This year’s report includes a message from our executive director, a closer look at our approach in the basin, our current main initiatives, how we’re responding to a changing climate, a look at 25 years of flow restoration, a review of our 2020 financials, and our 2020 supporter acknowledgments.
DRC staff had the opportunity to paddle what remains of Wickiup Reservoir with expert staff from the US Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service last Friday.
Calling for volunteers with experience handling fish to help relocate stranded fish as flows in the river drop for storage season.
Congratulations to DRC Programs Director, Dani Wise Johnson for becoming a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) through the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER).
Lisa is the DRC’s new Programs Manager. She is a native Oregonian and traveled the world visiting over 30 countries and most of the US before deciding to make Bend her home.
The Deschutes County Commission has approved an additional American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investment of $1.45 million for an On-Farm Efficiency Water Conservation Investment project. “The money couldn’t come at a better time as Central Oregon endures another year of extreme drought,” Fitzpatrick concluded. “Impacts are being felt in every stream and every irrigation district throughout the Deschutes Basin.”
Despite extreme and persistent drought conditions this summer, all eight irrigation districts belonging to the DBBC remain firmly committed to implementing the conservation measures outlined in the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan.
Senator Merkley was able to use his position on the Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee to protect funding for the WaterSMART program, which is used in Central Oregon to help support water conservation projects like large canal piping and the development of a water marketing strategy.
Oregon’s Senator Merkley won support in the Senate agriculture funding legislation for family farms, rural housing, habitat restoration, and wildfire smoke recovery. This includes $750K for DRC’s McKay Creek Project and $4.8M for projects benefiting Crooked River flow restoration.