THE SPOKESMAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 A5
Irrigation
district finishes
first phase of
piping project
By SPOKESMAN STAFF
Photo provided by Central Oregon Irrigation District
Crews work on the first phase of the 7.9-mile Central Oregon Irrigation District piping project.
Central Oregon Irrigation
District finished the first phase
of a 7.9-mile piping project be-
tween Redmond and Smith
Rock that will help conserve
water during drought.
Using an underground pipe
instead of an open-air canal
makes for more efficient trans-
port of the water. That means
both farmers and the Upper
Deschutes can get more water
in their systems, as COID and
federal agencies work to meet
habitat requirements for the
Oregon spotted frog.
The district started releasing
105 cubit feet per second this
week to increase winter flows.
The 21 cfs from the piping proj-
ect are to be released later to
benefit the Oregon spotted frog.
A total volume of about 7,000
acre-feet can be released into
the Deschutes River throughout
winter.
“We accomplished what we
set out to do by converting ca-
nals to pipes,” Horrell said in
the release. “Our goal has al-
ways been to help our neigh-
boring farmers, increase win-
ter flows in the Deschutes, and
enhance Oregon spotted frog
habitat.”
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Reporter: nrosenberger@
redmondspokesman.com
Oasis Village and RHS receive donation from Zion Lutheran Church
Donation to fund
construction of Oasis
Village home by RHS
BY NICK ROSENBERGER
Redmond Spokesman
Zion Lutheran Church of
Redmond donated $10,350 to
Oasis Village on Oct. 25 to help
fund the construction of one
home built by Redmond High
School construction students.
Oasis Village, a planned Red-
mond transitionary shelter,
hopes to build 20 small units
to help house people in Cen-
tral Oregon. Each unit is to be
around 90-120 square feet and
will have enough space to house
one or two people.
The Redmond High School
construction technology classes,
taught by Alan Wheeler, plan to
build one or two units per tri-
mester. The money provided by
Zion Lutheran Church will help
the RHS class buy lumber and
other materials for the projects,
instead of relying on pulling
apart pallets.
“We are eternally grateful for
the assistance that you’re giving
us,” said Bob Bohac, the presi-
dent of Oasis Village.
Seven students from Wheel-
er’s class will continue on in
the next step of the construc-
tion phase. Audrey Haugan,
the principal of Redmond High
School, said their experiences
have been very positive.
”The seven that said they
want to do it are really passion-
ate about it,” she said.
█
Reporter: nrosenberger@
redmondspokesman.com
RHS construction teacher Alan
Wheeler, second from left, poses
Oct. 25 with construction students
and representatives of Hayden
Homes as Zion Lutheran Church
members donate $10,350 to Oa-
sis Village.
Nick Rosenberger/Spokesman