Mar 29, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Late snow helps Central Oregon’s rivers, but problems remain
The end of winter was one for the history books throughout Central Oregon, thanks to the snowiest February ever in Bend and elsewhere.
Collected and curated media Articles about the water and rivers in the western united states
Mar 07, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Recent storms improve Deschutes County drought
Bend’s snowiest February in more than century may finally be pulling Central Oregon out of a long-term drought, but the region still has a long way to go.
Feb 27, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Snowfall breaks more records
Central Oregon has experienced much harsher winters in past years, but the snowfall this month has been the highest in February since the National Weather Service in Pendleton started tracking weather observations in 1901.
Feb 23, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Guest column: Finding common ground for farmers, food and fish
In today’s acrimonious political climate, it’s rare to read stories about public and private entities working together for the common good — particularly when it comes to the environment and limited natural resources.
Feb 17, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Deschutes River bridge project to be postponed
The controversial plan to build a bridge across the Deschutes River south of Bend is no longer in the Bend Park & Recreation District’s plans, at least for the foreseeable future.
Feb 14, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Even after snow, Central Oregon still mired in drought
Cold, snowy storms pounded much of the Pacific Northwest, Central Oregon included, for a week, prompting winter weather warnings and canceling travel plans over the mountains.
Feb 07, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Guest column: Manage the middle Deschutes for the public
On Jan. 31, the Deschutes River Conservancy announced that they had secured funding from Intel Corp. to help with their Middle Deschutes summer water leasing program. Without the DRC’s various efforts, including the leasing program, the Middle Deschutes below Bend would be virtually dry in the summer. Additional funding for the leasing program is welcome news but requires some context.
Jan 30, 2019 - KTVZ - Intel pledges decade of water leasing to protect Middle Deschutes
The Deschutes River Conservancy announced Wednesday that its water leasing program has just secured funding from Intel Corp. that will be used to protect 81 million gallons a year in the Middle Deschutes River downstream from Bend during the peak summer irrigation season.
Jan 29, 2019 - KBND - New Coalition to Discuss Deschutes River Health
A group of river-related agencies meets Tuesday to discuss a shared vision for the Deschutes. North Unit Irrigation District Director and Deschutes Basin Board of Control Manager Mike Britton says the goal is to return the river to full health for future generations, "It's a vision whereby we can work together to find solutions for the Deschutes River that benefit families, farms, and fish.
Jan 28, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Deschutes River kick-off event coming to Riverhouse
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A reception and speaker series will bring together environmental nonprofit groups, irrigation districts, businesses and individuals based on their shared goals for the Deschutes River.
Jan 28, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Deschutes River kick-off event coming to Riverhouse
A reception and speaker series will bring together environmental nonprofit groups, irrigation districts, businesses and individuals based on their shared goals for the Deschutes River.
Jan 20, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Lucky weather has led to strong snowpack despite climate change
The annual snowpack in the Oregon Cascades has been remarkably resilient in the face of climate change over the past several decades.
Jan 08, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Letter to the Editor: Protect the River
The Bulletin’s Dec. 27 footbridge editorial missed the point of Mary Orton’s report to Bend Park & Recreation District. At their Dec. 18 board meeting, she challenged Bend parks to include the many and varied voices working to preserve the wild and scenic character of the Upper Deschutes River, in balance with recreation. Can Bend parks embrace both points of view?
Jan 04, 2019 - Bend Bulletin - Editorial: Tumalo project a winner
It won’t happen this year or next, but the Tumalo Irrigation District is well on its way to having all its canals, large and small, converted to buried pipe. When the task is complete, the district’s water users, wildlife and Tumalo and Crescent creeks, the sources of its water, will all be better off.
Dec 27, 2018 - Bend Bulletin - Editorial: As time passes, case for Deschutes footbridge becomes stronger
Led by the owners of riverside homes and abetted by a pair of local Republican legislators, those who oppose the construction of a pedestrian and bike bridge over the Deschutes River have, if nothing else, succeeded in generating controversy. What they’ve failed to do is translate that controversy into a bridge ban. And without that, the passage of time will work steadily in the bridge’s favor.
Dec 22, 2018 - KTVZ - Stretch of Deschutes River Trail to stay closed near Ryan Ranch
A section of the Deschutes River Trail on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District will remain closed between Dillon Falls Boat Ramp and Slough Camp for the winter, Deschutes National Forest officials said Friday.
Dec 22, 2018 - Bend Bulletin - Guest column: Crooked River water — public right vs. private profits
An article in the Nov. 9 Bulletin reported that due to low water reserves, the Bureau of Reclamation that controls water release from Prineville Reservoir might limit flows in the Crooked River to preserve water for irrigators to the detriment of fish and the Crooked River’s aquatic ecosystem.
Dec 20, 2018 - Bend Bulletin - Guest column: Dredging Mirror Pond is not a sound idea
Based on my knowledge of rivers, I believe Mirror Pond should not be dredged again — even if costs can be totally funded from private sources. From an ecological perspective, the most logical and practical solution to what will be a continuing pond dilemma is to return this reach of the river to its natural hydrology. By nature, the flow of rivers constantly transports sediment and organic matter downstream until particles drop out in areas where the current declines — such as in an artificially excavated pond. This fundamental fact means that deposition of sediment and the subsequent natural wetlands transition process, called eutrophication, will recur each time Mirror Pond is dredged.
Dec 19, 2018 - Bend Bulletin - Apple will pay for Prineville water storage to meet data centers’ enormous thirst
Amid massive thirst from its Central Oregon data centers, and other strains on regional water supplies, Apple said Wednesday it will spend $8.7 million to help the city of Prineville build an underground water storage facility.
Dec 19, 2018 - Bend Bulletin - Distrust, lack of facts threaten proposed Deschutes River bridge, report says
After years of contentious discussions about a proposed footbridge across the Deschutes River created deep divides on both sides of the issue, the Bend Park & Recreation District may face a long, arduous path toward spanning that divide.