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  • 50+ Reasons Why We Love The Deschutes Basin

    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!

    See The 50+ Reasons
    50+ Reasons Why We Love The Deschutes Basin

  • NOTES FROM THE FIELD: PRE-PROJECT MONITORING ON MCKAY CREEK – WHAT DO THE BUGS TELL US?

    Collecting data along McKay Creek and what that tells us about the health of the fish habitat.

    Learn More
    NOTES FROM THE FIELD: PRE-PROJECT MONITORING ON MCKAY CREEK – WHAT DO THE BUGS TELL US?

  • Improving flows in McKay Creek

    The DRC is partnering with McKay Creek farmers and Ochoco Irrigation District to restore natural flows to McKay Creek.

    Find out more about McKay Creek
    Improving flows in McKay Creek

WE'RE WORKING TO RESTORE STREAMFLOW ​​AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE DESCHUTES BASIN

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

What We Do

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

Everyone Wins

Everyone will win if we can fix this

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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. 

We've Made Progress

We've Made Great Progress

Living in the high desert, we all rely on the Deschutes River and its tributaries. When we began restoring streamflow and improving water quality over 20 years ago, the landscape looked much different. Whychus Creek in Sisters ran dry in the summer, the Middle Deschutes, downstream from Bend had only 20% of the flow it has today, the Crooked River downstream from Smith Rock suffered from low flows and high stream temperatures.

Streamflow Restoration Accomplishments

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*CFS = Peak protected flows May - September

 

We Need Your Help

WE COULD USE YOUR HELP

Conservation Tips

Conservation Tips

7 tips for conserving water in and around your home.

Conserve Water
Volunteer

Volunteer

Check here for opportunities to volunteer for the Deschutes River Conservancy.

I'd Like To Volunteer

 

How We're Organized

How we’re organized

Founded in 1996 as a collaborative, multi-stakeholder organization, the DRC's Board of Directors makes decisions by consensus and is comprised of key public and private interests including farming, ranching, timber, development, hydro-power, recreation, tribes, and environment. We are a small, dedicated team of water professionals who are passionate about our local streams and communities. Together we've been able to make amazing progress in the basin and are looking forward to one day seeing a sustainably restored Deschutes Basin.