Celebrating Twenty Years of Conservation Work in the Deschutes Basin
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SUMMER 2016 VOL. 10 NO. 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE DESCHUTES RIVER CONSERVANCY A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TOD HEISLER Artist: Susan Luckey Higdon PHOTO: DRC STAFF Celebrating Twenty Years of Conservation Work in the Deschutes Basin Twenty years ago, a small group of District, flows have increased signifi- irrigation purposes, and upstream people came together with a vision cantly below the district’s pumps. from irrigation diversions, so the of leaving our rivers and streams tools we have used in the past will better than they found them. Bend While these reaches have vastly not be enough to solve this complex was on the precipice of a population improved, we still have work to do. and far-reaching problem. boom, and the Deschutes River and Work like this is only possible The solution to restoring the Upper its tributaries had already been over- through building trust and strong allocated for nearly 100 years. Deschutes River lies in the way we relationships. Working with our use and manage water in Central Since 1996, the Deschutes River partners, the DRC has used flow Oregon. Our century old system will Conservancy has brought stakehold- restoration tools such as piping and not meet the changing demands for ers together across the basin to lining canals, water rights leasing, water in our basin. Cities with grow- restore 200 cubic feet per second and instream transfers to make real ing populations are challenged to (cfs) to our rivers. progress in these reaches. meet future water needs. Increased pressure from drought and litigation What does that look like? 20 years After 20 years, an area that has seen practically no restoration is the have created insecurity for commer- ago, Whychus Creek ran dry two out cial farmers who depend on unreli- of every three summers. Today the Deschutes River upstream from Bend. These 30 miles below Wickiup able junior water rights from the creek often flows at the minimums Deschutes River to grow crops. established by the Oregon Depart- Dam are designated as a Wild and ment of Fish and Wildlife. Scenic river, but outdated river Restoring flows to the Upper De- management practices have left this schutes will require the DRC to The Deschutes River below Bend reach unhealthy and in decline. consider not only environmental used to drop to an inhospitable concerns, but also social and eco- trickle in the summer. Today flows Recurring droughts and the recent Oregon spotted frog litigation have nomic interests. Solutions for the have increased four-fold during July river will need to be balanced with and August. brought this long-suffering section of the Deschutes into the spotlight. the other important water demands. In the Crooked River, through a part- The degraded reach is located below Continued on page 2... nership with North Unit Irrigation a federal dam authorized only for DESCHUTES RIVER CONSERVANCY 1 John Allen USDA, Deschutes National Forest Rick Allen Continued from page 1 Jefferson County To find this balance, the DRC has been As a community, we need to act together Ron Angell At Large facilitating a two year process called to understand all water interests. We need Bob Bell the Upper Deschutes Basin Study. The to be informed. Choosing to ignore this At Large Basin Study will conclude in 2018 and problem will not make it go away. We need Bruce Bischof will assess the opportunities and water you to care about this great resource and At Large BOARD OF DIRECTORS management alternatives that will help Nathan Boddie share with your friends why our river is At Large us meet the future needs of fish, farms important. Linda (Bo) Bonotto and families. At Large At the Deschutes River Conservancy, this Mike Britton These solutions will require change, has been and will be our mission for the Irrigation and change is difficult. Local irrigation next 20 years. Together we can restore Bobby Brunoe, Vice-Chair districts were allocated most of the The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs streamflow and improve water quality in Doug DeFlitch water from the river and struggle to use the Deschutes Basin. US Department of the Interior it efficiently with century-old infrastruc- Chris Gannon ture. Changing how this water is man- Crook County aged, shared and used is how we will Nancy Gilbert At Large restore the Upper Deschutes. Kyle Gorman State of Oregon Water Resources Dept. Ellen Grover, Secretary Karnopp Petersen LLP Jay Henry, Chair At Large Craig Horrell Large scale restoration is Ex Officio - Central Ore. Irrigation District achieved through partnerships Michael LaLonde with irrigators to pipe or line At Large Water leaking canals. Farmers Richard Macy 20YEAR benefit by becoming more Irrigated Agriculture Conservation efficient with pressurized Jim Manion water. The conserved water Warm Springs Power & Water Enterprises is returned to the river as a IN PROGRESS Jade Mayer, Treasurer legally protected instream At Large FLOW PROGRAM