A small Central Oregon irrigation district has completed a $19 million overhaul of its water delivery system, replacing miles of open canals with pipes in a bid to conserve water and modernize aging infrastructure. The Lone Pine Irrigation District, which serves about 20 patrons northeast of Bend, finished piping roughly 15 miles of canals over the past four years. The system now delivers water through pipes to about 2,369 acres, eliminating seepage and evaporation losses common in open ditches. Lone Pine board president Dan Flitner said the project, funded through a mix of federal and state grants along with some borrowing, is intended to improve efficiency while contributing conserved water to regional environmental efforts. “This is the first year we’ve operated fully piped,” Flitner said. That makes the 2026 irrigation season a key test.…