Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys will be in Medford, Ore., on Tuesday, October 19, to participate in an event recognizing the award of a Water 2025 Challenge Grant to the Medford Irrigation District.

Who: Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys Carol Bradford, Medford Irrigation District Manager

What: Commissioner Keys will recognize the Medford Irrigation District's $300,000 Water 2025 Challenge Grant award.

When: Tuesday, October 19, 10:00 a.m.

Where: The event will take place near the intersection of Barnett Road and North Phoenix Road, where the District is aligning the Medford Main Canal and installing a pipeline. An optional 20-minute walking tour of the site will be available after the event. (driving directions below)

Why: The grant will help the District complete a water conservation project. The pipeline will eliminate any direct connection between the irrigation infrastructure and Larson Creek. Larson Creek will benefit by being returned to a natural flow regime. In addition, the project will save 94 acre-feet of water per year which will stay in-stream and provide additional benefits for fish. Radio producers: Advance actualities will be available Monday, October 18. Contact Dave Walsh at dwalsh@pn.usbr.gov for an e-mailed copy.

Television editors: Aerial b-roll will be available at the event.

Directions: From Interstate 5, take the Barnett Creek exit and travel east on Barnett Road approximately 2 miles to the intersection with North Phoenix Road. Turn south and follow North Phoenix Road approximately ¼ mile to the construction site. Follow the signs for parking.

The Water 2025 Challenge Grants – administered by the Bureau of Reclamation – provide local irrigation districts throughout the West with matching funds to support a variety of projects to make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation, efficiency, and water market projects.