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About
Ochoco Irrigation District supplies water to 20,062 acres or irrigated land in the Prineville area. Water is stored in the Ochoco and Prineville Reservoirs.
Operations
Ditch Riders patrol the distribution system and help manage water delivery to users. They are on call 24/7, during the irrigation season.
Resources
The Ochoco Irrigation District has a variety of resources from our Handbook, to Charts, to Resource Links and our Leasing Program.
FEATURED ARTICLE
2023 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER
Happy New Year to all of our OID patrons and welcome to 2023! Your OID Board of Directors and Staff would like to invite you to attend our Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting will be on Monday, January 16th at 12 noon in the OID office. The meeting will include updates on finances, operations, maintenance, planning and direction for the upcoming year. In addition, we will discuss the current snowpack information and reservoir outlook for 2023.
Job Positions
DITCH RIDER, OCHOCO IRRIGATION DISTRICT
Ochoco Irrigation District is actively recruiting for the position of Ditch Rider 1. Under general supervision, positions in the Ditch Rider 1 classification regulate the flow and distribution of irrigation water to growers, canals, and ditches downstream; respond to complaints/inquiries from growers; inspect canals and ditches for leaks or spills; and repair or assist with the repair of leaks. This is a full-time year-round position.
ABOUT OCHOCO IRRIGATION DISTRICT
Since 1916
Ochoco Irrigation District is situated in the heart of Oregon in Prineville. As the oldest town in Central Oregon, the community is rooted in farming and agriculture, with priority dates ranging from 1869 to 1986.
The District takes a comprehensive approach to providing reliable water to nearly 900 farm and ranch families throughout the region. Principal agricultural crops grown are grain, hay, pasture, garlic, carrot seed, and mint.
The District manages an average annual diversion of 80,000 Acre Feet and an average annual delivery of 47,159 Acre Feet of agricultural and industrial water rights.
Primary sources of water are Ochoco Creek and the Crooked River. The District also holds water rights on Johnson Creek, Dry Creek, McKay Creek, Lytle Creek and unnamed sources to augment flows from the primary sources, mainly in the spring when water is available. In addition, the District has two principal sources of stored water: Ochoco Reservoir, formed by Ochoco Dam constructed on Ochoco Creek, and Prineville Reservoir, created by Bowman Dam constructed on the Crooked River. The District has a contractual relationship with the United States Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) regarding ownership and operation of elements of OID’s water delivery system and associated reservoirs.
In recent years, improving water resources to benefit irrigators and the environment has been a coordinated community focus of Ochoco Irrigation District.
The District is committed to:
- INCREASING streamflow
- PROTECTING water
- IMPROVING irrigation water delivery reliability & District operation and maintenance efficiency
- IMPLEMENTING the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan
- INCREASING public safety by minimizing the risk of drowning in laterals and canals
What We Do
Provide water for approximately
20,062 acres
Serve 898 irrigators
Manage and maintain more
than 122 miles of canals and laterals and 8 pumping plants
Manage operation of Ochoco and Prineville Reservoirs
DISTRICT POLICIES
Ochoco Irrigation District
District Policies
The Ochoco Irrigation District Patron’s Handbook is designed to provide information and answers to commonly asked questions regarding water rights and obligations of our irrigation district members. Should you have any questions, please ask a member of our staff. We are here to serve your irrigation needs.
Click the links below to view/download the PDF
View the PATRON’S HANDBOOK by flipping the pages
For Full Page View, click the Full Screen icon
What We Do
Provide water for approximately
20,062 acres
Serve 898 irrigators
Manage and maintain more
than 122 miles of canals and laterals and 8 pumping plants
Manage operation of Ochoco and Prineville Reservoirs
RESOURCES
Ochoco Irrigation District
The District works collaboratively with local, state and federal agencies, agricultural and conservation groups and other stakeholders to responsibly manage our water supplies.
Ochoco Irrigation District is part of the Deschutes Basin Board of Control (DBBC). The DBBC is comprised of eight irrigation districts in rural Central Oregon that are critical to conveying water supplies throughout the Deschutes Basin to over 7,600 farm and ranch families, schools, and local parks and recreation districts.
The Crooked River Act
In 2014, President Obama signed into law H.R. 2640, the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security and Jobs Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-244). This law is the culmination of over 30 years of collaborative work by Ochoco Irrigation District, North Unit Irrigation District, the City of Prineville, Crook County, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and many conservation groups. Congress deliberated on the legislation for several years, held hearings in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and ultimately wrote detailed and specific language to ensure the Act’s responsible implementation. Numerous stakeholders who worked well together on the legislation for several years all supported the final bill, and celebrated its enactment.
Key provisions include the following actions to benefit fish and wildlife, including reintroduced steelhead in the Crooked River. The Act authorizes:
- The Bureau of Reclamation to annually release up to 60,000 acre-feet of “uncontracted” water stored in Prineville Reservoir for fish and wildlife purposes;
- An exchange of senior McKay Creek water rights for stored water from Prineville Reservoir, freeing up these senior rights to remain instream in a key tributary for steelhead;
- Temporary instream leases by landowners inside Ochoco Irrigation District, to work with conservation groups on increasing flows in the Crooked River; and
- A new hydropower facility to be designed, permitted, and constructed at Bowman Dam, which will produce clean, renewable energy.
Irrigation Districts
Resources
Federal
State / County
What We Do
Provide water for approximately
20,062 acres
Serve 898 irrigators
Manage and maintain more
than 122 miles of canals and laterals and 8 pumping plants
Manage operation of Ochoco and Prineville Reservoirs
OUR STAFF
Ochoco Irrigation District
BRUCE SCANLON
District Manager
WINDY PERRIN
Office Manager
RYAN MIDDAUGH
Operations Manager
BILL PURINTON
Maintenance Lead
HANNAH WORLEIN
Bookkeeper
SCOTT BRAY
Ditch Rider
BILL OAR
Ditch Rider
LANCE STOVER
Ditch Rider
ROSS TWISS
Ditch Rider
LATEST NEWS
CHECK OUT ALFALFA 101May 22, 2024 - 8:46 am
UPDATE ON MODERNIZATION PROJECTApril 24, 2024 - 10:03 am- OID 2024 IRRIGATION SEASON START DATEMarch 27, 2024 - 12:58 pm