Settlement Agreement Reached in Spotted Frog Lawsuit

Five central Oregon irrigation districts, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, and two environmental groups submitted to Judge Ann Aiken last week a settlement agreement intended to resolve two lawsuits related to the Oregon spotted frog. The settlement represents a science-based effort to improve Oregon spotted frog habitat in the Deschutes Basin, avoid adverse impacts to other species, and protect the rights and livelihoods of central Oregon communities, family farmers, and ranchers. Central Oregon Irrigation District General Manager Craig Horrell says this is good news.
Horrell: “We’re happy with the settlement in that it allows us to move forward in a positive way for our farmers and ranchers.”
Under the settlement agreement, the irrigation districts would modify the operations of the reservoirs, with the goal of improving habitat for Oregon spotted frogs in and downstream from the reservoirs. Harrell continues
Horrell: “We now have some concrete stop gaps that we are working against to ensure that we can plan for the farmers’ full season. We’re also working hard to make sure that farmers get full deliveries — that is always based on how well our water season is based on snowpack and moisture — but what we are confident of is that the farmers will not be shut off. It does have the potential for some impacts if we don’t get water; but our hope is that we can manage for what we know. There are knowns now that we can manage for. So the hope is that farmers are protected moving forward.”