MITCHELL, Ore. — The irony of the legal dispute over upgrades to the Painted Hills Reservoir in Central Oregon is that everyone agrees the project helps the environment.

Oregon’s water regulators have contributed money toward raising the dam and storing more water for fish, even though they’re now fighting the project’s owner in court.

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The Painted Hills Reservoir is part of the Bridge Creek Ranch near Mitchell, Ore., which is owned by the Papé Group machinery company.
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Mike Pati, property manager for the Papé Group machinery company, explains the restoration improvements along Bridge Creek, from which the company’s Painted Hills Reservoir has drawn water for about 140 years. A legal dispute over the reservoir’s point of diversion has major implications for Oregon water law.
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Water from Bridge Creek has been diverted into the Painted Hills Reservoir and used to irrigate crops at its namesake Bridge Creek Ranch near Mitchell, Ore. A proposed transfer of the reservoir’s point of diversion has ignited a legal battle with major implications for Oregon water law.
Steve Shropshire

Steve Shropshire
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Mike Pati, property manager for the Papé Group machinery company, explains the upgrades to the Painted Hills Reservoir on the company’s Bridge Creek Ranch near Mitchell, Ore. A legal dispute over the reservoir’s point of diversion has major implications for Oregon water law.
Denise Fjordbeck

Denise Fjordbeck
Brian Posewitz

Brian Posewitz

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