Our Mission

The mission of the Tumalo Irrigation District is to manage our available resources to meet the present and future water needs of our service area by providing a reliable supply of irrigation water in an environmentally and economically responsible manner in an atmosphere of courtesy, integrity and quality of service.

Who we are

Originally known as the Tumalo Project, Tumalo Irrigation District was started in 1904 as a state project for the irrigation of lands under provisions of the Carey Act. In 1922 the Project was reorganized as an irrigation district under Oregon state laws (ORS.545). The District serves approximately 60 square miles with 8,093 plus irrigated acres with over 80 miles of canals, laterals and ditches serving 635 land owners.  A brief outline of the History of the District can be found here.

The District office is located in downtown Tumalo just north of Bend, Oregon in the original Laidlaw Banking and Trust building that the District purchased in 1954.

Currently managed by Elmer G. McDaniels and employing 9 to 12 people depending on the season, the District delivers irrigation water from April to October thru a series of open canals, pipes and flumes from multiple sources including Tumalo Creek, Crescent Lake, and the Deschutes River.

Click here for a bit of the District history