An Environmental Assessment of the Problems Surrounding
The Smith Ditch
Baker City, Baker County, Oregon
Geog 319 Environmental Writing

 

Statement of the Problem
The Smith Ditch, an irrigation ditch running 11 miles through Baker County and partially within in the city limits of Baker City, Oregon, recently broke, flooding a large number of homes and imposing property damage in the thousands of dollars. The ditch has traversed across city platted and private properties since 1906 and thus has a historical precedent for its current location. After the break of the ditch, debate has ensued as to both the cause of the breach of the ditch, and where the responsibility of liability for damages lay and to what monetary level can litigation be pursued.

Questions
Can the Smith Ditch be operated as a viable contemporary irrigation delivery system? What modifications might be recommended pertaining to site characteristics, ditch structure, ditch management procedures, so as to mitigate environmental and economic impacts such as those currently facing the operation of the Smith Ditch?


Student Associated Topics for Investigation
The topics below are suggestions for areas of focus on components of the this environmental assessment. This assessment is not limited to these areas of study. However, any additional recommendations for inquiry should first be considered with Dr.M.

  • Engineering Chris
    Types of irrigation ditch engineering
    Ditch structure
    Structural evolution of the Smith Ditch
    Current Smith Ditch structural plans
    Ditch management for structural integrity
       
  • Conclusions and Recommendations (collectively developed by the class)                                                                                           
    Emergence of Smith Ditch litigation dealings
    20 20 hindsight factors
    History of irrigation related litigation in Oregon and Baker County
    Possible reorganization of Ditch Management Structure
    Recap of factors contributing to the problem
    Site Characteristics
    Site Vicinity
    Regional and Local Agricultural Impacts
    Population Users and Impacts
    Economic Use Value
    Agricultural Land
    Engineering/past, present, and future

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    Reflective Search on "Smith Ditch" Baker County Issues found here