DBHCP Volume 1 December 2020.pdf

Eight irrigation districts (Districts) in the Deschutes Basin of Oregon and the City of Prineville, Oregon (City) have prepared the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (DBHCP) to support the issuance of incidental take permits by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), collectively called the Services, under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the federal Endangered Species act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The Districts and the City (collectively called the Permittees) utilize waters of the Deschutes River and its tributaries (Figure 1-1) where their activities have the potential to incidentally harm (take) one wildlife species (Oregon spotted frog) and two fish species (steelhead trout and bull trout) that are currently listed as threatened under the ESA. The taking of a listed species is prohibited under Section 9 of the ESA, but avoidance of take for these three species would require the Permittees to cease or significantly curtail a number of essential activities involving the use of water. The incidental take permits will allow the Permittees to continue their otherwise lawful uses of water without the threat of prosecution for the incidental taking. The DBHCP will be implemented to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the authorized taking. The incidental take permits and the DBHCP will have concurrent terms of 30 years.

The DBHCP also provides mitigation for the effects of the activities on one species that currently has no status under the ESA in the Deschutes Basin (sockeye salmon). In the event this unlisted species becomes listed under the ESA during the term of the DBHCP, the Permittees will receive incidental take coverage for it as well. All eight Districts covered by the DBHCP are quasi-municipal corporations formed and operated according to Oregon law to distribute water to irrigators (patrons) within designated geographic boundaries. Collectively the Districts serve over 7,653 patrons and provide water to nearly 151,000 irrigated acres. Prineville is an incorporated city and the county seat for Crook County, Oregon. It operates City-owned infrastructure and provides essential services, including public safety, municipal water supply, and sewage treatment to more than 9,000 residents.