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DRC News & Updates

Stay informed with our latest articles and updates.

Deschutes Basin Board of Control 2025 Town Hall – Key TakeawaysDeschutes Basin Board of Control 2025 Town Hall – Key Takeaways
News
March 24, 2025

Deschutes Basin Board of Control 2025 Town Hall – Key Takeaways

The 2025 Deschutes Basin Board of Control Town Hall highlighted progress in water conservation, irrigation modernization, and habitat restoration for a more sustainable basin.

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Welcome Grant Traynor to the Deschutes River Conservancy!Welcome Grant Traynor to the Deschutes River Conservancy!
News
February 24, 2025

Welcome Grant Traynor to the Deschutes River Conservancy!

DRC is excited to welcome Grant Traynor as a Project Manager! Please join us in giving him a warm welcome as he embarks on this new chapter with the DRC!

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WATCH | Raising the Deschutes: Challenges and Solutions for Our RiversWATCH | Raising the Deschutes: Challenges and Solutions for Our Rivers
Videos
February 20, 2025

WATCH | Raising the Deschutes: Challenges and Solutions for Our Rivers

In this seminar, experts dive into the critical water challenges facing the Deschutes Basin, including low streamflows and water quality concerns. Through case studies and collaborative initiatives, you'll learn about ongoing efforts to balance ecological health with agricultural and recreational needs, ensuring a resilient water future for the region.

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Deschutes River Conservancy and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Announce Move to New Office Space in the Old Mill DistrictDeschutes River Conservancy and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Announce Move to New Office Space in the Old Mill District
News
February 3, 2025

Deschutes River Conservancy and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Announce Move to New Office Space in the Old Mill District

The Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC) are excited to announce their move to a new office along the Deschutes River in Bend’s Old Mill District.

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Welcoming Maggie Anderson to the DRC Team!Welcoming Maggie Anderson to the DRC Team!
News
January 28, 2025

Welcoming Maggie Anderson to the DRC Team!

DRC is excited to welcome Maggie Anderson as a Project Manager! Join us in congratulating her on this new opportunity.

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    Water in the Media

    The latest water and river news in the Deschutes Basin.

    OPB: A ‘good’ water year in Central Oregon comes with murky political forecastOPB: A ‘good’ water year in Central Oregon comes with murky political forecast

    OPB: A ‘good’ water year in Central Oregon comes with murky political forecast

    A wet winter has brought short-term relief to Central Oregon irrigators, but uncertainty looms as federal funding delays stall key water conservation projects. As debates around the Endangered Species Act resurface, some in the region hope political shifts will reshape water policy in their favor.

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    Bend Bulletin: Storms give Upper Deschutes a 20% boost in snowpackBend Bulletin: Storms give Upper Deschutes a 20% boost in snowpack

    Bend Bulletin: Storms give Upper Deschutes a 20% boost in snowpack

    A mid-March storm dropped over 5 feet of snow in the Central Cascades, boosting snowpack to 139% of normal and improving water supply, ski conditions, and reservoir levels across Central Oregon.

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    Bend Bulletin: Editorial: Water bank is just what Deschutes Basin needsBend Bulletin: Editorial: Water bank is just what Deschutes Basin needs

    Bend Bulletin: Editorial: Water bank is just what Deschutes Basin needs

    House Bill 3806 proposes the creation of a voluntary water bank in the Deschutes Basin to facilitate water transfers between rights holders, providing flexibility amid increasing drought conditions. With strong support and built-in safeguards, the bill aims to help irrigation districts like North Unit manage water more effectively while preventing speculation and ensuring long-term sustainability.

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    Source Weekly: Kotek and Conservation Groups Want DEQ to Address Deschutes River Water QualitySource Weekly: Kotek and Conservation Groups Want DEQ to Address Deschutes River Water Quality

    Source Weekly: Kotek and Conservation Groups Want DEQ to Address Deschutes River Water Quality

    Governor Kotek and six conservation groups are calling on DEQ to revisit water quality standards and dam operations on the lower Deschutes River. They cite environmental concerns, while PGE and the Warm Springs Tribe maintain that current measures meet regulatory requirements.

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    Redmond Spokesman: Delays loom for plan to increase Deschutes River winter flowsRedmond Spokesman: Delays loom for plan to increase Deschutes River winter flows

    Redmond Spokesman: Delays loom for plan to increase Deschutes River winter flows

    Delays in permitting canal piping projects may push back the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan’s goal of increasing winter flows in the Deschutes River to 300 cfs by 2028, raising concerns about meeting conservation targets and protecting threatened species.

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