Who Uses the Water in Central Oregon? Cities, Farms, Rivers, and How It’s Distributed

As canals turn on and river levels begin to shift, many people ask: who uses the water in Central Oregon—and how is it distributed across our communities and landscapes? This Raise the Deschutes seminar investigates where the water goes, who holds the rights to it, and how it is managed across an over-allocated basin.

Building on our last session about how water moves from snowpack and precipitation to streams, farms, and faucets, this seminar goes deeper into water management. Where does the water go? Who holds the rights to water? And what does this water year look like? This Raise the Deschutes seminar will provide an accessible, big-picture overview of water use across the basin.We’ll explore the major categories of use, including municipal systems, irrigation, and instream flows, and how water use changes seasonally throughout the year.

This seminar also coincides with two local milestones. The City of Bend marks its100th anniversary, and the Deschutes River Conservancy celebrates its 30th year, reflecting how water use shapes our region—past, present, and future.

Speakers:

Lori Faha, Environmental Resources Manager, City of Bend

Jeremy Giffin, Water Master, Oregon Department of Water Resources

Lisa Seales, PhD., Senior Program Manager, Deschutes River Conservancy

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Doors open at 5:30
Program begins at 6:00
Food and drink are available for purchase.

Note: If you're planning to have dinner at Worthy Brewing, we advise you to arrive early as there will not be tables in the seminar room.

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