WISE Project

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WISE stand for?
What is the WISE Project?
Where is the geographical location of the WISE Project?
Why is the WISE Project being proposed?
What will be the benefits of the WISE Project?
What are some of the preliminary alternatives being proposed?
What is the process to achieve the results of the project?
What is the Project Advisory Committee?
Who are the WISE Partners?
How will the WISE Project be funded?
What is the project timeline?
How will this project benefit the public?
How will this project benefit irrigation customers?
How will this project benefit agriculture?
How will this project benefit the environment?
How will this project benefit fish?
How will this project benefit recreation interests?
How will this project benefit municipal water users?
How will this project use reclaimed water?
Will any water be conserved through the WISE Project?
How can I become involved in the WISE Project?

What does WISE stand for?
WISE is short for Water for Irrigation, Streams, and Economy. As its name implies, WISE is a proposed project to use water wisely to benefit agriculture, irrigation, municipalities, the environment, recreation, and fisheries interests.

What is the WISE Project?
The WISE Project is a proposed water management project to improve the Bear Creek and Little Butte Creek watersheds within Jackson County in southern Oregon. The goals of the project are to:

Increase stream flows and improve water quality in Bear Creek and Little Butte Creek during irrigation season.
Improve reliability, efficiency, and effectiveness of water delivery to irrigation districts.
Improve the raw water supply quality for municipal treatment and distribution.
Improve aquatic habitat for native anadromous salmonids and riparian species.

Where is the geographical location of the WISE Project?
The WISE Project area is located within Jackson County in southern Oregon. The project study area includes the Bear Creek and Little Butte Creek watersheds, including the streams and reservoirs that serve the creeks. Six reservoirs in Jackson and Klamath counties supply water to the Bear Creek and Little Butte Creek systems: Agate, Fish, Fourmile, Howard Prairie, Hyatt, and Emigrant. The cities of Medford, Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Central Point, and Jacksonville are located within the Bear Creek Watershed. The City of Eagle Point is in the Little Butte Creek Watershed.

Why is the WISE Project being proposed?
The WISE Project is being proposed to address the problems of unreliable irrigation water supplies and degraded water quantity and quality for native anadromous salmonids in the Bear Creek and Little Butte Creek watersheds by improving irrigation reliability and aquatic habitat in an economically and environmentally feasibly manner.

What will be the benefits of the WISE Project?
The benefits of the WISE Project will include:

A sustained, vibrant agricultural community
Reliable municipal and agricultural water supplies
Preservation of aesthetic values in the region by keeping land in open space, improving water quality, and increasing reservoir and stream levels
Wise use of reclaimed water to supplement agricultural irrigation supplies

What are some of the preliminary alternatives being proposed?
Some preliminary alternatives being proposed individually or in combination include:

Lining and piping irrigation canals
Increased conservation measures
Using recycled water for irrigation purposes
Increasing the storage capacity of select reservoirs

What is the process to achieve the results of the project?
The WISE Project Advisory Committee (PAC) has been examining different alternatives to improve local irrigation systems and delivery efficiencies, the aquatic habitat for anadromous salmonids, and the water supply for municipal treatment and distribution. Beginning in mid-2004, a Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement (FS/EIS) will be conducted to further identify and thoroughly evaluate alternatives. The FS/EIS will continue through 2006 and be conducted in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Potential environmental impacts from the project and the necessary mitigation measures to lessen the impacts will be identified in the FS/EIS.

What is the Project Advisory Committee?
The WISE Project is composed of a group of 17 dedicated stakeholders representing agricultural, irrigation, municipal, environmental, watershed, local, state, and federal interests that make up the Project Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC has been working together to identify alternative solutions to improve local irrigation systems and delivery efficiencies, the aquatic habitat for anadromous salmonids, and the water supply for municipal treatment and distribution. The PAC holds twice-monthly meetings on the WISE Project. The meetings are open to the public.

