Preliminary Investigative Report for the Tumalo Irrigation District Irrigation Modernization Project
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Preliminary Investigative Report for the Tumalo Irrigation District Irrigation Modernization Project Prepared by Farmers Conservation Alliance Submitted to National Resources Conservation Service June 29, 2017 Table of Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 2 Consultation and Participation with Local Partners, Agencies and Tribes ................ 1 2.1 Sponsors, Local Partners, Agencies and Tribal Participation ..................................................... 2 2.2 Permits and Compliance .................................................................................................................. 2 2.3 Mitigation ........................................................................................................................................... 3 3 Purpose and Need for Action .................................................................................... 3 3.1 Watershed Problems and Resource Concerns .............................................................................. 4 3.1.1 Habitat Conditions ................................................................................................................... 4 3.1.2 Risks to Human Health and Safety ........................................................................................ 5 3.1.3 Water Supply Reliability ........................................................................................................... 5 3.1.4 District Financial Security ........................................................................................................ 6 3.2 Watershed and Resource Opportunities ........................................................................................ 6 4 Scope of the Environmental Assessment ................................................................. 6 5 Affected Environment- Existing Conditions ............................................................... 7 5.1 Project Setting .................................................................................................................................... 7 5.2 Current Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................... 9 5.3 Topography ...................................................................................................................................... 11 5.4 Climate .............................................................................................................................................. 11 5.5 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................................ 11 5.5.1 Geology .................................................................................................................................... 11 5.5.2 Soils ........................................................................................................................................... 12 5.6 Water Resources .............................................................................................................................. 12 5.6.1 Water Supply and Stream Flow ............................................................................................ 12 5.6.2 Water Rights ............................................................................................................................ 13 5.6.3 Ground Water ......................................................................................................................... 13 5.6.4 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................... 13 5.7 Fish & Aquatic Species ................................................................................................................... 15 5.8 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................................. 16 5.9 Vegetation......................................................................................................................................... 16 5.10 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................................................... 17 5.11 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................................... 18 5.12 Land Use, Zoning, and Ownership .............................................................................................. 18 Tumalo Irrigation District Preliminary Investigative Report i 5.13 Cultural and Historic Properties ................................................................................................... 19 5.14 Recreation ......................................................................................................................................... 19 5.15 Socioeconomics ............................................................................................................................... 19 5.15.1 Population ................................................................................................................................ 19 5.15.2 Area Employment, Income, and Agriculture...................................................................... 20 6 Technical Evaluations ............................................................................................. 21 7 Alternatives ............................................................................................................. 22 7.1 Formulation Process ....................................................................................................................... 22 7.2 Alternatives Proposed for Elimination from Detailed Study ................................................... 22 7.2.1 Exclusive Use of Groundwater for Irrigation .................................................................... 22 7.2.2 Fallowing of Farm Fields ....................................................................................................... 22 7.2.3 On-Farm Efficiencies Only ................................................................................................... 23 7.2.4 Canal Lining ............................................................................................................................. 23 7.3 Description of Alternatives Considered ...................................................................................... 24 7.3.1 Piping and Pressurization Alternative .................................................................................. 24 7.3.2 No Action Alternative (Future without Project) ................................................................ 25 7.4 Economics ........................................................................................................................................ 26 8 References ............................................................................................................. 26 9 Appendices ............................................................................................................. 28 Tumalo Irrigation District System Improvement Plan .......................................................................... 28 Tumalo Irrigation District Preliminary Investigative Report ii Acronyms AF acre-feet BFC Bend Feed Canal cfs cubic feet per second CO2 carbon dioxide EA Environmental Assessment ESA Endangered Species Act FCA Farmers Conservation Alliance HDPE high density polyethylene HUC Hydrologic Unit Code kWh kilowatt hour(s) MW megawatt NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service ODFW Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife PIR Preliminary Investigative Report POD Point of diversion PVC polyvinyl chloride RM River Mile TFC Tumalo Feed Canal TID or District Tumalo Irrigation District SIP System Improvement Plan UDWC Upper Deschutes Watershed Council U.S./US United States VIC Variable Infiltration Capacity Watershed Plan-EA Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment Tumalo Irrigation District Preliminary Investigative Report 1 Introduction Aging infrastructure, growing populations, shifting rural economies, and changing climate conditions have increased pressure on water resources across the western United States (US). Within the Deschutes Basin, irrigated agriculture (the primary out-of-stream water uses in the area) relies on infrastructure that is over 100-years old to divert, store, and deliver water to farms and ranches across the region. System water losses and the need to minimize those losses have been an ongoing concern of the Tumalo Irrigation District (herein referred to as TID or the District). Starting in the mid-1990s, TID has consistently pursued a water conservation program to provide a permanent solution to system-wide water losses. Irrigation canals have become a public health safety risk and require increasing maintenance due to the age of the existing system. This aging infrastructure contributes to water supply insecurity for out-of-stream users and limits stream flow, affecting water quality and instream habitat in the Deschutes River and its tributaries. The aging infrastructure also affects the financial stability of the District, as TID must find increased funding for maintenance activities. A portion of the water diverted through TID’s canals and laterals1 currently