BEAR CREEK/LITTLE BUTTE CREEK WATERSHED TMDL IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM.

Analysis Cost Measure of Staff Meets Requirements for: Progress / Grants Reporting Source or Program Bacteria Temperature Strategy Specific Actions Benchmarks Etc. Frequency Status / Reporting Summary I. Solar Radiation/ X A. Vegetation 1. Establish or refine 1. Program established Annual Using chemical control has not been used since 2001 due to possible harm to the environment and regulations. Mowing all our ditch banks has been successful. Mechanical cleaning of aquatic moss is the only option left, without moss cleaning the canals plug up and water can not be delivered.The District has one employee licensed to apply vegetation and aquatic chemicals. The District employee attended spray license recertification classes January 23rd & 24th, 2012. The District communicates regulary with other Districts concerning maintenance options available for controlling invasive species. Heat Addition maintenance programs or refined as needed as needed to control to prevent spread of invasive species in invasive weeds areas subject to irrigation district maintenance. X B. Stream Crossings 1. Evaluate stream 1. Prioritized list of Annual Priority List to flume or siphon at stream crossing; crossings and develop flume/siphon 1.) Griffin Creek at W. Main Canal and Rossanley 4.) Lone Pine Creek a priority list of projects and work 2.) Coleman Creek 5.) Anderson Creek flume/siphon projects. completed 3.) Payne Creek 6.) Jacksonville Main Canal Siphon(completed) WISE Project has taken 2 huge leaps forward this past six months toward implementing piping and X C. Return Flows 1. Use WISE Project to 1. Opportunities Annual siphon construction at all creek crossing. identify opportunities to enhance in stream flows. identified and progress Saved water identified by WISE (Water for Irrigation, Stream & Economy) with alternatives that address water conservation measures such as storage, piping and re-use. will be shared by enhancing in-stream flows. WISE (Water for Irrigation, Stream & Economy) has identified several alternatives that address water conservation measures saving water such as storage, piping and re-use. The saved water will by shared by instream & agriculture. Opportunities will occur after the canal systems have been improved by the final alternatives chosen and implemented as addressed in section II. To avoid runoff and spillage, the District closely monitors the intense canal and lateral flows. Hydro Power is being considered to help finance improvements. X D. Conservation efforts 1. Identify projects and 1. Report on work being Annual The District has installed telemetry water measurement stations within the canal systems and they are currently functioning, also the District has worked in corporation with the Bureau of Reclamation and Oregon Water Resourse Dept installing a hydromet water measurement and temperature station located at Jackson Creek where W. Main Canal crosses. In order to control moss growth that improves water quality, stops erosion of earthen canals and conserves water, the District concrete lined several hundred feet of canal which has many benefits fall and winter 2012. GIS Mapping: allows the District to map and plan where in the system improvements need to be made to the existing system. Installed several measuring devices at main water diversions, installed a radio link on Little Butte Creek to have a continuous correct flow below our North Fork diversion prior to this all instream flows were manual which could not possibly be done on a 24 hour basis to maintain correct flows. as pertains to implement as funding done as funding District activities becomes available - becomes available may include piping, re-regulating reservoirs, measuring devices, other. The District has a 100 A.F. reservoir which has proven to be one of best water conservation and water quality additions. Several locations throughout the delivery systems leaks were detected and immediatly fixed to conserve water. X E. Use supplemental 1. Support with data 1. Completed BA/BO Annual The District continued to take opportunities to emphasize protection of riparian areas, worked with NMFS and BOR on ways to improve Bear Creek and South Fork Little Butte Creek, the main stem tributary to the Rogue River, to enhance fisheries through the Biological Opinion for improvements of water quality and quantity. The final Biological Opinion was released April 2, 2012 Biological Assess- collection and funding ment/Biological as needed. Opinion to help identify specific X actions to reduce solar radiation and heat addition (consultation process) 2. Summary of type of data collected Annual The District spent a large quanity of hours and money during 2012 modeling flows needed for endangered species and placement of woody debri to enhance their survival. Study included species type and what their needs are at the different life stages including water flows, riparian needs, temperatures, water quality. To insure flow requirements dictated by the Biological Opinion, the District supplements the flows in Bear Creek and Little Butte Creek with stored irrigation water and by passing natural stored flows. Funding Analysis Cost Measure of Staff Meets Requirements for: Progress / Grants Reporting Source or Program Bacteria Temperature Strategy