August 2011 2011 August . . fiber postconsumer percent 20 least at containing paper on Printed
6541 6541 - 389 (541) Office Field Bend www.usbr.gov/pn
BLM BLM
the American public. public. American the
economically sound manner in the interest of of interest the in manner sound economically
related resources in an environmentally and and environmentally an in resources related
develop, and protect water and and water protect and develop,
of Reclamation is to manage, manage, to is Reclamation of
The mission of the Bureau Bureau the of mission The
Haystack Reservoir Reservoir Haystack
Recreation: 220,000 visits - $9 million million $9 - visits 220,000 Recreation:
igated crops: $108 million million $108 crops: igated r Ir
OREGON OREGON
What’s the Yearly Value Value Yearly the What’s
Project Project
Deschutes Deschutes
The Story of the the of Story The and water for municipal and industrial users. users. industrial and municipal for water and
need to succeed. It also provides recreation benefits benefits recreation provides also It succeed. to need
The Deschutes Project provides the water irrigators irrigators water the provides Project Deschutes The Benefits of the Deschutes Project Project Deschutes the of Benefits
The Terrain Building the Project Enhancing Irrigation
Unlike the Oregon coast’s lush forests, the terrain Congress passed the Reclamation Act in 1902 to Building the project did not end with the main canal east of the Cascade Mountains is a high desert with boost development of the arid West. The Bureau and the two dams. Reclamation built Haystack Dam plenty of evidence of its volcanic past. About 15 of Reclamation began creating water storage and and Reservoir in 1957 to improve water delivery by million years ago, rivers of molten lava covered irrigation networks by supporting locally developed storing water 40 miles closer to area farms. The much of central Oregon with basalt and obsidian. projects. Irrigators in the Deschutes River basin North Unit Irrigation District built the Crooked petitioned for a Federal water project at the turn of River pumping plant in 1968 to make additional the century, but the area first appeared too wild, too water available. remote, and of too little value for Reclamation to develop. The partnership of poverty and drought Irrigation enhancement and water conservation that nearly broke the West in the 1930s finally continue today as the irrigation districts work with brought engineers and irrigators together. Reclamation to reduce seepage by lining canals and replacing open canals with buried pipelines. The area districts are also fine-tuning their water use by adding measurement structures.
Reclamation continues to monitor and inspect Topinka, USGS Big Obsidian Flow 20 miles southeast of Bend the dams to ensure they will continue to provide irrigation benefits to the area. With the cooperation Wind and water then deposited a sandy loam over of water districts, Reclamation monitors and repairs the rock and ash. The summer’s drying winds, low the structures to help them withstand the aging precipitation (between 8 and 12 inches a year), and process and enhances the canals and laterals to high evaporation rate prevented most seeds from increase the project’s efficiency. germinating. However, human intervention has Early wheat farming made it possible to farm this high desert. Congress approved the Deschutes Project in 1937. President Roosevelt immediately dispatched Farming in the High Desert Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees to begin construction. The corps quickly rehabilitated Irrigation began in 1871 when farmers diverted the Crane Prairie Dam in 1940. World War II water from Whychus Creek near the town of delayed the project’s completion, but conscientious Sisters. Local farmers developed several canals objectors reinforced the corps. Wickiup Dam and and formed irrigation districts by the early 1900s, the 65-mile-long North Unit Main Canal were but the amount of irrigated land remained small. completed in the late 1940s. Though simple in The valley plains were first devoted to grazing design, the project features mid-century cutting- sheep and cattle. Dryland wheat farming gradually edge technology built by an unusually large replaced grazing, with initial harvests of 30 bushels labor force. per acre. In the 1930s, soil moisture became depleted, the yields dropped, and farmers began searching for more water. Some were in favor of Water travels through both lined and unlined canals developing irrigation at any cost; others were wary of a Federal partnership.
