Records per page:
DateNameCompanyComment
04/20/2022Teal Horsman We live close to the property that has submitted the request for the water use permit. I feel its important to express my concern as a water rights holder. New permits such as these absolutely interfere with our water rights. Many past decisions to allow such permits and uses under these permits have already impacted us. It is also detrimental to the resources that come from the water that the public and the wildlife benefit from. Please protect our current water rights by not allowing permits and uses like these. This can’t go on! Our property located close to the Saddleback neighborhood is supposed to be serviced by Avion Water after taking over the operation of Sun country Water Inc. We also owned a 20-acre lot until 2018, that adjoined our current property, this property also has a connection to water service through Avion Water. However, in 2018 we were notified by Avion Water that there was not enough capacity to support servicing our properties with water. Additionally, we used to farm our current property for grass to produce hay for cattle. We had a few local cattle owners that we had produced hay for, for many years. Our water is delivered from Tumalo Creek through the operation of Tumalo Irrigation District. However, with the drought Tumalo Irrigation District (TID) would change start times or ending times when water to would be received for the season. Then in addition we went to a seven days on and seven days off water schedule for farming. Recently we decided that this wasn’t sustainable for us and the unreliability of when we would have water to continue to farm. From our understanding and after telling our cattle farmers that purchase our hay, we aren’t the only folks deciding that farming isn’t sustainable anymore. A letter dated 2/21/2022 was sent from the Deschutes Basin Board of Control to the Deschutes County Commission to declare a severe drought in Deschutes County. In this request, they also ask that this message be passed to the Governor of Oregon to issue an executive order from all of Deschutes County under the provisions of ORS 536 as a direct result of severe and devastating drought conditions. There have been different quotes are own County commissioners have made regarding the water shortage recently. • County Commissioner Tony DeBone. “As we navigate a historic drought, it’s urgent that we figure out how to do more with the water we have available.” • County Commissioner Patti Adair“We’re in the third year of a historic drought,” As water right holders, when others request more water for their use, especially for recreational use, beautifying their property, landscaping, when folks like us have seen access to our water rights cut down from later start dates, early shut off, to seven days on and then seven days off, that our farming can’t continue. How is it being decided that there is enough water? How much abuse can our rivers take?
04/12/2022David Arnold I am concerned with the amount of water requested. The ground water review described lower flow in the Deschutes river if this application is approved. I can only assume this application will affect Tumalo creek as well. I have watched as each of my neighbors have had to deepen their wells or drill new wells. Just last week a neighbor is drilling a new well to replace his original well that went dry. My well depth and static water level are almost the same as his. This has caused me to test my well once a month for possible problems. I understand the need for domestic wells, but not wells being used recreation and astectic purposes. Please deny this application. Again I ask OWRD to do and extensive study of our ground water so we ano know what is happening with the aquifer.
04/08/2022Shelby WilsonNATo whom it may concern, As we enter another historic drought in the high desert it is outrageous that another developer wants to waste a finite resource so that the rich can play. We cannot afford to allow our water to be wasted on golf courses and reservoirs for “swimming”. This is only the beginning and our choices now set the precedent for future developers. When the aquifers dry up and the rivers and creeks are at historic lows the rich can take their money and leave. As someone who grew up in Bend this is my home and I want to see our precious resources being allocated to areas that will positively effect our community. Sincerely, Shelby
04/04/2022Jeff Stephens Writing to oppose Application G 19132 for its potential to adversely impact Tumalo Creek. The creek has been identified as a potentially eligible for designation under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and is currently included as part of the Oregon Rivers Democracy Act of 2021. According to the Water Resources Department own evaluation, the proposed use of groundwater "will have a localized impact to surface water in the Middle Deschutes River/Creek Subbasin.", which means Tumalo Creek. Furthermore, allowing the project to proceed by allowing mitigation of 3.89 AF of water somewhere else in the subbasin while removing 9 AF in this location will not remedy adverse impacts to Tumalo Creek. I ask that the project application is denied. Thank you.
04/04/2022J Gamlin I am strongly opposed to one individual receiving millions of gallons of water for their own private use. Water is a valuable resource and is there for all. Oregon is home to beautiful rivers and lakes that all can access. The diverging of water for one persons fun and use is irresponsible and a misuse of a community resource. If they want to enjoy water activities they can explore the beautiful state. Please do not allow this to happen. Thank you for your consideration.
04/04/2022Ryan Gamlin I am writing to express my opposition to application G 19132. In an era marked by water scarcity, the use of millions of gallons of water -- a public resource -- for private recreation is both ethically indefensible and dangerous from the perspective of the public good. As our watersheds become less productive due to decreasing snowpack, extraction and use of groundwater on this scale confers risk to all residents of the county, and of Central Oregon, while the benefits of this project accrue to a small number of private landowners.
04/04/2022Russell Laustsen Please deny. Water is a precious resource and needs to be conserved
04/04/2022Anna Menanno I am quite concerned with anyone who keeps building or wanting to consume large quantities of water when many people within Bend and on the outskirts have wells that are going dry. We are into a 20 year draught and building continues at an alarming rate. The State of Oregon carries the responsibility to see that all the people who live presently live here have the ability to obtain water for basic necessities. That does not include huge ponds, giant resorts and the continuous home building in areas of drought. Please say NO to these projects and stop the madness. We live in the High Desert and many times I feel I will turn around and find I'm 80 years old and have to leave my ranch because my well has run dry!
04/03/2022Lori Williamson We are all connected in some way to these water resources. Removing and changing where the water is located, for one purpose will inevitably affect us all. Central Oregon has such limited water at the given time and no changes appear to be in store for the future. Say no to extracting this resource for the few who can afford to fix the inevitable problems created, only for themselves. Say no to developments which require vast quantities of water that the region can't support. Say no to more golf courses, we need sustainable water resources for all properties.
04/03/2022Leslie Lawrence Given the that West is in the worst draught in 1200 years, and that this drought is projected to continue into the foreseeable future, we need to start--and start now--being conservative and careful with our water resources so that we are sure we can cover the basics. Wells in central Oregon are already starting to run dry--this is no time to play fast and loose with our water resources.
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