How it all started Over 100 years ago, federal and state policies encouraged the settlement of the high desert by facilitating access to land and irrigation water. In many cases, the state gave out more…
Deschutes River Conservancy News
A collaboration between the Deschutes Brewery and Crux Fermentation Project benefits the DRC!
In celebration of the Deschutes Brewery’s 30th year, they are honoring the relationships they formed and fostered along the way that have allowed them to get to this point. Their collaborations feature members of their…
Notes from the Field: 2018 Snowpack So Far – Yikes!
By Kyle Gorman, South Central Region Manager for Oregon Water Resources Department As of today, the snowpack at the basin’s snow telemetered sites are reading 37% of average water content. We started off November with…
DRC Says Farewell To Our Longtime Development & Communications Director
After 12 years at Deschutes River Conservancy, Bea Armstrong is leaving her position as the Director of Development and Communications to seek new adventures with her family in Hong Kong. Bea was the DRC’s first…
Looking to the Future of the Upper Deschutes River
There is a saying in our office that “restoration does not happen at a 21st century pace.” In an immediate world of instant messages, short cuts and quick fixes, we are accustomed to being able…
Notes from the Field: The Fish Salvage Was Different This Year
For the past several dry to normal years, the Lava Island side channel has run completely dry, creating the urgent need for an annual fish salvage. This year however, despite water managers holding back flows…
Notes from the Field: Visiting Whychus Creek’s Floodplain
Gen Hubert and Natasha Bellis from the DRC took a tour of the US Forest Service floodplain/habitat restoration project on Whychus Creek on Tuesday. This project is creating crucial habitat for the reintroduced steelhead and…
Deschutes River Conservancy Nominated for City Club’s Conversation of the Year
In September, the City Club of Central Oregon announced four finalists for their newly minted “Conversation of the Year” award. This award will celebrate the conversations that benefit our community. A circulating trophy will be…
Weed Pulling in Sisters to Care for Formerly Irrigated Lands
DRC worked with several landowners to transfer 0.87 cfs of senior water rights off of developing lands at the edge of Sisters (2012 – 2016). The Whychus Creek irrigation diversion was a fish barrier and…