Specific Actions Benchmarks Etc. Frequency Status / Reporting Summary Annual SOR completed. Solar Radiation/ X F. SOR - System 1. Develop a checklist to 1. Identify projects that Every year prior to maintenence season a priority checklist is developed, October thru May. Lining and piping the canal system to conserve water, stop moss growth, control sediment, fish screens and ladder maintenance, dam repairs at Fourmile and Fish Lake and repair leaking headgates, these are some of the items on the list. Heat Addition Optimization Review establish priorities for provide the greatest the District will be working with WISE to pipe water delivering including Creek and Stream deliveries Con't system improvements. benefit and remove District water from these The SOR will be used by WISE to determine where to impliment improvements first. 2. Identify projects that Annual SOR evaluated ways to control sediment, moss, and conservation of water. SOR was used to determine gain and loss of flows in selected canal stretches. Improvements will have a cumulative effect throughout the watershed. The District's involvement in projects conserve water and enhance water quality. Earthen canals have the greatest loss of water. Several Lengths of canal have been and continue to be concreted and piped to reduce losses. These improvements in the future will be constructed with "WISE" recommendations. X result in the greatest loss of irrigation water. II. Stream Flows and Annual The District continues to help the WISE Project and remains supportive water deliveries X A. Continued 1. Attend WISE Program 1. Attend and participate of the WISE vision. The District has helped to financially support the coordinator position and Oregon Solutions program in 2012. participation in and meetings and provide in meetings. Attends meetings and the Board of Directors are kept up to date as Steve Mason, support of the WISE input and sub-committes The WISE Coordinator comes to meetings when there is new activity to report on. Project,participate in Oregon Solutions X 2. Identify projects to 2. Summary of projects Annual WISE/Oregon Solutions developed three major alternatives during 2012: implement from the identified. Piping appears to be the favorable alternative if funds can be found. The Oregon Solutions has provided a boost to WISE recognition with funding options.Simplified they would be: WISE Program. 1.) Piping all three District's canals and laterals.(preferred) 2.) Concrete liner combined with some pipe 3.) Combine canal systems and diversions. X 3. Develop schedule for 3. Program schedule Annual The preliminary report was the major engineering component of the WISE Project implementation as completed. Feasibility Study/Environmental Impact Statement (FS/EIS). needed. The WISE Project Prefeasibility Study was completed in 2010. The remaining funds needed to complete the EIS is currentlybeing raised.The expected completion of the full FS/EIS including filing of the Record of Decision is expected in fall 2012. All final documents related to the FS. EIS are available at www.wiseproject.org. X 4. Implement projects as 4. List of projects Annual Funding still needs to be acquired after the needed phases are completed. No on-ground funding becomes completed. projects have been completed available. Due to lack of funding or slow funding no projects have been implemented Partial funding to carry on with the ESA portion has been acquired, but in 2012 funding appeared to be a closer reality.WISE partners seem to favor finding funding to increments to include hydropower to help finance. III. Water Use and Annual The District continues to hand out pamphlets to water users with the emphasis on irrigation and water quality and taking care of our streams. It is stressed how important water conservation measures are to implement, informed patrons water quality issues must be observed by all District Patrons. The District keeps the Patrons updated with all the latest development of potential improvement for water quality, posted information and links on website monthy or as needed which included information on the TMDL Implementation Program and the importance for District water users to help curb runoff and reduce their impact on the poor water quality. Water Quality X X A. Maintain ongoing 1. Maintain ongoing 1. Summary of ongoing contact with water contact with water contact methods. users to share users. Information may information on how include water quality, to improve water conservation, and other quantity and quality for all users topics. *Newsletter *Website *Personal contact The District sent winter newsletters to patrons (enclosed). Handouts are at the District front counter (picture enclosed)The District website is updated regularly (medfordid.org). District Rules and Regulations are handed out to new patrons which defines their responsiblity of water conservation and water quality improvement. Funding Analysis Cost Measure of Staff Meets Requirements for: Progress / Grants Reporting Source or Program Bacteria Temperature Strategy Specific Actions Benchmarks Etc. Frequency Status / Reporting Summary Annual Water Use and X X B. Develop and 1. Examine maintenance 1. List of projects and Most all of the work/projects develped from a list the District compiles throughout the year are done during maintenance season when there is no water flowing in