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The Challenge
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Our mission is to

Restore Streamflow and Improve Water Quality in the Deschutes Basin

For generations, rivers have been over-allocated.
Smarter water management today means healthier rivers tomorrow.

Water Transactions

Annual Water Leasing and Permanent Water Rights Transfer programs restore flows while the Mitigation Bank helps balance water demands.

Irrigation Modernization

86% of the water in the basin is used for irrigation. Conservation opportunity lies in piping leaking canals and increasing efficiency in on-farm water use.

Ecosystem

Collaborative Planning

We convene basin stakeholders to create consensus-driven plans that balance water use and restore river systems for the benefit of all.

Restoring Streamflow and Improving Water Quality

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Locations

Where We Work Throughout
the Deschutes Basin

View Reaches
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Upper Deschutes River

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Crooked River

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McKay Creek

Trout Creek Upstream

Trout Creek

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Whychus Creek

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Middle Deschutes River

Discover the Latest News

Stay informed with our latest articles and updates.

News & Videos
Tracking Change in the Upper Deschutes: What We’re Learning About River HealthTracking Change in the Upper Deschutes: What We’re Learning About River Health
News
June 25, 2025

Tracking Change in the Upper Deschutes: What We’re Learning About River Health

The 2024 Upper Deschutes River Mitigation and Enhancement (M&E) Annual Report offers a look at how aquatic ecosystems in the Deschutes River basin are responding to evolving water management practices and restoration efforts.

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Three Sisters Irrigation District Completes Final Piping Project— A Major Milestone in the Ongoing Restoration of Whychus CreekThree Sisters Irrigation District Completes Final Piping Project— A Major Milestone in the Ongoing Restoration of Whychus Creek
Press Releases
June 18, 2025

Three Sisters Irrigation District Completes Final Piping Project— A Major Milestone in the Ongoing Restoration of Whychus Creek

The final section of canal piping in the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) has been completed, marking a major milestone in streamflow restoration, on-farm efficiency, and renewable energy generation.

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Avion Water Customers: Help our Rivers When It Matters MostAvion Water Customers: Help our Rivers When It Matters Most
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June 4, 2025

Avion Water Customers: Help our Rivers When It Matters Most

Blue Water is a monthly donor program that allows Avion Water customers to contribute directly to the DRC’s instream leasing work. These small monthly donations—often less than $2—support the restoration of streamflows in Tumalo Creek and the Deschutes River by compensating landowners who voluntarily leave water in the stream rather than using it for irrigation.

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Trout Creek: Supporting Steelhead in the Lower DeschutesTrout Creek: Supporting Steelhead in the Lower Deschutes
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May 24, 2025

Trout Creek: Supporting Steelhead in the Lower Deschutes

Trout Creek is a key tributary to the Deschutes River and supports one of the largest native steelhead runs in the basin.

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WATCH | Fish, Flows, and the Future: Conservation and Management in the Deschutes BasinWATCH | Fish, Flows, and the Future: Conservation and Management in the Deschutes Basin
Videos
April 29, 2025

WATCH | Fish, Flows, and the Future: Conservation and Management in the Deschutes Basin

Join experts Megan Hill, Natural Resources Manager for the Pelton Round Butte Project, and Jason Wilcox, Fisheries Program Manager, as they discuss fish recovery in the Deschutes Basin. Explore how habitat restoration, hydropower management, and strategic partnerships are safeguarding vital fish species like redband trout, steelhead, and salmon amid changing river conditions. Moderated by DRC Program Manager Lisa Seales.

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Congressional Support Builds for the Deschutes River ConservancyCongressional Support Builds for the Deschutes River Conservancy
News
April 7, 2025

Congressional Support Builds for the Deschutes River Conservancy

Congresswoman Janelle Bynum and Senator Jeff Merkley are introducing a bill to reauthorize the Deschutes River Conservancy, paving the way for $2 million in annual federal funding to support river restoration in Central Oregon. The effort builds on bipartisan momentum from the previous legislative session.

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    Take a Deeper Dive

    Raise the Deschutes

    Nearly 90% of the river's streamflow is diverted for irrigation, drastically reducing water levels.

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    Technical Reports

    Seasonal flow disruptions lead to degraded fish habitats and poor water quality.

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    DRC News & Videos

    Porous soil causes significant seepage, wasting half of the water diverted for irrigation.

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