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As the most expensive public works project in Bend’s history moves forward, some critics continue to question whether it’s even necessary.

Bend City Council earlier this month approved a $19 million contract to start construction this fall on a project to update and improve the surface water component of Bend’s dual-source system. But the project’s cost could potentially reach $68 million.

Although nearly all Bend’s city councilors have consistently voted in favor of the project since it was proposed in 2009, land conservation groups, community members and others believe the city has not taken the proper steps to make sure the project is as economically and environmentally viable as possible.

鈥淭he project they’ve come up with is totally out of scale to me, costing at least twice as much as it should,鈥� said Jim Clinton, the one city councilor who has repeatedly voted against the project. 鈥淚’m in favor of using the same (system), but do it in a project that’s a lot less expensive, more environmentally sound and more sustainable. The city is doing a project where bigger is better.鈥�

Bend relies equally on a surface water system that draws from Bridge and Tumalo creeks and a groundwater pumping system. In the project’s first phase, the surface water system’s two pipelines, both over 60 years old, will be replaced with a new pipeline.

Clinton agrees that water should still be drawn from the creeks, but he believes the existing pipelines should not be replaced until they can no longer function. He said that one of the pipelines 鈥� built in the 1950s 鈥� is still fully functional, and the other 鈥� built in the 1920s 鈥� still has some use. He also believes that a new pipeline alignment is a waste of money.

鈥淭hey thought it would be more convenient to put a totally new alignment along the road, but really, once you put in a new pipe, there’s not much significant maintenance involved; it just sits there, so you don’t really need access to it,鈥� he said.

Members of , a conservation group created by to monitor the project, believe a new pipeline shouldn’t be built now. Instead, they said the city should continue to use the current pipes, or convert the entire system to groundwater pumping. Stop the Drain has collected more than 1,000 signatures from citizens in protest of the project.

Moey Newbold, Stop the Drain’s campaign coordinator, said the project will take more water from the creeks than necessary.

鈥淭umalo Creek is a very vulnerable water source here, and it’s really important to Central Oregon as a recreation mecca,鈥� she said. 鈥淏y restricting the creeks, it’s harmful to the environment compared to what the alternatives would be.鈥�

Newbold also believes there is a conflict of interest in the city’s partnership with the project’s engineer, In 2009, the city chose HDR to conduct a cost analysis to make sure the project was economically viable. Newbold claims that HDR’s analysis was biased because it did not include accurate information about alternatives, such as a groundwater system. She added that the analysis was based on research done in 2007, when many people expected Bend’s population to grow exponentially; she said that research was irrelevant when the analysis was performed, because the recession had thwarted those expectations.

Clinton believes that HDR’s involvement in every aspect of the project 鈥� from cost analysis to construction management 鈥� will end up costing the city more money than it should pay.

鈥淥ne thing that’s always bugged me about this project is the entire way the city contracts to have these projects done,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese are large, international engineering firms that get these contracts and charge hundreds of dollars an hour 鈥� the bigger the project, the more money they make.鈥�

But most of City Council sees things differently. Mayor Jeff Eager said the city can save money by replacing the pipelines while also performing a Skyliners Road reconstruction project.

He added that a new alignment is necessary because the existing pipelines travel beneath multiple privately owned structures. The floors of the structures would have to be torn up to maintain the alignment.

Also, Eager said that there is no conflict of interest with HDR Inc., because multiple firms were hired as part of the cost analysis.

鈥淭he city ran its project through a firm that performs value engineering services and that firm is not constructing the project; they have no dog in the fight,鈥� he said.

Eager said a report released recently by the U.S. Forest Service shows that the project would not have any significant impacts on the environment. In it, the Forest Service states that the project could lead to 鈥渕inor changes鈥� in creek temperatures and the loss of several large-diameter trees.

The project’s first phase will cost $30 million. Originally, the other two construction phases 鈥� a new intake facility and hydro-electrical plant totaling $28 million 鈥� were going to follow immediately. However, the city recently put those phases on hold. Eager said the delay will give the city and the community more time to discuss the project, and prevent the city from spending too much money at one time.

But Newbold does not believe the delay will result in any significant changes to the city’s original plan.

鈥淥ur pressure in the community had an impact on the decision, but it was more of a public relations move than anything else,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s just a slowed-down version of the project.鈥