A4 THE SPOKESMAN • TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022
DESCHUTES WATER BANK
Bank sends
water to
farmers, but
not as much
as initially
thought
BY MICHAEL KOHN
CO Media Group
A much-anticipated water
bank designed to help Jeffer-
son County farmers is under-
way, just not to the scale that
everyone involved had initially
hoped.
Patrons from the Central
Oregon Irrigation District will
this year set aside 90 acres of
land to lie fallow, with the wa-
ter that would have gone to
those acres now diverted to
the North Unit Irrigation Dis-
trict.
The water bank was set
up to help commercial crop
farmers and livestock produc-
ers in drought-stricken Jef-
ferson County, where water
allotments have been slashed
to 25% of normal this year.
The project will essentially
shift water away from Central
Oregon Irrigation District pa-
trons who do not need their
water this year into a bank of
water for use by North Unit
patrons. Both irrigation dis-
tricts have water rights in
the Deschutes River Basin,
but the Central Oregon Ir-
rigation District has senior
water rights, meaning less is
available in low-water years
to junior rightsholders such
as the North Unit Irrigation
District.
While water bank facili-
tators are pleased to get the
project off the ground, there
was hope for stronger par-
ticipation in the inaugural
year. Around 150 water us-
ers expressed interest in giv-
ing up their water for use by
North Unit farmers in Jeffer-
son County, but only 17 were
found to be eligible to partici-
pate in the program.
Prior to starting up the
project, the Deschutes River
Conservancy, the nonprofit
organization that is helping to
facilitate the project, had a tar-
get of putting 1,200 acres into
the water bank project.
Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin
Tommy King, treasurer of the Redmond Rod and Gun Club, stands in a tumbleweed-filled irrigation ditch
near the club that could be flowing with water, but due to the club’s participation in the water bank pro-
gram, that water goes to people who need to irrigate crops.
“We were encouraged with
the level of interest in the pro-
gram (but) a bit disappointed
with the final acres that could
participate,” said Kate Fitzpat-
rick, the conservancy’s execu-
tive director.
Central Oregon Irrigation
District landowners will re-
ceive $100 per acre that they
don’t water, paid by the North
Unit Irrigation District. The
North Unit district will also
need to pay $25 per acre to
the Central Oregon Irrigation
District for administering the
program, making the total
cost to North Unit $125 per
acre.
One problem preventing
more people from getting on-
board was Oregon’s benefi-
cial use policy. Under Oregon
water law, water rights must
be used once every five years.
If water users choose not to
use that water on the land,
instream leasing through the
Oregon Water Resources De-
partment qualifies as a year of
beneficial use. However, en-
rolling in the water bank pilot
project does not qualify for a
year of beneficial use.
“Any acres that needed to
prove up on beneficial use
were asked to enroll in the
instream leasing program in-
stead if they weren’t going to
use the water on the land,” said
Fitzpatrick. “This ensures that
the irrigation district protects
the water rights within the dis-
trict.”
Fitzpatrick said there may
be ways in the future to make
participation in the water
bank pilot program also count
as beneficial use, which could
also expand participation.
A second problem encoun-
tered by project organizers
was related to logistics and op-
erational issues, mostly related
to water users sharing a com-
mon point of delivery from a
district irrigation canal.
“In some cases, leasing
one person’s water right can
cause issues delivering water
to other users. If that was the
case, those acres were not eli-
gible to participate,” she said.
As part of its research into
getting more people on board,
the conservancy also found
that some Central Oregon Ir-
rigation District users wanted
a program that allowed them
to use part of their water al-
location and share the rest, in
other words, to use less water
on their acres. Fitzpatrick said
this underscores the need for
better measurement capacity
within the system so water can
be accurately tracked.
The setbacks created a
learning experience for project
organizers and expectations
are for greater participation in
the future. The conservancy is
seeking federal funding to ex-
pand the program and fix op-
erational issues.
“Hopefully this program
gets some backing to be a big-
ger program, and by next year
they can do a lot more. We
would participate next year,”
said Tommy King, treasurer of
the Redmond Rod and Gun
Club, which temporarily gave
up some of its acres to the wa-
ter bank.
For now, water from the
90 acres of Central Oregon
Irrigation District land left
fallow will be made available
to North Unit Irrigation Dis-
trict. Additionally, the proj-
ect will have some impact
on the Deschutes River eco-
system. The North Unit will
be required to release 25%
of the water it gets through
the project next winter into
the river, helping to increase
flows during the months
when the river runs at its
lowest level.
“Water is critical for all of
us,” said Fitzpatrick. “The
pressing demands moving
forward, particularly with
the new normal of extreme
drought, will make expanding
all the solutions critical. These
kinds of programs, alongside
district piping and on-farm
efficiency, have the capacity to
make real change happen.”
George Endicott, Red-
mond’s mayor, and a partici-
pant in the water bank project,
said for those who were able
to participate, there was also
a measure of helping farmers
in need. He normally grows
field grass for animals to come
on his property to graze, but
he gave up most of his wa-
ter rights this year to benefit
North Unit farmers.
“With the drought, those
guys are really hurting,” said
Endicott. “We all need to
be good neighbors. When
it comes to farmers, they all
get along and are willing to
help their fellow man, so I am
happy to do it.”
