Deschutes River Conservancy News

Working toward a healthier Deschutes River

Two weeks ago a large quantity of trout and other fish species became stranded and died in a side channel of the Deschutes River, near Meadow Camp and Lava Island, southwest of Bend, Oregon. The…

When disaster strikes

How freak weather events affect local farmers We are used to some severe weather here in Central Oregon, but the two hail storms that came through in late August were truly exceptional. With hailstones of…

Recent study finds larger fish populations in colder waters

  Low river flows and associated high water temperatures often negatively affect fish populations. Biologists believe this to be the case in the Deschutes River downstream from Bend, where flows are dramatically altered during the…

An interview with Watermaster, Jeremy Giffin

The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) serves the public by practicing and promoting responsible water management. Jeremy Giffin (pictured above) is the OWRD’s Watermaster for Central Oregon and has spent the past 17 years working…

Whychus Creek revived through combined efforts

Restored flows in Whychus Creek meandering through The Deschutes Land Trust’s Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. Whychus Creek in Sisters has made a huge comeback in the past several years through the collaborative efforts of the…

In Memory of Bob Main (1943-2013)

On June 6th of this year, Central Oregon lost one of its most important figures in water management. Bob Main was Watermaster and then Regional Manager at the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) for twenty-two years…