Wickiup Reservoir is having a moment.
The reservoir that supplies critical water for Jefferson County farmers is only a few percentage points lower than its peak level a month ago, draining off at a relatively slow rate due to this spring’s cool and wet weather in Central Oregon.
Despite the recent rain, the Deschutes Basin has experienced several years of extreme and extended drought, exacerbating long-standing water supply issues. Rivers such as the Deschutes and Crooked don’t have the water they need.
Located on the west side of the river just south of Riverbend Park, there are three new access points for the river and 2,000 feet of split-rail fence to protect the riverbank habitat area that has been overused in recent years. The results are a perfect balance of restoration, protection and access enhancement.
Water is flowing into the Prineville Reservoir at a rate not seen in several years, the latest indication that a devastating drought hanging over Central Oregon is beginning to ease.
As warmer weather settles into Central Oregon and it feels more like spring, the days of window scraping and driveway shoveling are behind us. But the above normal snowpack is beginning to melt, which is expected to increase water levels in local rivers and streams early next week.
A couple of Saturdays back, my wife, Catherine, and I made our first-ever visit to Lake Simtustus, located west of Madras on the Deschutes River. Though smaller and lesser-known than larger, upstream neighbor Lake Billy Chinook, Simtustus, too, is a popular spot for camping, swimming, boating and fishing.
As the weather slowly warms, locals and tourists will notice a few improvements along the Deschutes River in Bend with the completion of the Riverbend South project.
The federal Bureau of Reclamation has announced it will provide about half the funding for a $5.38 million project by the Deschutes River Conservancy and three Central Oregon irrigation districts to pipe over six miles of canals and improve monitoring and measurement.
The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced new funding to help pay for canal piping projects Central Oregon. The piping is expected to save water that will eventually help boost water levels in the Deschutes River.
