Historic – Save Arnold Canal

Building a Flume

Bend Bulletin 11 May 1948 Arnold Irrigation district farmers will feel much more secure this season, with a new metal flume carrying water from the Deschutes river to the Arnold ditch. The new flume was rushed to completion this spring by R.P. Syverson, Bend contractor. Standing beside the flume after an inspection of the newContinue reading “Building a Flume”

A Brief History of Arnold Irrigation

Excepts from “The Arnold Project”Toni Rae LinenbergerBureau of Reclamation History ProgramDenver, ColoradoResearch on Historic Reclamation Projects1996 Originally, the Deschutes River was known by the Klamath tribe as, Kolamkeni Koke, or “place where the wild root kolam grows.” Many years later Lewis and Clark, referred to the river by another Indian name Toworenhiooks after sighting itContinue reading “A Brief History of Arnold Irrigation”

What the Historic Flume will look like after AID piping

If you wonder what the Arnold Irrigation Districts plans to bury the Historic Flume will look like, here are two animations to illustrate the damage to the Wild & Scenic Deschutes River. The AID proposal is to build an Oregon State spec. road on top of “engineered fill”. In places the fill and road willContinue reading “What the Historic Flume will look like after AID piping”

Destroy The Historic Flume?

Before it enters the main canal, the water passes through an historic elevated flume along the banks of the river, including Lava Island Falls, a popular world class kayaking destination. Arnold Irrigation District proposes to bury the flume and construct a road on top of it that would be a mile-long eyesore visible from theContinue reading “Destroy The Historic Flume?”