TSID celebrated 25 years of conservation efforts with a ribbon cutting on their latest hydroelectric project. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Robert Bonnie, an undersecretary at the US Department of Agriculture attended in support of the anniversary.
Did you know that permanently protecting flows in Oregon’s rivers wasn’t always possible? Today is the 35th anniversary of Oregon’s Instream Water Act. Thanks to this forward-thinking act, Oregon has become a leader in voluntary streamflow restoration.
Recently, the Deschutes River Conservancy engaged in a collaborative meeting with the Freshwater Trust, Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID), Bureau of Reclamation, and AMP Insights in a two-part trip to discuss upcoming projects and explore current job sites.
This past April, the DRC was presented with the opportunity to visit Boundless Farmstead, a 20-acre farm just east of Bend in Alfalfa, Oregon. The farm is owned and operated by Megan and David Kellner-Rode, both of whom are committed to growing the best quality crop with sustainable and waste-reducing strategies in mind.
Rebekah oversees all things Development at the DRC – fostering relationships and garnering support for our work from foundations, businesses, and community members. She gets excited about interdisciplinary approaches to complex issues and the power of collaboration.
The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council is coordinating a six-part informational speaker series about Whychus Creek and its watershed. DRC Executive Director, Kate Fitzpatrick will be sharing information about WATER USE AND CONSERVATION on March 15th at the Sisters Library with a virtual attendance option.
“This funding is an invaluable investment in a project that both restores natural flows to McKay Creek, supporting reintroduced steelhead, while providing more reliable pressurized water to farmers. We are thankful for this federal investment in a truly win-win project that gives back to the community and the ecosystem,” said Deschutes River Conservancy Executive Director, Kate Fitzpatrick.
We had a great field day seeing water conservation work in action. Better management of water to yield even greater conservation benefits!
DRC staff recently joined NRCS staff on a tour of four farms in the Smith Rock Area, which are slated to receive funding for irrigation efficiency improvements under the National Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program.