The Bulletin reported today that the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $509,992 of taxpayer money for unspecified enhancement projects. This is on top of the recent tax increase approved by Deschutes County voters for unspecified DSWC projects, a tax increase I argued against. The problem is that no commitment has been made by DSWC to increase flows in the Deschutes River from piping private canals or installing sprinkler systems. It appears that saved water will be retained by the landowner for their private use. On-farm water efficiency projects are important, but if taxpayers are subsidizing improvements on private land there should be public benefit.