Who are the WISE Partners?
The WISE Partners are the agencies that are legally and financially responsible for the project. The Partners include the City of Medford, Medford Water Commission, Jackson County, Talent Irrigation District, Medford Irrigation District, and Rogue River Valley Irrigation District. The Partners are developing an agreement to guide and fund the project.

How will the WISE Project be funded?
The City of Medford provided the funding for the first phase of the FS/EIS. The project partners are examining opportunities for funding through local, state, and federal agencies to implement the entire WISE Project. The WISE project will not cause undue financial burden on any of the project partners or their customers.

What is the project timeline?
The FS/EIS will begin in mid-2004 and continue through 2006. Scoping meetings to take public comments on the FS/EIS will be held in Fall 2004. Design will commence and permits will be obtained in 2007. Construction will start in 2008. This first phase of the project is scheduled for completion in Spring 2010.

How will this project benefit the public?
The WISE Project is intended to provide a variety of benefits to the public. Improving the water supply system and increasing water reliability will benefit irrigation and agricultural interests that rely on water for economic purposes. Increasing the water supply and improving the water quality of the streams will enhance the habitat for fish, including native salmonids. Improving water quantity and quality of flows in Little Butte Creek will result in improved water quality at the Medford Water Commission Robert Duff Water Treatment Facility. Maintaining the water levels in the reservoirs and increasing flows in the creeks will provide continued recreational enjoyment, including fishing and boating.

How will this project benefit irrigation customers?
The WISE Project proposes to upgrade and improve the water delivery system that supplies water for Talent Irrigation District (TID), Medford Irrigation District (MID), and Rogue River Valley Irrigation District (RRVID). Parts of this system, including the 200+ miles of canals that deliver water, are over 90 years old. Many of the canals leak and lose water through evaporation, thereby reducing the amount of water delivered to irrigation customers. By upgrading the system, irrigation customers will be able to count on a more reliable delivery of water during the irrigation season, improved water quality, and greater water availability.

How will this project benefit agriculture?
The WISE Project proposes to upgrade and improve the water delivery system that supplies water to agricultural users. By doing so, individuals and businesses that rely on water to sustain their crops will benefit from a more reliable source of water and greater water availability.

How will this project benefit the environment?
The WISE Project aims to improve water quality in the Bear Creek and Little Butte Creek watersheds. The project has the potential to reduce sediment, temperatures, bacteria, nutrients, and improve habitat for fish through increased flows and restoration of a more natural flow pattern.

How will this project benefit fish?
The WISE Project will evaluate alternatives to enhance the habitat for fish, including native salmonids, in Bear Creek and Little Butte Creek and their tributaries. The project has the potential to increase in-stream flows and reduce the water temperatures in the creeks, which are critical to maintaining a healthy habitat for salmonids. More natural flow patterns will benefit fish, and removal of flow barriers will increase accessibility of spawning and rearing habitat.

How will this project benefit recreation interests?
The WISE Project looks to maintain or increase the amount of water stored in the reservoirs and increase in-stream flows in the creeks, allowing for continued recreational enjoyment such as boating and fishing later into the year.

How will this project benefit municipal water users?
Improved water quantity and quality of flows in Little Butte Creek will result in improved water quality at the Medford Water Commission Robert Duff Water Treatment Facility.

How will this project use reclaimed water?
The WISE Project will benefit from 12,000 acre feet of water treated to water quality Level IV, which is suitable for use on any crop. Accessing this water for agricultural re-use instead of discharging it into the Rogue River will help meet expected stringent water temperature standards.

Will any water be conserved through the WISE Project?
The FS/EIS will examine ways to conserve water for in-stream purposes that both enhance the quality of the streams and the riparian habitat.

How can I become involved in the WISE Project?
The WISE Project partners are committed to informing the public about the project. Public participation is encouraged. Project meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month and are open to public. Scoping meetings to take public comments on the proposed project will be held in Fall 2004.

Project representatives are available to make presentations to interested parties and organizations. To learn more about the WISE project or schedule a project briefing, contact us.