Public comment on the City of Bend ’s proposed $58 million water system upgrade is being solicited by the Deschutes National Forest
The Bend-Ft. Rock District office said the process will consider comments and conduct surveys that will focus on the water project’s effects on fish and wildlife, sensitive plants, wetlands and other resources.
The agency said it will accept comments through June 6 of this year and that a report on the project analysis is expected to be completed by Spring of 2012. At that time comments on the proposed action would also be accepted.
The city is planning to replace its existing two surface water diversion pipelines built in the 1920s and 1950s with a single 10-mile line that would follow Forest Road 4603 from a point of diversion in the Bridge-Tumalo Creek watershed.
The project would require removal of trees along a 500 foot distance within the national forest to reach the longest stretch that would follow FS 4603 and Skyliners Road . The line would cross Tumalo Creek twice from its origin to a new membrame treatment plant.
Any impacts must be reviewed by the Forest Service under the National Environmental Policy Act. The impetus for the new water project has been a requirement for the city to meet new federal clean water guidelines. And the city wants to rebuild the pipline concurrently with Forest Service plans for construction improvements on Skyliners Road scheduled to begin in 2012.
Some business and civic leaders have questioned the cost of the system, which would be one of the most expensive in the city’s history.
They have suggested that a system based more on groundwater wells would be more reliable, less costly and have fewer impacts on stream flows and fish and wildlife habitat.
A value engineering study conducted for the city by a Florida
concluded the water system should continue to rely on both surface and well withdrawals. However, under guidelines of city officials the firm did not consider an all-well system.
The city has also signed contracts with the engineering firm HDR for design of the sytem and another firm for construction management.
It’s unclear what effect the Forest Service review and recommendations would have on the city’s decision and schedule to proceed with its system upgrade.
The district office is accepting comments by e-mail to comments-pacificnorthwest-deschutes-bend-frock@fs.fed.us. Or comments may be submitted by mail to: Bend Surface Water Improvement Project, Project manager, Rod Bonacker, PO Box 249, Sisters, OR 97759; Tel: 541-549-7729, Fax: 541-549-7746; e-mail: rbonacker@fs.fed.us.