of a Federal partnership. partnership. Federal a of
developing irrigation at any cost; others were wary wary were others cost; any at irrigation developing
searching for more water. Some were in favor of of favor in were Some water. more for searching Water travels through both lined and unlined canals canals unlined and lined both through travels Water
depleted, the yields dropped, and farmers began began farmers and dropped, yields the depleted,
per acre. In the 1930s, soil moisture became became moisture soil 1930s, the In acre. per
labor force. force. labor replaced grazing, with initial harvests of 30 bushels bushels 30 of harvests initial with grazing, replaced
edge technology built by an unusually large large unusually an by built technology edge
sheep and cattle. Dryland wheat farming gradually gradually farming wheat Dryland cattle. and sheep
design, the project features mid-century cutting- mid-century features project the design, The valley plains were first devoted to grazing grazing to devoted first were plains valley The
completed in the late 1940s. Though simple in in simple Though 1940s. late the in completed but the amount of irrigated land remained small. small. remained land irrigated of amount the but
the 65-mile-long North Unit Main Canal were were Canal Main Unit North 65-mile-long the and formed irrigation districts by the early 1900s, 1900s, early the by districts irrigation formed and
objectors reinforced the corps. Wickiup Dam and and Dam Wickiup corps. the reinforced objectors Sisters. Local farmers developed several canals canals several developed farmers Local Sisters.
delayed the project’s completion, but conscientious conscientious but completion, project’s the delayed ter from Whychus Creek near the town of of town the near Creek Whychus from ter a w
the Crane Prairie Dam in 1940. World War II II War World 1940. in Dam Prairie Crane the Irrigation began in 1871 when farmers diverted diverted farmers when 1871 in began Irrigation
construction. The corps quickly rehabilitated rehabilitated quickly corps The construction.
Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees to begin begin to enrollees Corps Conservation Civilian t t resehDgie Hhn tg inimraF
President Roosevelt immediately dispatched dispatched immediately Roosevelt President
Congress approved the Deschutes Project in 1937. 1937. in Project Deschutes the approved Congress
made it possible to farm this high desert. desert. high this farm to possible it made
germinating. However, human intervention has has intervention human However, germinating. Early wheat farming farming wheat Early
high evaporation rate prevented most seeds from from seeds most prevented rate evaporation high increase the project’s efficiency. efficiency. project’s the increase
precipitation (between 8 and 12 inches a year), and and year), a inches 12 and 8 (between precipitation process and enhances the canals and laterals to to laterals and canals the enhances and process
the rock and ash. The summer’s drying winds, low low winds, drying summer’s The ash. and rock the the structures to help them withstand the aging aging the withstand them help to structures the
Wind and water then deposited a sandy loam over over loam sandy a deposited then water and Wind of water districts, Reclamation monitors and repairs repairs and monitors Reclamation districts, water of
irrigation benefits to the area. With the cooperation cooperation the With area. the to benefits irrigation
Big Obsidian Flow 20 miles southeast of Bend Bend of southeast miles 20 Flow Obsidian Big the dams to ensure they will continue to provide provide to continue will they ensure to dams the
Topinka, USGS USGS Topinka, Reclamation continues to monitor and inspect inspect and monitor to continues Reclamation
adding measurement structures. structures. measurement adding
area districts are also fine-tuning their water use by by use water their fine-tuning also are districts area
replacing open canals with buried pipelines. The The pipelines. buried with canals open replacing
Reclamation to reduce seepage by lining canals and and canals lining by seepage reduce to Reclamation brought engineers and irrigators together. together. irrigators and engineers brought
continue today as the irrigation districts work with with work districts irrigation the as today continue that nearly broke the West in the 1930s finally finally 1930s the in West the broke nearly that
Irrigation enhancement and water conservation conservation water and enhancement Irrigation
develop. The partnership of poverty and drought drought and poverty of partnership The develop.
remote, and of too little value for Reclamation to to Reclamation for value little too of and remote,
water available. available. water the century, but the area first appeared too wild, too too wild, too appeared first area the but century, the
River pumping plant in 1968 to make additional additional make to 1968 in plant pumping River petitioned for a Federal water project at the turn of of turn the at project water Federal a for petitioned
much of central Oregon with basalt and obsidian. obsidian. and basalt with Oregon central of much North Unit Irrigation District built the Crooked Crooked the built District Irrigation Unit North projects. Irrigators in the Deschutes River basin basin River Deschutes the in Irrigators projects.
