2024 Mitigation Report shows that Thornburgh has left in excess of 395 million gallons of water in the aquifer or the streams in 2024, slightly more than the 394 million gallons Thornburgh left in the system in 2023. This brings to roughly 790 million gallons of streamflow benefits Thornburgh has provided over the last two years since reporting began under its 2022 Fish & Wildlife Master Plan (FWMP). This is consistent with the 2022 FWMP which stated Thornburgh would be providing mitigation far in excess of its pumping for years to come.
“Even in light of the research findings from the University of Oregon released in January of this year, quantifying the size of the aquifer beneath the Cascade Mountains as likely the largest in the world with at least 19.4 cubic miles of water, we recognize water is a crucial resource, that while plentiful must be carefully stewarded” said Developer Kameron DeLashmutt. “Our goal is for Thornburgh to become the most environmentally conscious master-planned community in the West if not the U.S. We are actively taking these steps to steward our use of water so that we can preserve this land for future generations to come.”
Under Oregon law, Thornburgh’s Destination Resort Land Use designation requires that it offset every single gallon of water it uses. In accordance with the law, Thornburgh has purchased and set aside private water rights from throughout the Deschutes Water Basin to offset its forecast water use once the resort is fully built out in 20 years’ time. Currently Thornburgh’s water use is a tiny fraction of the amount of water it has set aside, resulting in a net positive impact on the Deschutes Basin.
Thornburgh’s water usage is managed within state law and the Deschutes County approved Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan. This plan requires the development to produce an annual report that outlines yearly water use and the resort’s mitigation efforts. The 2024 report shows that the development pumped zero acre-feet of water while leaving 1,011 acre-feet in the aquifer, and an additional 204 acre-feet instream. In total, for 2024, Thornburgh provided 1,215 acre-feet of water that could have otherwise been pumped, equating to a net benefit of over 395,680,604 gallons of water as excess mitigation last year alone. The approved plan estimated Thornburgh will provide excess mitigation over time in an amount roughly equal to 17 years of its full pumping. Even at full pumping, Thornburgh’s annual water use of 1,460 acre-feet is less than 5/100ths of 1% of the total annual recharge into the Deschutes Aquifer of about 3 million acre-feet.
As a community, Thornburgh has made a multi-generational commitment to preserving the health of the natural landscape, as well as the rivers and aquifers that maintain life in the region, by scaling back several previously approved aspects of the development.
Thornburgh has foregone the construction of previously approved amenities like a golf course, recreation lakes, irrigated parks, and green space, along with a 20% reduction in overnight lodging. In their place, the resort will highlight the land’s natural elegance, focusing on native landscaping and utilizing local flora to create a healthy, water-sensitive ecosystem. This emphasis on stewardship resulted in a reduction of water usage of over 30%, from 2,129 acre-feet annually to a maximum of 1,460 acre-feet. This is in addition to the original development plans, which proposed a development density of only 1/3rd what the county code allowed, with about 65% open space, which is nearly 30% more open space than the minimum the code requires.
In total, Thornburgh has taken further steps than required to create a community, going beyond the minimum requirements and pursuing a higher goal of environmental consciousness.
“Within the resort master plan, we are committed to preserving the natural beauty of the rural setting by maintaining large areas of the natural environment,” said DeLashmutt. Thornburgh will be enhanced with the development of golf courses, water amenities, and the addition of comfortable, authentic, classic high desert country homes. “It’s equally important that the individual homes and cabins fit sensitively into the relaxed landscape,” said DeLashmutt. “We plan on accomplishing this through the resort’s covenants, conditions, and restrictions which will require residents to focus on reduced water use through the use of low-flow fixtures and prescribed xeriscaping within managed landscaping envelopes for each lot. All of the golf and spa cabins will feature Tesla Solar Roof tiles and will be net zero for electricity.”
As a result, a home at Thornburgh will have lower water and energy use than the average home in Bend or Redmond.
About Thornburgh Resort:
Thornburgh is a residential community nestled in the foothills of the Cline Buttes outside Redmond, Oregon. Set within a 40,000-acre juniper forest, Thornburgh offers the finest golf and club facilities, stunning mountain vistas, miles of private hiking and bike trails, lakes and beach club, swimming pools, state-of-the-art fitness and spa facilities, the pickleball and tennis complex, parks, kids camp, lawns, and superlative dining.
