Month: June 2025

Barney Lerten

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The final section of canal piping in the Three Sisters Irrigation District has been completed, marking a major milestone in streamflow restoration, on-farm efficiency, and renewable energy generation.

Approved by the Oregon Water Resources Department on April 22, 2024, this latest conserved water project adds permanent flow protection to Whychus Creek, a tributary of the Deschutes River. 

The Cloverdale piping project installed over 23,000 feet of pipe north of Highway 126 and resulted in 0.33 cubic feet per second (cfs) and 140.1 acre-feet of water permanently protected in Whychus Creek just below the TSID diversion, about four miles upstream from the city of Sisters. 

Here’s the rest of Wednesday’s joint announcement from the Deschutes River Conservancy and the Three Sisters Irrigation District:

Two Decades of Conservation and Collaboration 

With this final phase complete, TSID has now piped 64 miles of its canals over the last 20 years, permanently restoring 30.3 cfs and 11,938 acre-feet of water to Whychus Creek. Historically, the creek ran dry two out of every three years due to the over appropriation of water rights and leaky, unlined canals and outdated delivery systems. Now, thanks to this sustained conservation effort, and complementary flow restoration programs, Whychus Creek flows year-round, providing vital cold-water habitat for redband trout, steelhead, and Chinook salmon. 

“This has been a long-term commitment by TSID and our partners,” said Marc Thalacker, newly retired Manager of TSID. “We’re proud to have reached this point where we can support both our farms and the health of Whychus Creek.” 

Benefits for Farms, Fish, and Energy 

The completed piping system enables pressurized water delivery to TSID farms, reducing the need for on-farm pumping and resulting in significant energy savings—an estimated 9 million kilowatt-hours of reduced power usage annually. Alongside these improvements, TSID has supported farm conversions to more efficient irrigation practices and installed modern metering at delivery points to ensure precise, reliable water use. 

This project also includes an in-pipe hydropower facility, which can produce up to 700,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity—enough to power approximately 58 homes. TSID now operates 3 in-pipe hydro projects, contributing to clean energy goals while reducing strain on the power grid. 

A Healthy River Takes a Village 

TSID’s work is part of a larger, collaborative restoration effort on Whychus Creek. The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, U.S. Forest Service, Deschutes Land Trust and other partners have worked to restore over 7 miles of stream habitat in Whychus Creek and removed all 6 fish passage barriers, while the Deschutes Land Trust has protected 9 miles of the creek through conservation agreements, land acquisition, and land stewardship. 

Together, these projects have reestablished streamflow, improved water quality, and reconnected critical habitat—but challenges remain. Summer water temperatures in lower reaches of the creek can still be high, stressing cold-water fish species. Restoration partners, including DRC, continue working to address these issues through habitat improvement, streamflow leasing, and new conservation partnerships. 

A Model for the Region 

“This is a true success story for farms, fish, and the community,” said Kate Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Deschutes River Conservancy. “TSID and its partners have shown what’s possible through sustained collaboration, forward-thinking investment, and a shared vision for a healthier creek.” 

Project Partners and Funders 

This project was made possible through support from Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Over two decades of restoration on Whychus Creek have been funded by a wide array of partners including: Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Bonneville Power Administration, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, DEQ/EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation, Deschutes Water Alliance, Energy Trust of Oregon, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Resources Conservation Service, (Regional Conservation Partnership Program), Oregon Conservation Strategy, Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon Governor’s Fund, Oregon Water Resources Congress, Oregon Water Resources Department, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Portland General Electric Pelton Fund, Southern Oregon State University, The Nature Conservancy/PGE, TSID through in-kind contributions, U.S. Forest Service, Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 

About the Deschutes River Conservancy: The Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) was formed in 1996 with a mission to restore streamflow and improve water quality in the Deschutes River Basin. The DRC has a multi-stakeholder board and, through collaborative efforts, has restored up to 350 CFS (equivalent to over 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools per hour) of flow in the basin with non-litigious, voluntary, and market-based programs. For more information about the DRC, visit www.deschutesriver.org. 

About Three Sisters Irrigation District: Established in 1891, Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) delivers Deschutes River water to approximately 7,600 acres of irrigated land near Sisters, Oregon. The district serves over 267 patrons and manages 64 miles of canals and lateral ditches. TSID is nationally recognized for its leadership in irrigation modernization and has implemented extensive conservation efforts, including piping and pressurized delivery systems, which improve on-farm efficiency, reduce energy use, and restore streamflow to Whychus Creek. TSID continues to work collaboratively with partners to support agricultural resilience, water sustainability, and ecosystem health in Central Oregon. Learn more at www.tsidweb.org. 

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KPTV

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – If passed, a budget reconciliation proposal, introduced by Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee, would put 3.2 million acres of public land up for sale across 11 states, including Oregon.

Lee’s proposal would help offset tax cuts and other expenses in the Trump Administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

The states included in Lee’s proposal include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

“Public lands belong to all of us,” said Quinn Read, Executive Director of the environmental advocacy group, Oregon Wild.

3.2 million acres of Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service-managed land across those 11 states would go up for sale to the highest bidder if Lee’s proposal is passed. That could include publicly owned hiking trails and campgrounds in Oregon.

