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The Crooked River running through Prineville Oregon

A Tale of Two Rivers: Part One – The Crooked River

In the Western United States, the availability of water has become a serious concern for many communities and rural areas. Central Oregon is no exception. From river to river, situations are different depending on the water source, geology, and demand....

Swalley Irrigation District Finalizes Project That Is Raising Flows in the Middle Deschutes

Now finalized, the Rogers Lateral Pipeline Project Between Cooley and Tumalo Roads is Already Boosting River Flows BEND, OR, May 1, 2020— Swalley Irrigation District, one of the leading districts charging forward to modernize its irrigation system in Central Oregon,...

50+ Reasons We Love The Deschutes

Thank you for helping us celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day this week by sending in your reasons you love the Deschutes Basin. As promised, here they are! 50+ Reasons We Love The Deschutes Favorite fishing spots throughout the...

APR 24 – Riverfeast Dinner & Auction – POSTPONED

RiverFeast 2020 is Postponed. Stay Tuned for Plan B. See the 2020 Menu Get Tickets RiverFeast Dinner & Auction supports the restoration work of the Deschutes River Conservancy. Join us on Friday, April 24th 2020 for a delightful evening of...

Dec 15 – Riversong – A Community Celebration & “Big Sing”

Do you feel a kindredness with our rivers and creeks? Do you feel calm, find peace, clarity, hope or renewal among the various banks and curves of the big river flowing down the mountains across the desert? If you do,...

Oct 14 – Fall 2019 Lava Island Fish Rescue

Call for volunteers to help this Saturday to relocate stranded fish as flows in the river drop for storage season. Recall that with the wind-down of the growing-season, the irrigation districts of Central Oregon reduce the river flow in the...

Guest Blog: Best Ways To Preserve Nature While Hiking by Rachel Gaffney

Every month millions of people take at least a one day hike into the wilderness either using a national hiking trail or a local park trail. There are significant physical and emotional benefits of getting out into nature and going...

Understanding the Deschutes River Dams – Part One

It’s dawn. You rhythmically dip your paddle, pull, then glide east across the surface of Wickiup Reservoir. You’re alone in your canoe and for all you can tell you’re the first human to ever cross this stretch of water. You...

What Makes the Deschutes Tick?

Things have been heating up in Bend and the summer tourist season seems to be in full swing. Last weekend, I decided to head up to Wickiup Reservoir to get away from the crowds and cool down with a swim...

Notes from the Field: Pre-Project Monitoring on McKay Creek – What Do The Bugs Tell Us?

Project Update: Kelsey, our Project Coordinator, spent a couple days collecting macroinvertebrates in McKay Creek before the McKay Creek Switch Project goes into construction. This data collection will occur before and after the Switch to help us determine how increased flows have...

Restoring Whychus Creek

Restoring Flows Since the early 1900s, Whychus Creek ran dry in two out of every three years due to irrigation diversions. Through a combination of water conservation (i.e. piping) and both permanent and temporary water transfers, the creek is now...

McKay Creek Water Rights Switch Summer 2018 Project Update

McKay Creek flows 37 miles from its headwaters in the Ochoco National Forest through private agricultural lands and joins the Crooked River just northwest of the City of Prineville in Crook County. Due in part to irrigation diversions, streamflows are...

Upper Deschutes Basin Study Summer 2018 Update

The Upper Deschutes River Basin Study, a 3-year study focused on meeting water needs in our basin, will be complete in September 2018. The study identifies water needs for rivers, agriculture and growing communities in Central Oregon, and evaluates tools...

Upper Deschutes Basin Study

How it all started Over 100 years ago, federal and state policies encouraged the settlement of the high desert by facilitating access to land and irrigation water. In many cases, the state gave out more water rights than existed in...

Open Houses for Upper Deschutes River Basin Study

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Mike Relf, Bureau of Reclamation, bor-pnr-udbasinstudy@usbr.gov, 208-378-5175 Craig Horrell, Deschutes Basin Board of Control, chorrell@coid.org, 541-548-6047 Kate Fitzpatrick, Deschutes River Conservancy, kate@deschutesriver.org, 541-382-4077 Open Houses for Upper Deschutes River Basin Study Study focuses...

The Return of Whychus Creek

Whychus Creek is coming back to life after a 9 phase piping project that has modernized Three Sisters Irrigation District and restored year-round flows in the iconic creek that runs through Sisters, Oregon.

Act Now to Save the Deschutes

The Deschutes is a natural jewel in the heart of our community. But many of us are unaware that the river upstream of Bend is in big trouble. Its ecology is at a tipping point and showing steep declines in...

Change the Story

The Deschutes River runs through the heart of Central Oregon. For the past century, the river has been managed to serve irrigation needs. This has had a negative impact on flows and the health of the river. Together with our...

Aug 2 – Be a part of “Homewaters”, a book about the past, present, and future of the Deschutes Basin

August 2 - The Deschutes River Conservancy to Publish a Coffee Table Style Book Telling the Story of the Deschutes Basin’s Past, Present, and Future Through Photography and Written Word The Deschutes River Conservancy is hosting an event at Dudley’s...

Water Leasing Program supporting the Middle Deschutes River Receives 10-Year Pledge of Support

The Deschutes River Joins a List of U.S. Rivers to Receive Funding through Intel’s Commitment to Restore 100% of Global Water Use by 2025 The Deschutes River Conservancy’s (DRC) Water Leasing Program has just secured funding from Intel Corporation that...

RiverFeast Announces New Title Sponsorship from Brooks Resources

Brooks Resources proudly presents the 12th Annual RiverFeast Dinner & Auction to benefit the Deschutes River Conservancy on Saturday, May 11th at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon’s beautiful event space. The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this...

Summer 2018 Newsletter and 2017 Annual Report

Includes the 2017 Flow Restoration Report, Project Updates on the Basin Study and McKay Creek, A Ten-Year Look at Restoration in Whychus Creek, and the Introduction or the DRC's New Blog Series. View the 2017 Annual Report

Winter 2018 Newsletter

View the 2018 Winter DRC RiverVoice (PDF)

2016 Annual Report

Includes the 2016 Flow Restoration Report, Tools to Create A Healthy Deschutes, McKay Creek's Missing Link, and a Message from DRC Executive Director, Tod Heisler. View the 2016 Annual Report