Mirror Pond water levels being lowered for storm drain system construction

People visiting Bend’s Mirror Pond should expect to see lower water levels for the rest of 2023.

The City of Bend said it asked for assistance from Pacific Power for the levels to be drawn down for the Stormwater Outfall Improvement and the final phase of the Newport Corridor Improvements Project. It’s an effort to improve stormwater infrastructure and reduce the risk of flooding.

“We’re building that storm drain system from the roadway through pageant park to the river to replace the existing outlet that we have there now, which is a rusty, corroded metal pipe,” said City of Bend Principal Engineer Brittany Barker.

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Those water levels will drop next Monday so that construction can begin. The city expects to complete the work by the end of the year.

Visitors should expect to see the water level to drop by about two feet. That’s similar to what it was last year when Bend Park and Recreation District was constructing the Deschutes River Trail Improvements.

Here is the full announcement from the City of Bend:

The City of Bend requested assistance from Pacific Power to temporarily lower the water level at Mirror Pond as part of the recently incorporated Stormwater Outfall Improvements, and final phase, of the Newport Corridor Improvements Project.

The drawdown of the Mirror Pond water elevation is anticipated to be approximately two feet in elevation, similar levels to what was experienced last fall/winter while Bend Park and Recreation District was constructing their Deschutes River Trail Improvements. Reducing the water level allows for easier access and increased efficiencies to construct the stormwater outfall structure along the riverbank. The work is expected to be underway as early as October 9 with a river drawdown beginning October 16.

“Improving stormwater infrastructure to protect our river and underground water sources has been at the core of the Newport Corridor Improvements Project,” said Brittany Barker, Principal Engineer for the City of Bend Engineering and Infrastructure Planning Department. “Cooperation and understanding are requested as we temporarily alter water levels in order to help protect our beloved Deschutes River.”

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The goals of the Outfall phase of the project are in alignment with the overall goals of the Newport Corridor portion of the project: reduce the volume of water reaching the river, increase the quality of the water reaching the river and limit flooding. Construction of this phase will achieve these goals by:

Constructing a new rock structure at the riverbank that will slow the stormwater down as it is coming out of the outfall pipe. This will help to limit erosion of the riverbank and reduce the likelihood of sediment reaching the river.
Provide additional capacity of the stormwater pipe to convey increased flows during rain events. This is also achieved through the infiltration of stormwater through the water quality planters, thereby reducing the volume of water reaching the river.
Alleviate the possibility of localized flooding during significant storm events in the intersection of Nashville Avenue and Drake Road.