“We’re looking at the steady erosion of land and natural resources that benefit all of us and provide critical services to all of us from clean water, clean air, habitat for wildlife, recreational opportunities for families,” Read said. “There’s so much at stake here.”

While Lee’s proposal does list the states that would be impacted, it doesn’t list exactly where or how much land from each state would be for sale.

“…That’s what’s kind of problematic,” Read said. “We don’t know. [Oregon] could have 100,000 acres, or it could be 3.1 million acres. It could be anything in that range.”

According to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Lee’s proposal has a long list of goals, including:

“Repealing billions in unspent Green New Deal Handouts”

“Generating over $15 billion in federal revenue” through leading oil, gas, coal, and geothermal production

Unlocking federal land for affordable housing

Read said she’s aware that this proposal is framed as a housing initiative. However, she said that by building homes in Oregon forests, communities may be at risk of wildfires.

“We’re also talking about lands that are at high risk for wildfires,” she said. “If we put communities, if we build housing developments there, we’re putting people in the direct path of wildfire.”

Read also said when it comes to public lands, they should stay as they are: Public.

“These lands belong to all of you,” she said. “They belong to all of us, and it’s important for us to stand up to them if we want to keep public lands in public hands.”

FOX 12 reached out to Lee’s offices in Salt Lake City and Washington, DC, for a comment on this story. We have not yet received a response.

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Jillian Fortner

(Update: Adding video)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Zachary Bass has served as the director of Redmond Airport for nine years, a job that feels like running a small city.

“We have kind of our own security force. Our fire department is really focused just on the airport. We have a lot of ability to kind of do what a public works would normally do,” said Zachary Bass.

Their top priority is ensuring the safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and the surrounding airspace.

“There’s a lot that goes on at the airport that most people don’t probably realize,” Bass said.

When most people think of airport security, TSA is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But behind the scenes, there’s a whole separate team works around the clock monitoring all parts of the airport.

Jayde Hawkins oversees security at Redmond Airport, keeping watch over more than 250 camera feeds across the property.

“We have our TSA that’s here in the airport. They conduct the passenger and luggage screening for the traveling public. My department is what it takes care of. The federal compliance side,” Hawkins said.

She says the terminal currently covers around 130,000 square feet, and it’s still expanding. Engineers are already hard at work on the next big project: expanding the terminal.

Fred LeLacheur, Manager of Engineering and Construction, is bringing those plans to life. He oversees the planning and execution of development projects at the airport.

“We just need more space. We need more facilities to to really make it work well and be an enjoyable experience throughout the airport,” said LeLacheur.

He says the expansion will bring over 80,000 square feet of new space to the terminal.

As the airport continues to grow, the team is working to maintain the friendly, small-town feel travelers enjoy.

“That sense of community that we have here at this airport is really special to me,” said Hawkins. “I’m hoping with even having the expansion and having a much larger facility, we can continue to keep that same hometown airport feel.”

Operating a smaller airport like Redmond presents unique challenges compared to larger hubs like Portland or Seattle.

“We have less staff, so we’re not maybe as specialized as you would see in those larger airports,” Bass said. “So a lot of my managers and my team have to kind of wear separate hats, and become really knowledgeable on things, maybe just outside of their specialty.”

Financial constraints are another major hurdle the airport faces.

“Everything’s expensive in the airport world,” said Fred LeLacheur. “We’ve got a lot of things that we need, and it’s it’s hard to to get the money to do it. It’s just that simple.”

From security to construction to balancing budgets, it takes a dedicated team working behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.

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Barney Lerten

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters have a relatively new and increasingly useful tool – drones – to use in various ways to help fight wildfires like the Alder Springs Fire.

On Thursday, Alder Springs crews were using drones to search for hot spots in the fire perimeter, officials said in a Facebook posting.

Here’s what they had to say about this high-tech tool:

Firefighting agencies increasingly use drones, also known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), as a critical tool in wildland firefighting.

Drones are able to provide real-time aerial imagery and infrared data to help crews identify hot spots, monitor fire behavior and map fire perimeters.

By delivering accurate and timely intelligence, drones enhance situational awareness and support safer, more effective firefighting strategies.

With the use of drones, unnecessary exposure and rugged terrain can be avoided in certain situations for firefighters.

As technology advances, drones continue to play a growing role in protecting lives, property, and natural resources.

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KTVZ News Partners

This project will deliver a long-desired improvement to the Butler Market and Wells Acres intersection safety and efficiency, and provide safer, easier connections for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling between neighborhoods, schools, parks and businesses in the area. 

The project team has made significant progress, reaching several key milestones. The design phase is now complete, and franchise utility relocation is actively underway.

Construction is Anticipated to Begin Mid-late August*

Construction will occur in two phases (see map below). Phase 1 is anticipated to begin in mid to late summer 2025.

* Dates are estimates and subject to change.

For details about anticipated detours and construction phasing, visit the project website to view the informational video.

Pre-construction Open House 

To support community awareness and preparedness, an Open House will be scheduled before construction begins. This event will provide residents and businesses with key information, timelines, and opportunities to ask questions. Additional details will be shared as plans are finalized.

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