Thompson's Mill Instream Transfer

Cooperative Agreement Leads to Transfer of Non-consumptive Water Right

"Irrigators received fair consideration in the process. We all came out fairly well." -Peter Jensen, neighboring landowner and President of Calapooia Irrigation District

In 1994, OWT began discussions with the owners of the Thompson’s Mill near Albany to improve flow in the Calapooia River. The river provides habitat for Winter Steelhead, Spring Chinook salmon and lamprey which was by mill operations. In 2003, OWT and nine other partners signed a “Cooperative Agreement” to attain common goals and objectives related to the mill including improved fish passage and stream flow. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department purchased the mill in 2004 and signed a water use agreement with OWT to transfer 12 cubic feet per second of 1858 water rights instream. OWT completed the transfer in 2005 and now a permanent instream water right provides adequate summer flow to maintain healthy riparian habitat for fish and wildlife. The mill is maintained as a State Park and will use only small amounts of water for demonstration milling.

Stewardship Notes

To ensure the protection of the 12 cfs water right, OWT installed a telemetry site to record flow. This site will operate in real-time throughout the irrigation season with data available through the Internet. Knowledge of current flow allows fish biologist, the water master and irrigators to make wise use of available water.