URBANIZATION
Deschutes County
continues to experience the most rapid population growth
in Oregon, especially within the urban growth boundary
(UGB) of the City of Bend.
Goal 14 — Urbanization
The states land use goals require that irrigated lands
and forest lands be the last lands to be brought into
the UGB as statewide goals protect "resource lands." The
local cities must take into account finding alternative
lands before resource lands into the boundary unless there
is not another choice.
Impacts on Irrigated Lands
— The seven irrigation districts in the basin
serve approximately 150,000 acres of agricultural use
land. These irrigable lands continue to be impacted by
urban area development as city boundaries expand into
the irrigation districts' service boundaries. Urban growth
can take district irrigable acres out of production, causing
district water rights to become subject to forfeiture
or surplus to the district users' needs. The district
has lost about 150 acres in the last 3 years and 45 customers.
Loss of Assessments
— The loss of water rights damage the district's
assessment base, diminishing its financial health and
sustainability and impact the remaining district water
users. The district's assessment is based on sharing the
cost of operation among all patrons. When land is no longer
irrigated, the charges have to be assessed to a smaller
number of acres and water users and increases the cost
to the water users. The district is losing over $13,000
a year in income the last three years due to development.
Loss of Assessments
— The loss of water rights damage the district's
assessment base, diminishing its financial health and
sustainability and impact the remaining district water
users.
The district's assessment
is based on sharing the cost of operation among all patrons.
When land is no longer irrigated, the charges have to
be assessed to a smaller number of acres and water users
and increases the cost to the water users. The district
is losing over $13,000 a year in income the last three
years due to development.
|
