Bringing Irrigation and Flood Control to the Crooked River

The first settlers to the Ochoco Valley long dreamed of developing Ochoco Creek and Crooked River to provide irrigation for farming large acreages in the region. Small water diversion projects had taken place from the very first settlement of the valley but large scale diversion and storage was the goal of many farmers. In 1905 the U.S. Geological Survey issued a bulletin on the geology and water resources of Central Oregon. A State of Oregon Report on the potential for an Ochoco Project was submitted in 1915.

The Ochoco Irrigation District was formed in 1916 with the intent to construct Ochoco Dam and related works to irrigate 22,000 acres. Ochoco Dam was privately constructed between 1918 and 1921. The Bureau of Reclamation conducted additional investigation in the Ochoco Valley in 1936, 1940 and 1944. Investigations into the present Crooked River Project began in 1940 under the Wheeler Case Act. The intentions were to increase acres of cultivated land and to ensure water supply for existing cultivated land. .

It was not until after World War II that further studies were done. In 1953 a report was submitted for authorizing legislation for the Crooked River Project. The entire Crooked River Project was authorized by Congress on August 6, 1956. The Ochoco Project was incorporated into the Crooked River Project as part of the authorization. A project office was established in Prineville in 1957. The office provided field engineering, inspection and administrative services in connection with the final design of Prineville Dam and related irrigation facilities.

On October 14, 1958 the Bureau of Reclamation awarded a contract for construction of the dam to Keystone Construction Co., Inc. Work began on the project on October 27, 1958. Work included clearing the site of the dam, constructing a diversion dam, excavating a tunnel and excavating a spillway. Once the river could be diverted through the diversion tunnel work began on laying the first layers of material for the dam which occurred on September 13, 1959. Most of the final construction including spillway and access shafts was completed by the spring of 1960. Official water storage behind the dam began when the diversion tunnel was blocked on December 11, 1960. The project also included clearing of the area of Prineville Reservoir of brush and trees which was done by John Collins and Bill Broderick of Lakeview.

Construction work on the diversion canal began in mid-July 1960. Syphons at Dry Creek and Ochoco Creek were completed in 1961. Contract work was also done on pumping plants which were completed early in 1962. The last feature of the project was the completion of the Lytle Creek Diversion Dam which was completed in 1962. Dedication of the Crooked River Project occurred at Prineville Dam on October 20, 1962. The Crooked River Project consists of The Arthur Bowman Dam and Prineville Reservoir, the Barnes Butte and Ochoco Re-lift Pumping plants, the Ochoco Dam and Reservoir and related distribution works.

Story contributed by Steve Lent, Historian