The Deschutes River in Central Oregon is a lifeline for the region, but its waters are being diverted in ways that highlight stark inequalities. While some landowners maintain lush estates, others struggle to keep their farms alive. This imbalance is rooted in century-old water laws that prioritize certain users over others, creating a complex web of water rights and responsibilities.
At the heart of this issue is the Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) a powerful entity that manages the lion’s share of the Deschutes’ water. The district’s operations reveal a troubling pattern: during a historic drought, only a quarter of the diverted water was actually consumed by crops. The rest was lost to evaporation, runoff, or other forms of waste. This inefficiency has left downstream farmers, like Chris Casad struggling to keep their fields irrigated.
The Central Oregon Irrigation District’s Water Dominance
The COID’s influence is unparalleled. It controls more than half of the Deschutes River’s volume, thanks to its senior water rights established in the early 1900s. During the growing season from May to September, six irrigation districts together take more than 90% of the river’s flow, with COID being the most dominant. This control allows the district to divert 241K acre-feet of water annually, more than all other irrigation districts combined.
However, the district’s water use is not as productive as it could be. An analysis of state-commissioned satellite data found that only about 25% of the diverted water was absorbed by crops. The rest percolated into the ground, evaporated, or ran off into scrubland and desert. This inefficiency has significant consequences for the river and the farmers who rely on it.
The Impact on Downstream Farmers
While the COID’s landowners enjoy lush pastures and well-manicured estates, farmers downstream are facing severe water shortages. Chris Casad, a farmer in Jefferson County, has seen his fields fallow as the state cuts irrigation water to protect senior rights. The drought has taken a toll on his family and his community, with reports of suicides and closed businesses.
Casad’s story is not unique. Many farmers in the region have been forced to fallow fields and seek alternative employment. The drought has also affected the local economy, with businesses closing and jobs being lost. The situation is dire, and the future looks uncertain for many farmers in the region.
The Role of Beneficial Use and Waste
The COID’s operations are governed by Oregon’s beneficial use law, which requires that water be put to beneficial use without waste. However, the definitions of beneficial use and waste are loose, allowing for significant inefficiencies. The law considers growing anything a beneficial use as long as it’s planted, irrigated, and not a native species or noxious weed.
This broad definition has led to situations where landowners are watering rocks or compost piles to satisfy the district’s requirements. The COID sends out letters warning landowners of potential water right confiscations if they are not using their water beneficially. However, the district’s enforcement is inconsistent, and many landowners continue to use water inefficiently.
The COID’s managing director, Craig Horrell has defended the district’s operations, stating that they do not overdeliver water and that some properties do not get enough. However, the district’s own conservation plan shows that crops require about 27% of the water diverted from the river, mirroring the findings of the satellite data analysis.
The situation in Central Oregon highlights the need for reform in water management. The current system favors wealthy landowners and inefficient water use, leaving struggling farmers and the environment to suffer. As the climate changes and droughts become more frequent, the need for sustainable water management becomes ever more urgent.
