Deschutes River Conservancy | Streamflow Restoration in Central Oregon

LISTEN: DRC's Kate Fitzpatrick on Western Water Market Podcast

Drought in the West has gone from bad to the worst. Learn about how conservation tools can help.
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NEW PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE ON-FARM IRRIGATION EFFICIENCIES AND CONSERVE WATER

Deschutes River Conservancy and Central Oregon Irrigation District partners to reduce irrigation needs, improve efficiencies and restore Deschutes River flows.
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Stay up to date with news stories about water and rivers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
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Coors Seltzer Funds DRC Efforts to Stabilize Whychus Creek Flows

The Deschutes River Conservancy is working with funding from Coors Seltzer to further incentivize water leasing in Whychus Creek, a reach that used to run dry two of every three years. Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) diverts flows from the creek for area irrigators.
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RESTORING STREAMFLOW AND IMPROVING WATER QUALITY
IN THE DESCHUTES RIVER BASIN FOR 25 YEARS

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Project Manager Natasha Bellis Leaves DRC for New Opportunities at The Deschutes Land Trust

“We will miss Natasha dearly. She has been great to have as part of our organization, but I can't wait to see what more she can do at the Deschutes Land Trust,” said Kate Fitzpatrick, DRC Executive Director.

DRC ED Featured on Western Water Market Podcast

Kate Fitzpatrick, catches up with Western Water Market podcast host, Kristina Ribellia, to unpack Central Oregon’s drought situation, including efforts to prepare for and respond to unprecedented years like this.

DRC Awarded $198,832 in State Funding for Feasibility Studies to Enhance Water Conservation

Oregon Water Resources Commission has recently awarded $908,127 for feasibility studies across the state. The Deschutes River Conservancy was the recipient of two such grants. Never has there been a better time for government investment in our local infrastructure.

Check out our interactive map of the Deschutes River Basin

See our priority reaches, challenges we're tackling, and how far we've come.

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.

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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.