water right using Oregon’s Gregory McClarren + 1.33 TOTAL Conserved Water Program. Environment RESTORATION CFS Tom Nilan PHASE 7 OF MAIN 119.6 Hydroelectric REPORT CANAL PIPING CFS Damien Nurre (Three Sisters Recreation & Tourism Irrigation Vacant District) Grazing/Livestock John Shelk Timber Water Rights Water William Smith Transfers Rights Leasing Land Development an annual program Mike Tripp IN PROGRAM AVERAGE WATER LEASED Environment PROGRESS TOTAL ANNUALLY OVER Alan Unger 20 YEARS Deschutes County + 4.1 20.6 Ted Wise CFS CFS 60 State of Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife FLOW TOTALS CFS FROM DRC PROJECTS The DRC works with The Transfers Program districts and landowners Tod Heisler Executive Director acquires and transfers water rights for permanent to lease unused water Bill Caram Finance & Admin. Director instream and instream use. rights STAFF Bea Armstrong Development & 200 protect it with the same Communications Director priority date as the DRC partners and other CFS original water right. Kate Fitzpatrick Program Director stakeholders have protected Other Crooked Leasing provides Brett Golden Program Director additinal flows by transfering Streams River significant instream Gen Hubert Program Manager water rights instream. Kelsey Wymore Program Associate Tumalo Whychus benefits while meeting Marisa Hossick Outreach Manager Creek Creek state beneficial use Debbie Conners Office Coordinator Deschutes requirements for the River water right holders. 2 DESCHUTES RIVER CONSERVANCY 300 cfs 250 cfs DRC Streamflow Restoration Progress Report DRC STREAMFLOW DRC STREAMFLOW HISTORIC TARGETS PROGRESS-TO-DATE 0 LOW FLOW *We still have a lot of work to do in restoring streamflow in the Upper Deschutes River. Since we began working in this area, winter river levels have typically run at about 150 cfs. However, in recent winters,flows have been at their lowest levels in years. In order to save as much water as possible in Wickiup and Crane Prairie Reservoirs for the next summer, this reach of the river has typically run at a minimum until the irrigation season begins the following April. Working with irrigation districts and the Oregon Water Resources Department, the DRC is designing a set of projects that hold promise for meeting the critical water needs of farmers and improving winter flows. We look forward to creating viable, lasting solutions for everyone. This collaborative approach to water management issues in the Deschutes Basin is truly the key to 100 our success. cfs 32cfs 33cfs 74cfs 25 cfs 1.5 cfs 21 cfs 30 cfs 14 cfs 20 cfs 0 cfs 0 cfs 23 cfs upper middle DESCHUTES RIVER* DESCHUTES RIVER TUMALO creek WHYCHUS creek crooked river “Whychus Creek is my forever “No natural resource is of greater impor- Neighbors place. This amazing and powerful tance to the economic well-being of Central creek flowing year round now is Oregon than our rivers. Rivers drive the of the River economic engine by providing a critical an incredible gift to us all.” “The increased flow in the Middle element of agricultural and recreational Deschutes is notably different from when CHRIS CONVERSE opportunities. The Deschutes River Conser- I first moved to Bend 21 years ago. The Pine Meadow Ranch along Whychus Creek vancy, through it’s collaborative efforts, has homeowners in North Rim are very support- been successful in reaching consensus to ive and grateful for the work and mission of help assure the future sustainability of the the DRC. My wife and I are so pleased that watershed. We, as landholders, realize the the North Rim Fund, through the Oregon importance of this work and support the work Community Foundation, chose to support of the Deschutes Partnership. Water binds the DRC in this important way.” together the community in which we live.” DONNIE CASTLEMAN BOB BURGESS North Rim Homeowner along the Middle Deschutes Ranch at the Canyons Homeowner along the Crooked River DESCHUTES RIVER CONSERVANCY 3 DRC STREAMFLOW GOALS What You Need to Know Upper Deschutes Winter Flows 300 cfs About the Deschutes Middle Deschutes Summer Flows 250 cfs WINTER SUMMER Flows are held back to fill the reservoir to ensure enough water is available for summer irrigation. Wickiup Reservoir Wickiup Reservoir Fish can become stranded Upper Deschutes Upper Deschutes when flows get too low. 20-1200 cfs 1800 cfs Depending on the water year, flows will vary. Dramatic seasonal high and low flows lead to degradation of fish habitat, river bank erosion, and, consequently, silt deposits downstream. Tributaries and natural springs add flow to the river above Benham Falls Benham Falls Benham Falls. Bend Bend Irrigation diversions around Bend reduce 550 cfs 1800 cfs streamflows in the Middle Deschutes. Middle Deschutes 550 cfs Middle Deschutes 130-160 cfs Low flow and increased water temperature impact fish habitat Lake Billy Chinook Lake Billy Chinook Healthy communities need healthy rivers Why do we find ourselves in this situation? When large-scale agriculture began in Central What does cfs mean? Oregon a century ago, the Deschutes River was thought to be a nearly unlimited resource.