█
Reporter: 541-617-7818,
mkohn@bendbulletin.com
Wilson
acted in self-defense and
pleaded not guilty. His trial
before Judge Randy Miller
Continued from A1
Wilson is Black and the
lasted two weeks earlier this
three locals are white. All
month at the temporary
four were said to be intoxi-
court facility at the Deschutes
cated.
County Fair & Expo Center.
The alcohol-soaked fact
Defense attorney Kather-
pattern begins in a Red-
ine Griffith accused police
mond bar, the Tumble Inn
of acting out of confirma-
Tavern, with a dispute over
tion bias, telling the jury that
college football. Gannon, a
from the moment officers
fan of the Washington Hus-
arrived and placed Wilson
kies, no-
in hand-
ticed a con-
cuffs, they
ferencegoer Though hundreds of
worked to
enter the
support
hours of security footage
bar wear-
the con-
from various businesses
ing a shirt
clusion he
bearing the were reviewed by police,
was guilty,
logo of rival
rather than
Washing-
look at the
none captured the actual
ton State
case dispas-
stabbings.
University.
sionately.
After a
In her
verbal dispute in the bar, the closing statement, Griffith
conferencegoers elected to
showed a clip from police
return to their hotel several
body-camera footage in
blocks away and go to bed.
which a member of the trio
Wilson was not with that
can clearly be heard calling
group, but he encountered
a handcuffed Wilson the
them outside the hotel and
N-word.
they told him about the dis-
“He took out a knife to
pute in the bar.
save his life,” she told jurors.
Later, Wilson and another “The state is asking you to
man opted to get a drink at
ignore the extreme violent
the Tumble Inn.
acts of Gannon, Holdbrook
Outside the bar, Gannon
and Bates.”
was walking to a vehicle
Prosecutor Filo called
when Wilson shouted, “Hey, Wilson’s account “revisionist
Butterbean.”
history” that’s not supported
Eric “Butterbean” Esch is
by video evidence.
a former heavyweight boxer
“What you need to de-
whose distinct look featured a termine guilt or innocence,
bald head and American-flag really, remains on these vid-
boxing trunks. On the night
eos,” she said.
in question, Gannon, who
Filo told jurors all people
is bald, was wearing Amer-
have biases. “Just because
ican-flag cowboy boots and
I’m biased doesn’t mean I’m
overalls, with no shirt.
wrong.”
Prosecutor Alison Filo ac-
All three victims testified,
knowledged in her closing state- as did Wilson. Because Wil-
ment the comparison was “apt.” son opted to testify in his de-
According to Wilson’s
fense, jurors were allowed to
defense, upon hearing the
hear about Wilson’s past in-
“Butterbean” comment,
carceration for manslaugh-
Gannon became enraged
ter and kidnapping. Jurors
and tackled Wilson to the
were also instructed on im-
ground, though the prose-
plicit bias.
cution disagrees with that
Wilson is scheduled to be
description. Wilson says he
sentenced June 13.
was called a racial epithet by
Reporter: 541-383-0325,
gandrews@bendbulletin.com
two of the locals. Regardless,
the sides agree there was a
physical altercation between
Wilson and Gannon.
SOLUTION
Though hundreds of hours
Sudoku on A2
of security footage from vari-
ous businesses were reviewed
by police, none captured the
actual stabbings. An exter-
nal security camera captures
Wilson pulling out a pocket
knife and following the local
trio around a corner. Mo-
ments later, a woman can be
seen running into view and
screaming.
Wilson maintained he
█
SOLUTION
Crossword on A2
REDMOND
Latino Association expands business hours
Spokesman staff
The Latino Community As-
sociation has been awarded
two grants, totaling $185,000,
that will support its stability
and growth.
The first is a $135,000 two-
year grant from The Collins
Foundation to support LCA’s
program and services for
Latino residents in Deschutes,
Council
Continued from A1
Other city action
• Councilor Jay Patrick an-
nounced he plans to run for
mayor in November. Current
mayor George Endicott said he
has not decided if he will run
for another term in November.
• The council amended the
contract for Anderson Perry &
Associates for engineering ser-
vices, final design and construc-
tion management of the Red-
Crook and Jefferson counties.
The award provides $75,000
in 2022 and another $60,000
in 2023.
With this grant, LCA will
offer connection to services
and advocacy for more Latino
families to help them thrive in
Central Oregon.
The second award is a
$50,000 grant from the Marie
mond Wetlands Complex. The
contract is now for $5.9 million.
• The council noted some
city property as surplus, includ-
ing three vehicles and irrigation
pipe.
• A hearing has been set for
June 14 for the city council to
consider a controversial hous-
ing project planned near Helm-
holtz Way. The project was
approved by the city planning
commission, but councilors
later requested to have final say
on the matter.
Lamfrom Charitable Founda-
tion of Wilsonville, which will
be used to help LCA expand
its services in Redmond and
Madras by adding staff and
doubling its office hours at
both locations.
LCA will immediately ex-
pand its office hours to four
days a week in Redmond and
five days a week in Madras.
Thanks to these grants,
more people across Central
Oregon will be able to apply
for the Oregon Health Plan,
participate in English, com-
puter or citizenship classes, get
connected to other LCA ser-
vices and events or referred to
other organizations and busi-
nesses.
LCA Redmond is located
at the Becky Johnson Center,
412 SW 8th St. It’s new of-
fice hours are Monday from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tues-
day-Thursday. The office’s
phone number is 541-598-
6316.