnam made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2007 Regular Board Meeting and February 13, 2007 Executive Board Meeting, seconded by Director Gainsforth, motion carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF VOUCHER LIST
Director Putnam made a motion to approve the March 2007 Voucher List, seconded by Director Gainsforth, motion carried unanimously.
CRESCENT LAKE WATER REPORT
Manager McDaniels said that Crescent Lake has 45153 acre-feet and is 52% full. Manager McDaniels said that he would expect to see another 15000 to 20000 acre feet over April, May and June.
LETTERS AND RESPONSE TO NUNZIE GOULD
Director Putnam said that he had a long conversation with Nunzie Gould. Director Putnam said that she had some concerns and wanted to speak her mind. The District’s efforts in responding to her letter seemed to be appreciated. Director Putnam said that he feels the water users in the District may not fully understand the value of the piping projects that have been completed.
Last week Manager McDaniels and Kevin Crew met with Sharon Smith and Paul Dewey (Attorney for Tumalo Town Association). Kevin Crew said that Mr. Dewey brought up four points concerning the long range plans for the Butte. These were traffic control, visual impact, access by the public, and deed restriction. Mr. Crew did not think that adding eight properties would affect traffic to any great degree. Access to the public cannot be avoided, because the road built would be a public thoroughfare. Mr. Dewey also requested deed restrictions to prohibit further subdividing. Mr. Crew said that was not likely going to happen.
LETTER FROM STEVE CHAPMAN
Mr. Chapman is currently renewing a Forest Service Lease for his cabin at Crescent Lake. He was requesting that his irrigation water at his home on Laidlaw Lane be transferred for use at his Crescent Lake cabin. His irrigation water is not District water, it is Tumalo Town Ditch. Mr. Chapman said that there are 72 cabins at Crescent Lake and most of those pump water out of the lake for domestic purposes. Attorney Hopp stated that
his main concern was the Clean Drinking Water Act. Attorney Hopp also said that he was not sure, from a water rights standpoint, that the water could be transferred. Assistant Manager Ken Rieck said that there is no storage right for Tumalo Town Ditch water users. Director Gainsforth commented on the possibility of a shared well for every three cabins. She asked if that avenue had been approached by the cabin owners. Mr. Chapman said he was unaware of any such approach. Manager McDaniels suggested building a cistern and hauling water. Mr. Chapman said that he thought that the Forest Service would regulate that as well. Director Putnam suggested that they haul in a trailer with a water tank each time they use the cabin. The Board agreed that there was not much that we could do to help him.
UPDATE ON FIELD WORK
Field Supervisor Bob Varco reported on the various projects going on throughout the District. Mr. Varco said that the flow meters are in place on the Highline project. The capacity test (during the February stock run) slightly exceeded design. Deschutes River Ranch was the other large project this season. It was also flow tested this last stock run and the results were pleasing. The Tail water holding pond for the Deschutes River Ranch has yet to be completed. Some changes to Tumalo Feed Canal Fish Screens include setting large baffle bricks in the intake to increase the velocity of the water. Float wheels were installed to alarm the District to a possible problem with the brushes. Mr. Varco reported that we experienced five outages last season and hopes to reduce that number by implementing these possible remedies. A new permanent sharp crested weir was installed in the Bend Feed Canal Fish Screens and moved the hydromet site up to the fish screen intake.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Manager McDaniels said that the Notice that was included in the Board packets has been changed. The District’s hearing has been postponed with the new hearing date to be determined.
WATER SEASON START DATE
Director Putnam made a motion to approve April 16, 2007 as the water season start date, seconded by Director Gainsforth, motion carried unanimously.
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS and RULES AND REGULATIONS
Director Gainsforth made a motion to amend the by-laws to read as follows: Paragraph A.8. All District records except those exempted in ORS 192.501, 192.502 and 192.505 are open to inspection by water users at the District Office during business hours. Management or Board approval is required before District records be copied. No District records may be removed from the District Office, seconded by Director Putnam, motion carried unanimously. This was the second reading of this motion.
Director Gainsforth made a motion to amend the Rules and Regulations to read as follows: C(1) Right of Way. The District claims an easement for purposes of water transmission and maintenance in connection with all District waterways to include pipelines to the greatest extent provided by law. Identification of waterways, including piped section, shall be as represented by the map at the irrigation district office., seconded by Director Putnam, motion carried unanimously. This was the second reading of this motion.
OTHER BUSINESS
Easement offered by Chris Sillers- Manager McDaniels said that Mr. Sillers offered an easement through his property at the price of $220,000.00. The Board agreed that the District was not interested.
Brian Meano from Fieldstone Energy – Mr. Meano requested a spot on the March 13th Board Meeting Agenda. Manager McDaniels told Mr. Meano that the District would need to be provided with some information from him and set a meeting at 2 pm after the Board Meeting. Manager McDaniels has not heard from him since. Manager McDaniels sent Mr. Meano an E-mail canceling the meeting.
Ellen Hammond from the Department of Agriculture – Ms. Hammond called offering a class on noxious weeds and canal contamination. Manager McDaniels said that he was interested in the program, but did not see an opportunity for the field crew to make time for it this spring. He thought that Mid-July might be a better time.
Jeopardy Water – Assistant Manager Ken Rieck said all jeopardy water, with the exception of one to be discussed in executive session, had been cleared. Three water users promised to irrigate this season and all of the others signed up for the Instream Lease Program.
Jane Gill – Attorney Hopp said that services for Jane Gill will be held at Rock Springs, March 24th at 2 pm. She passed away in her sleep at their winter home in Rancho Mirage. Jane was the mother of Former Chairman of the Board John Gill and wife of Rockne Gill. Manager McDaniels said the District will send a card and flowers.
Eliminating the exemption for domestic wells – Director Putnam raised a question on the status of legislation for mitigating for domestic water. Copies of an article in the March 13th 2007 Bend Bulletin were reviewed.
Instream Leases – Jan Wickham said the District has 239 acres of water on 23 leases. Included in the 23 are 6 water users who were on the jeopardy list.
Tumalo Community Association – Elizabeth Van Horn said the Community Association is creating a website and included a link to the history on the District’s web- page. Tumalo Community Association has scheduled an Open Meeting on Saturday April 21st from 10am until 2 pm at the Tumalo School. Topics will include water, weed, and traffic issues.
NEXT MEETING DATE
The next Regular Board Meeting will be Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at 10:00 A.M., at the District Office.
ADJOURNMENT
Director Putnam made a motion that the Regular Board Meeting be adjourned at 11:15 A.M., seconded by Director Gainsforth, motion carried unanimously.