the canal system, these will improve water quality besides conserving water. Staff has been trained to take specific measures to control activities that could negatively impact water quality in open water ways. Moss growth within the canal system during the irrigation season is controlled by mechanical cleaning. The District has tried to find other means to get rid of the moss that plugs off our water flows but so far no other way has been discovered. Staff will attempt to make sure the silt stirred up by this process, does not enter the open waterways. Instructed equipment operators to make sure canal/creek crossing are closed off below demossing location to avoid trubulance getting into streams. Continuous reminders and management observers operations.This was successfull during the 2012 water season. Water Quality implement a list of program to identify programs. Con't projects that will activities that may improve water quality negatively impact include ongoing water quality. maintenance. X X C. Develop partnerships 1. Provide information as 1. Summary of programs Annual Partnerships have been established with "WISE" Partners and to further declare cooperation May include Jackson requested including and key issues between the members and make a more structured orgainization is currently being accomplished. SWCD, NRCS, ODA, contact information and identified. District made policy…all transfers "on" must pressure irrigate (no flood). others. brochures. WISE project/Ore. Solutions Conversion to gravity irrigation has been enormous. workshop committees/ Brainstorming X D. Reduce 1. For new projects or 1. Confirm use of ramping Annual A routine part of the District's maintenance and operations when removing check boards sedimentation as canals after method and detail any at all points where water is diverted and check boards are used at stream crossings and part of routine maintenance - flows changes in process if all creek diversions is the ramping method to reduce sedimentation. maintenance and will be ramped up needed. Employees have been educated about the need to always use this method to control operations. slowly. sediment levels while pulling structure out at end of the irrigation season. The Bi-Op has ramping rates identified at Emigrant and in particular to MID the Phoenix Diversion that the District is compling to. X 2. When diversion 2. Confirm that action is Annual To prevent sediment movement pools behind all deversions are ramped down slowly - structures are removed being followed and that Pools behind all diversions are ramped down slowly to prevent sediment pool will be slowly staff has been movement - staff has been trained and reminded many times. Staff has followed this lowered. informed. action successfully. This is a standard operation procedure. IV. Illegal Dumping Annual The District continually informs water users and hands out pamphlets especially to users located along streams. Discussed the important and necessary steps to prevent runoff into waterways. District water user policies are either mailed or handed out to patrons which explicitly states no dumping and polluting in the canal and waters. Ditchriders look for illegal dumping when traveling the canal bank (dumping of grass clipping is the most prevalent).The District website is updated regularly with information on how to improve water quality. Develop programs X A. Establish and/or 1. Getting the word out 1. Report on to eliminate refine illegal dumping to users that dumping implementation: how contaminant program as it applies into canals is not and when was discharges into to irrigation district allowed. message delivered. waterways. facilities. X 2. Staff training: 2. List how training was Annual Educated MID Board of Directors. They are supportive of Management to pursue the Bear Creek, Little Butte Creek and South Fork Little Butte Creek TMDL Implementation Matrix goals and continue to update the Board of new developments. Staff training is part of our monthly safety meetings, attended BOR emergency training classes which includes reporting of spills, dumping or any type of action that is detrimental to the waterways, this includes type of response to take. Completed. District employess also attend BOR training protocols, spill conducted and response, reporting. frequency. Funding Analysis Cost Measure of Staff Meets Requirements for: Progress / Grants Reporting Source or Program Bacteria Temperature Strategy Specific Actions Benchmarks Etc. Frequency Status / Reporting Summary Annual Illegal Dumping X 3. Report and dumping 3. Summary of violations There has been in the past where vehicles wreck into the canals while water is running Con't violations to reported. and we reported this ASAP to DEQ as oil or fuel could be leaking appropriate authority: OERS, state police, sheriff, DEQ, other. During 2012 there were no dumping violations or vehicle wrecks to report. V. Failing Septic Annual The District employees are trained to report in the event of a failue to the District Management so the notification to DEQ takes place. There were none located this year. Systems X A. Notify DEQ of failing 1. Train staff. Notify DEQ 1. Summarize referrals. Identify and eliminate systems that effect about failing systems failing on-site sewage irrigation district when found. disposal systems. facilities when found. VI. Outreach and