It's been several months since the Central Oregon Irrigation District has tried to find some common ground with homeowners along the Pilot Butte canal -- and the two sides haven't even met.

COID wants to pipe parts of the canal and homeowners are dead set against it.  

They have applied to be listed to the National Register of Historic Places, which could delay piping projects.  A final decision will be made next month.

COID Director Craig Horrell says it could slow potential piping projects, but not stop them.

"It definitely puts a kink in  what we'd like to do to conserve water for our basin and it makes it harder.   But our basic right is to operate this district and I don't believe it will stop it.  I believe we still have the right to do projects on places nominated."

Horrell says they've tried to coordinate meetings with neighbors involving a mediator to find some common ground, but neighbors have refused to attend them.

"My perception is there is a lot of distrust on what we're saying and I think it has spun out of control as far as what we're saying and the issues.  And the neighbors won't buy into that."