Deschutes River Conservancy | Streamflow Restoration in Central Oregon

Conservation, Restoration, and Flow Management in the Upper Deschutes River

Learn about collaborative efforts implementing water conservation projects and how conservation savings are being used to meet needs for species in the Upper Deschutes River.
LIVESTREAM

RESTORING STREAMFLOW AND IMPROVING WATER QUALITY

IN THE DESCHUTES RIVER BASIN SINCE 1996

Learn about Water in the
Deschutes River Basin

Raise the Deschutes
Seminar Videos

Interactive Basin Map

INNOVATION
Fresh ideas to accelerate
conservation & restoration

COLLABORATION
Bringing diverse voices together
to solve complex water issues

FLOW RESTORATION
Restoring flows and improving
water quality for the benefit of all

WATER PLANNING
Ensuring water security basin-wide
for today and into the future

Top Stories

Guest Column: Meeting Central Oregon’s water challenges

Jefferson County farmers, facing severe drought impacts and economic challenges, value Michael Kohn's articles on water issues, as local agriculture, a cornerstone of the economy with deep family and innovation roots, seeks resiliency through collaborative efforts and strategic resource management.

APRIL 17 – Shaping the Future: Conservation, Restoration, and Flow Management in the Upper Deschutes River

Learn about collaborative efforts implementing water conservation projects and how conservation savings are being used to meet needs for species in the Upper Deschutes River.

Rising population, shrinking water: Central Oregon works to solve chronic water troubles

Central Oregon is grappling with water shortages exacerbated by rapid population growth, challenging the region to find sustainable solutions. The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative is one initiative bringing together diverse stakeholders to conserve water and address the uneven distribution of resources, highlighting the importance of collaboration in managing environmental challenges.

More News

We’re lucky to have this beautiful river

but the systems that manage it were created 100 years ago, and now it’s suffering

Act Now to Save the Deschutes River

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 fish, wildlife and vegetation. We must act now before it is too late.

See more River Stories

The problems are fixable and we're all working together to conserve water and solve them

Basin Wide Planning

Planning for sustainable water management practices to support the river and other users into the future.
Find Out More About Basin Wide Planning
Water Rights Transfers

DRC's transfers program acquires and transfers water rights to be permanently protected instream.
Find out about Water Rights Transfers
Water Management

Sharing water to meet the modern needs of rivers, cities, and farms.
Find Out More About Water Management
Streamflow Restoration

The Deschutes Basin is over-allocated. We work cooperatively in the basin to restore flows in local streams.
Find out about streamflow restoration
Groundwater Mitigation

The DRC Groundwater Mitigation Bank creates temporary credits through instream leases.
Find out about Groundwater Mitigation

Everyone will win if we can fix this

The streamflow challenges currently facing the Deschutes Basin trace back more than 100 years. Settlers put the Basin's water to work pursuing a successful future for local agriculture but not considering the environmental impact. Today we know far more about the need to protect ecosystems while supporting livelihoods. We're fortunate to be in a basin with enough water for all — provided it's properly managed. By rethinking and rebalancing how we use and share water, we can and will have enough water for fish, farms, and families.