Healthy Rivers
Need Water

Stay Current

Subscribe to monthly river news and water updates.

Contribute

Be part of river restoration in Central Oregon.

Attend an Event

Learn about upcoming DRC events.

The Challenge
a river flowing through a rocky canyon
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

Subscribe
Locations

Where We Work Throughout
the Deschutes Basin

View Reaches
a river in the middle of a forest

Upper Deschutes River

a river running through a rocky landscape

Crooked River

a stream in the forest

McKay Creek

Trout Creek Upstream

Trout Creek

a river in the woods

Whychus Creek

a river flowing through a rocky gorge

Middle Deschutes River

Discover the Latest News

Stay informed with our latest articles and updates.

News & Videos
Oregon Legislature Approves Deschutes Water Bank Pilot BillOregon Legislature Approves Deschutes Water Bank Pilot Bill
News
July 18, 2025

Oregon Legislature Approves Deschutes Water Bank Pilot Bill

The Oregon State Legislature has passed House Bill 3806, approving pilot water bank authorities in the Deschutes Basin. This legislation marks a significant step forward in helping Central Oregon expand more flexible and efficient water management to support farms, cities, and rivers alike.

Read more
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.

Read more
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.

Read more
Avion Water Customers: Help our Rivers When It Matters MostAvion Water Customers: Help our Rivers When It Matters Most
No items found.
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.

Read more
Trout Creek: Supporting Steelhead in the Lower DeschutesTrout Creek: Supporting Steelhead in the Lower Deschutes
No items found.
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.

Read more
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.

Read more
    Inactive-State
    Active State
    Discover

    Take a Deeper Dive

    Raise the Deschutes

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

    Learn More

    Technical Reports

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

    Learn More

    DRC News & Videos

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

    Learn More