Bend, Ore. – Three years after a leak in the century-old Pacific Power hydro dam that formed Bend’s iconic Mirror Pond prompted the utility to announce it wished to divest itself of the facility to the community, the utility has done a quiet about-face and plans to keep producing power there, at least for now, confirmed an official.
Word of the change even surprised some public officials who have spent working out a deal with the utility company about how and whether to assume ownership of the dam.
There have been years of discussion about getting silt in the pond dredged, but the issues became broader in 2013 when the utility, after a leak needed $250,000 in repairs.
Pacific Power says there is no immediate desire to sell the project, or do anything with it, other than reliably operate it.
