Court affirms Forest Service environmental analysis for city Bridge Creek pipeline project

U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken released an opinion and order late today that affirmed the Forest Service’s environmental analysis of the City of Bend’s Waterline Replacement Project and denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment. The opinion and order of the court will allow the waterline replacement project to move forward.

The opinion of the court supports the Forest Service specialist’s analysis of the project and procedural approach.

“I am very pleased with the court’s affirmation of our analysis and the work of our specialists,” stated John Allen, Forest Supervisor for the Deschutes National Forest.

About the project:

• This project will replace two aging water pipelines built in the 1920s and 1950s that are deteriorating and in urgent need of replacement.
• The in-stream water withdrawal facilities will also be improved to protect fish.
• Because these facilities are located in the national forest, the projects required special federal permits—the subject of the court case.
• In December 2013, the City Council voted to amend the Bend Code to limit diversions from Bridge Creek. Bend will be withdrawing no more water at the peak than today – and will have better controls that enable us to withdraw much less when it’s not needed.
• Bend is also constructing a new membrane filtration plant to comply with state and federal rules.  The new filtration plant will be online by April 2016 to meet the new mandatory deadline.