million years ago, rivers of molten lava covered covered lava molten of rivers ago, years million storing water 40 miles closer to area farms. The The farms. area to closer miles 40 water storing irrigation networks by supporting locally developed developed locally supporting by networks irrigation
plenty of evidence of its volcanic past. About 15 15 About past. volcanic its of evidence of plenty and Reservoir in 1957 to improve water delivery by by delivery water improve to 1957 in Reservoir and of Reclamation began creating water storage and and storage water creating began Reclamation of
a e st of the Cascade Mountains is a high desert with with desert high a is Mountains Cascade the of st and the two dams. Reclamation built Haystack Dam Dam Haystack built Reclamation dams. two the and boost development of the arid West. The Bureau Bureau The West. arid the of development boost
Unlike the Oregon coast’s lush forests, the terrain terrain the forests, lush coast’s Oregon the Unlike Building the project did not end with the main canal canal main the with end not did project the Building Congress passed the Reclamation Act in 1902 to to 1902 in Act Reclamation the passed Congress
n n ioatgirrgIncianhnE t cejorePhg tnidliuB n iarrTeehT
Benefits of the Deschutes Project
The Deschutes Project provides the water irrigators need to succeed. It also provides recreation benefits and water for municipal and industrial users. The Story of the Deschutes Project What’s the Yearly Value Irrigated crops: $108 million OREGON Recreation: 220,000 visits - $9 million
Haystack Reservoir
The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. BLM www.usbr.gov/pn Bend Field Office (541) 389-6541
Printed on paper containing at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber. August 2011 Haystack Dam and Reservoir Portland Water from Wickiup Salem Reservoir is diverted into the North Unit Main Canal and
O R E G O N carried over 40 miles to Haystack Reservoir where it is Pelton Dam * stored until needed for irrigation. Round Butte Haystack Reservoir is a popular location for fishing, Dam * waterskiing, and even hydro boat racing. Wickiup Dam Constructed: 1939 -1949 Height: 100 ft Crest Length: 13,860 ft Water Storage: 200,000 acre -feet Crooked River Pumping Plant Crane Prairie Dam The North Unit Irrigation District pumps water 150 feet Constructed: 1939 -1940 up from the Crooked River Gorge into the North Unit Height: 36 ft Main Canal to provide additional irrigation water. Crest Length: 284 ft Water Storage: 55,300 acre -feet
Haystack Dam Ochoco Constructed: 1956 -1957 Dam * Height: 105 ft Crest Length: 1,200 ft Water Storage: 5,600 acre -feet Arthur R. 1 acre-foot of water is enough water to cover 1 acre of Bowman land 1 foot deep in water, or 325,850 gallons. Dam *
Delivering the Water Just north of the city of Bend, up to 1,000 cubic feet per second of water enters the North Unit Main Canal and travels about 65 miles to farms. The trip isn’t always on smooth ground. Flumes, siphons, and tunnels help the water overcome the sometimes rugged terrain.
Crescent Lake Dam *
*These dams are not Deschutes Project facilities.
One of Oregon’s Largest Typically, dams are anchored in the narrowest spot in a river canyon. Wickiup Dam was anchored in a prairie to create a large reservoir bottom. When full, Wickiup Dam’s 2.5 -mile -long crest creates a 15 -square -mile reservoir surface, one of Oregon’s largest bodies of water. Scott Richmond, Crane Prairie, Deschutes Headwaters Premier Fishing Opportunities Dr. Ernest Keeley, Idaho State University In addition to providing irrigation water, Crane Prairie Reservoir offers premier For the Fish fishing and a blue- ribbon rainbow trout Wickiup and Crane Prairie Reservoirs support fishery. Hundreds of acres of an numerous species of fish, including German 80 -year- old submerged forest provide brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, kokanee, excellent habitat for fish and aquatic and large mountain whitefish. insects. The reservoir is also an excellent breeding and nesting ground for a variety of waterfowl.
Recreation in the Deschutes River Basin
McCabe, USDA USDA McCabe, The Deschutes Project supports the tourism and What’s Growing recreation industries of central Oregon. Recreation at Today, over 102,000 acres use Deschutes For the Birds the reservoirs includes trophy fishing, camping, boating, Project water to grow alfalfa, wheat, Sandhill cranes, great blue herons, swimming, hunting, hiking, and biking. The Deschutes mint, pasture, bluegrass seed, carrot seed, Canada geese, bald eagles, and osprey National Forest manages the campgrounds around Crane potatoes, and other specialty crops. Area frequent the project’s 16,000 acres Prairie and Wickiup Reservoirs, and each reservoir is dairies and livestock operations use project- of reservoir surface and 75 miles of near a private concession for lodging and recreational grown feed supplies to produce milk shoreline. Birdwatching opportunities supplies. The concessionaire at Haystack Reservoir also products, beef, and lamb. are plentiful. offers boats for rent.