Like any problem that has existed for many decades fixing
Bend’s cherished Mirror Pond on the Deschutes River as it flows through the
city will not be accomplished quickly.
But after several recent years of debate and public input
the group charged with developing alternatives has unveiled what it believes
could be a creative solution to accommodate various interests.
In an early November report the group proposed a plan
that would remove the Newport Avenue hydroelectric dam that has caused sediment
buildup threatening to turn the pond into a marsh.
The river would then return to a more natural flow but
additional work along banks would also help retain much of the pond’s current
features.
The
pond begin to build up and deposit sediment with construction a century ago of
the Newport Avenue dam, now considered in poor condition and generating little
electricity for PacificCorp. It was last dredged in 1984 before current regulations
now making that a considerably more expensive solution.
Perhaps the potentially most controversial
aspect of the plan would be for the city to sell two parking lots bordering
Drake Park and adjacent Mirror Pond just
west of the downtown core, and use the funds to update storm water systems and
build a parking structure. Then the city would encourage formation of an urban
renewal district that would attract private development of mixed use retail,
office and residential facilities.
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| Mirror Pond full Spring of 2013 |
An
excerpt from the Mirror Pond and Downtown Redevelopment report citing responses
to public surveys notes:
“While respondent
first choice interests were divided between keeping the pond and returning the
river to a natural-like path, there was a second choice scenario that satisfied
most respondents. It maintained the pond while improving wildlife habitat and
providing fish passage.”
The
new vision is the work of the Mirror Pond Steering Committee, Management Board
and Ad Hoc Steering Committee bringing together local government, business and
at large citizen members.
Earlier
options presented by the group have included scenarios of no-action at this
time to combinations of dredging and dam removal. Cost estimates in the earlier
options ranged from $4.2 to $5.3 million to remove the dam to $3.5 to $6.4
million for dredging depending on the methods used. The new vision paper does
not include estimated costs.
As
the current discussion of what to do with Mirror Pond gained momentum, local
developer Bill Smith and heavy equipment contractor Todd Taylor purchased
options to buy the land underlying the water from descendants of a pioneer
family. The businessmen have said they prefer a solution that would retain
features of the current pond.
The
new plan would involve:
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| November 2013 after drawdown to inspect dam |
- PacificCorp relinquishing ownership of the dam and moving the existing power substation to another location.
- PacificCorp gifting the dam to a public entity, such as the City of Bend or Bend Park & Recreation District,
- The city overseeing conversion of the dam into an area with a series of pools and riffles. This in turn, the report says, would cause the river to rise and preserve Mirror Pond at its near-historic levels.
The
result of the instream work would create fish passage now blocked by the dam
while banks along the river would be reshaped to reduce sediment and improve
habitat.
With
the dam and substation gone the report envisions the city selling the present
Pacific Park near the site north of Newport Avenue and using the proceeds to
create a new park where the substation now sits. This would also improve access
along the current Deschutes River Trail.
Including
Drake Park, the city parks and recreation district owns approximately 60% of
land ajacent to Mirror Pond to the south from Newport
to Galveston Avenue.
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| Overview of proposed project |
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| Closer view of new potential development |
