Bend Bulletin - Editorial: Deschutes River Conservancy gets deserved bipartisan support

The history of the Deschutes River Conservancy and its work to improve the flow and health of the river goes back at least to 1992. A key moment in its history was in 1996 when then Sen. Mark Hatfield of Oregon, a Republican, had his bill passed ensuring the Deschutes River got some federal help with restoration projects.

Hatfield had many notable accomplishments. His bipartisanship might seem striking today in Congress. There is a strong echo of it in the support of Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer for legislation that would re-up federal support for Deschutes River Conservancy.

The Deschutes River Conservancy is a joint effort of irrigators, conservationists and others to find market-based and voluntary solutions for the health of the river. Decisions are made by consensus. It might work too slow or too fast for some. But it works to bring people together.

The Deschutes River Conservancy doesn’t deserve all the credit, though, not so many years ago the river’s flow downstream from Bend was a fraction of what it is today. Whychus Creek would run dry in the summer.

With passage of renewed federal support by Congress, the river will benefit, Central Oregonians will benefit and future generations will benefit.