The gaging station Crooked River above Hoffman Dam, near The diversion canal headworks is located 7 miles downstream APR. MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 1950 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 1953 Figure 3.--Hydrographs for Crooked River 5 miles below Prineville Dam. CHECKED £6. PRINEVILLE DAM DENVER, COLORADO, urban population was encroaching on the Crooked River flood plain, and a major flood could take heavy toll of life and property. Since development of storage at the Prineville site with a capacity of 155, 000 acre-feet plus surcharge, effective control can be achieved for floods of a 100-year magnitude. Coordinated operation with Ochoco Reservoir now provides effective flood control for lands and property in the valley. Prineville Reservoir is materially increasing the recreational values of this section of Crooked River because of the scenic canyon drive to the reservoir site and the opportunity for developing and maintaining an attractive resident fish population in the reservoir, such as has been done in Ochoco Reservoir since it was reconstructed. Provision of a 10-second-foot flow below Prineville Dam at all times plus return flows will benefit downstream fishlife. Screening and fish passage facilities have been provided at the Crooked River Diversion Dam, constructed 6 miles upstream from the city of Prineville (fig. 2). Increases in urban population and expansion of industry may require additional sources of municipal and industrial water at some future time; at present, however, there are adaquate supplies from present sources. There has been enthusiastic support by local people for the Crooked River project, of which Prineville Dam is a major feature, and complete accord exists as to the desirability of storage for multiple-purpose uses. Local people have endorsed the project in testimony before the Congressional Committee. Resolutions of approval for the project were prepared by the county and state chapters of the Izaac Walton League of America. Ochoco Irrigation District, organized in 1919, is a legal contracting entity. A repayment contract with the district was signed on April 2, 1958. Nondistrict lands are being handled by separate contract. 7. Preliminary Investigations. Investigations of water utilization in the Crooked River Basin were conducted periodically over a period of 40 years. The investigations of significance to the present development are listed below: Bulletin No. 252; Geology and Water Resources of central Oregon, Geological Survey, 1905 Water Supply Paper 344; Deschutes River, Oregon, and its Utilization, Geological Oregon Cooperative Work; Ochoco Project and Crooked River Investigations, United Deschutes Board Report; Uses of Deschutes River, Oregon, Federal Power Commission, 1922 Supplemental Report No. 45; Crooked River Project, Bureau of Reclamation, 1940 Crooked River Project, Oregon; Bureau of Reclamation, 1949 Ground Water in Prineville Area, Oregon; Geological Survey, 1947 Feasibility Report, Crooked River Project, Oregon; Bureau of Reclamation, 1953 Definite Plan Report, Crooked River Project, Oregon; Bureau of Reclamation, June 1958 In view of the fact that water is a critical limiting factor in the central Oregon area and irrigable lands far exceed potential water supplies, the definite plan report study was based on the objective of obtaining maximum development of storage on the Crooked River. The feasibility report of February 1953 presented data on the 155, 000-acre-foot reservoir on the Crooked River which would supply all lands of the proposed Crooked River project and in addition, would have capacity in the reservoir which, with return flow, would provide 51, 200 acre-feet of water for use on other undesignated irrigable lands in the central Oregon area. Several areas were indicated which might utilize this surplus water supply but specific recommendations for its place of use were not made. Investigations have been programed for future years to determine where the excess water in Prineville Reservoir will be utilized. Separate authorization will need to be obtained for use of the unassigned space when specific areas have been recommended to utilize this irrigation water supply. |