mirror pond bend Oregon
Posted inNews

Clearing Up Mirror Pond

The latest on the proposed plan for dredging Bend’s most contentious body of water—which thus far, isn’t funded, permitted or approved by local governing bodies.
Avatar photo Magdalena Bokowa

T his week, the Bend Chamber of Commerce published an article in its “Bend Business Edition,” stating permits and funding were in the “final stages” for the proposed $6.7 million dredging project at Mirror Pond—information the Chamber later discovered was erroneous. The Chamber’s article inaccurately stated that the project was gathering “final funds,” including “38 […]

Posted inCulture

Mirror of Sand

Reflecting on the Needs of the River That We Now Call Mirror Pond.
Michele LaBounty

Are we in a time machine? Maybe we are—but one that loops time, and stories, round and round. In ’99, the big question was, should Bendites dredge Mirror Pond, remove the dam and let the river go free, or do nothing? So far, the latter has won out. Published Date: Jul. 29, 1999 M irror […]

Posted inNews

Mirror Pond: To Dredge or Not to Dredge?

That’s the $6.6 Million Dollar Question
Avatar photo Magdalena Bokowa

A private business acquired the land beneath Mirror Pond in 2015, but there are at least 10 different stakeholders, including YOU, the public, who own the waters. Now the pond’s owners want to dredge, and they’re asking taxpayers for $3.5 million to pay for it. They’ll kick in $200,000. THE SCENE IS SET I t’s […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor: July 17-24

Why the naked bike ride was organized, Mirror Pond and more
The Source Staff

Why I Organized the World Naked Bike Ride in Bend The decision made me nervous. I was told it was “off-message” and “crude.” “Bend isn’t ready for this, stop trying to shock people, Lief.” And my favorite: “This is a family-friendly town, stop trying to turn Bend into Portland.” That line came from the most […]

Posted inOpinion

Oh, Dam. It’s Back.

Deschutes River dredgers want your taxes
The Source Staff

Like us, you’ve probably grown tired of the endless history lessons surrounding the bend in the Deschutes River affectionately known as “Mirror Pond.” The Pacific Power “dam,” which has created an abnormal and unhealthy part of the river now full of silt, continues to attract the attention of folks who put the idea of a […]

Posted inNews

Stuck in the Muck

Mirror Pond’s owners ask DEQ to step in against the city
Avatar photo Nicole Vulcan

A local investor group, Mirror Pond Solutions, is calling for the City of Bend to take more action to address the problem of sediment buildup in Mirror Pond. The City of Bend is calling into question the methods by which that group is basing its claims. On July 29, Jason Conger, attorney for Mirror Pond […]

Posted inOpinion

Mirror Pond Dam

The Source Staff

Now that PacificPower has announced it's planning to keep the Mirror Pond dam after all, we can all breath a temporary sigh of relief. While in some quarters this decision by the energy company has upended the apple cart of “progress” on Mirror Pond, for those who share the sentiment that the best solution for […]

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