News Release
| Release Number: | 08-056 |
| Dated: | 4/22/2008 |
| Contact: | Jennifer A. Sowell, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore. – The decision to allow for the long-term withdrawal of irrigation water from Willow Creek Reservoir near Heppner, Ore. was announced today by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
After thorough evaluation, the Corps’ final decision rested on a determination that the impacts of the proposed action do not rise to the level of “significant” as defined by the National Environmental Policy Act.
Documents detailing the basis for the Corps’ decision and the Final Environmental Assessment that evaluates the impacts of the action can be viewed online at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/pm/e/en_plan_assess.asp.
Irrigators in the Heppner area presented the proposal to the Corps, asking the agency to provide up to 2,500 acre-feet of stored water from Willow Creek Reservoir each year, instead of having to make annual requests based on drought declarations. The irrigation proposal was based on the irrigators’ need for a reliable, supplemental water source throughout the growing season, which would help provide farm-based economic stability, and allow for the conservation of groundwater.
The irrigation withdrawals could begin each year as early as April 15 and continue through Sept. 30. However, before any irrigation withdrawals can begin, the downstream irrigators must formally establish an irrigation district and initiate a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation for use of and payment for stored water from Willow Creek Reservoir. Additionally, a secondary water rights permit must be secured through the Oregon Water Resources Department.
Releasing water for irrigation means an earlier and lower drawdown of the reservoir, which will impact some recreational opportunities and the composition of the warm water fishery. No fish or wildlife listed under the Endangered Species Act will be affected.
The Corps issued a draft Environmental Assessment on Oct. 31, 2007 for a 30-day public and agency review. The comment period was extended, by public request, to 45 days. Based on requests during the initial public comment period, a public information meeting was held in Heppner on Feb. 19, 2008 and the public comment period was extended to March 5, 2008. A total of 87 letters were received during the comment period.
The Willow Creek Project’s primary purposes are flood damage reduction and irrigation. Recreation, fish and wildlife, and sedimentation (trapping of sediment from upstream sources) are secondary uses of storage space and stored water. In managing the reservoir, the Corps is required to make every effort to fulfill and balance all authorized project purposes while taking into account other legal mandates, such as the Endangered Species Act.