A quiet but consequential debate is unfolding across Central Oregon: as irrigation canals are replaced with buried pipelines, the groundwater that those canals once inadvertently recharged is no longer being replenished — and Jefferson County farmers and rural residents with domestic wells are starting to feel the effects.
The City of Redmond recently sought collaboration from Jefferson County officials after groundwater concerns mounted over North Unit Irrigation District's ongoing canal-to-pipeline conversion project. For decades, water seeping through the earthen walls and beds of open canals has been slowly recharging the region's aquifer. As those canals are replaced with sealed, pressurized pipelines, that accidental recharge disappears.
Who's at Risk
Jefferson County residents who depend on domestic wells — particularly in rural areas of Crooked River Ranch and lands east of Redmond — have the most direct exposure. Groundwater modeling suggests that well levels in parts of Jefferson and Deschutes counties could begin to noticeably decline within three to five years as pipeline conversions continue at their current pace.
For agricultural operations, the concern compounds an already difficult situation. In 2026, the North Unit Irrigation District board approved reduced water allotments for Jefferson County farmers: just 1.30 acre-feet per acre from the Deschutes River and 0.65 acre-feet from the Crooked River — well below what most operations need for a full growing season. Many farmers responded by shifting water toward higher-value specialty crops like peppermint, carrot seed, and bluegrass while pulling back on lower-return grain crops.
"You put the water where it pays the most per acre," one Jefferson County farmer told the Madras Pioneer earlier this year, describing the difficult triage decisions now common across the region.
A Proposed Recharge Solution
Redmond officials are proposing a potential fix: routing water that North Unit is already required to release during winter months — to support Oregon spotted frog habitat under state and federal agreements — to locations where it could infiltrate the ground and help replenish the aquifer before spring irrigation season begins.
City officials estimate that a well-designed recharge effort could help stabilize groundwater levels and protect private domestic wells on both sides of the Jefferson-Deschutes county line. The Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District has noted that farms in the county already operate at approximately 90 percent irrigation efficiency — meaning the pipeline project's hydrological ripple effects are largely outside farmers' control.
What Comes Next
Jefferson County commissioners and water managers are expected to continue discussions with the City of Redmond and state water agencies through the winter months to identify viable groundwater recharge sites and funding mechanisms. Any formal recharge program would likely require coordination with the Oregon Water Resources Department and potentially the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees water rights on the Deschutes River system.
For Jefferson County residents with domestic wells who want to monitor their water levels, the Oregon Water Resources Department maintains a statewide groundwater monitoring network. Residents can contact the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District for local guidance on well monitoring and water conservation options.