Annual Education X X A. Provide citizens, 1. Distribute information 1. Document information The District educates District patrons at the office and hands out several different pamphlets to promote water quality efforts and how the District is involved. District website has information and links to all the involved agencies that have water quality information. The District newsletter was sent out in the winter to all patrons with information pertaining to water quality issues and how the District patrons can help. landowners, and through website or and/or materials made other groups with other means. Provide available. This could technical contacts informational include web links to and other resources documents at offices NRCS, SWCD, and to restore and as available. others. protect riparian areas. VII. Regional Water Annual Attended quarterly and planning meetings for both Bear Creek and the Rogue. Quality X X A. Continue to 1. Continue participation 1. Attendance at quarterly Coordination participate in the in the TMDL program. TMDL meetings and Bear Creek , Rogue other meetings as River TMDL program. requested. VIII. Funding Annual In partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation, the Medford Irrigation District has piped and placed canal lining in the East and West Main X X A. Evaluate the costs 1. Estimate costs of 1. List estimated program canals and also piped laterals. of water quality program costs: include funding The District in partnership with the local OWRD and the BOR; installed water program implementation: may and in-kind support for measurement devices, updated the equipment and improved measurement weirs for the implementation. include WISE, SOR, projects. cost of $169,450 since 2008. With these improvements it allows more efficient water deliveries and Consultation Process reduction of aquatic growth in the canal system for improved water quality and conserved water. (Bi-Op), Newsletter SOR equals $17,192.00 by MID. costs, Website, other The District contributes $5,000 annually for funding the WISE Coordinator Position and also contributed $3,167 to Portland State Universtiy of the "Oregon Solutions" process to help find funding for the Environmental Impact Statement and Feasibility Study during 2012. The WISE Project has received support from the Governor of Oregon Funding Analysis Cost Measure of Staff Meets Requirements for: Progress / Grants Reporting Source or Program Bacteria Temperature Strategy Specific Actions Benchmarks Etc. Frequency Status / Reporting Summary Annual The District has spent an enormous amount money, MID's portion so far has Funding X X B. Identify program 1. Evaluate existing 1. List of existing been $462,668.00, all from water user funds to hire Biologists to study and help us Con't funding opportunities. resources available to resources used. May determine fish needs and Bear Creeks current ability to sustain the fish species. Water begin program include: Bureau of flow,TMDL's and creek bed conditions are all a high priority while temperature appears to implementation. Reclamation water be a great deal of the assessment. Completion of the assessment was April 2, 2012 conservation program, Funds for the "TMDL implementation plan" comes mostly from cost share grants thru the Bureau of Reclamation which is applied for every year. OWEB, DEQ, other. Canal lining/piping, WISE support, and GIS mapping are to help identify locations in need of improvements etc.. Hopefully, the District can find other sources to help fund projects that will fit with water quality issues. The "Water Smart" program will replace the BOR water conservation funding. X X 2. Combine resources 2. List of participation in Annual Medford Irrigation District is in partnership with several other entities that include Talent, and Rogue River Valley Irrigation Districts and have formed the Rogue Basin Water User regionally by regional implementation Counsel to direct our Bear Creek assessment studies. Medford Irrigation is one participating in WISE, opportunities and type of the WISE Partners and participated in the SOR study of our canal system. SOR or other regional of support provided. A tremendous amount of water conservation opportunites are discussed at meetings. (RRVID,MID and TID) opportunities as District Manager and Board of Directors have attended numerous committee meetings during 2012 to brainstorm the WISE/Oregon Solutions goals and future success. available. IX. Implementation Annual An annual computer generated spreadsheet to track what the District accomplishes throughout the years such as goals, potential improvements for water quality, water temperature, sedimentation, bacteria, etc. MID used the matrix to track activity and feels with the Bi-Op work that we have been intensly involved with. We have learned an extraordinary amount about stream needs and how to improve them, but it is a slow uphill process.Completed Plan Monitoring X X A. Use the matrix as a 1. Use matrix to track 1. Submittal of completed template to track the TMDL Implementation matrix annually. implementation plan. activities. Reports due in September for work done July to June.

          The District’s website is www.medfordid.org, and it will be updated with future developments.

Thank you all for your understanding.

                                                The Board and Staff at M.I.D.