DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DlEEcroE WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 344 DESCHUTES RIVER, OREGON AND ITS UTILIZATION BY F. F. HENSHAW, JOHN H. LEWIS AND E. J. McCAUSTLAND Prepared in cooperation with THE STATE OF OREGON John H. Lewis, State Engineer WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1914 CONTENTS. Page. Introduction, by N. C. Grover.............................................. 9 General features of Deschutes River basin................................. 11 The river...................r........................................ 11 The tributaries....................................................... 13 Lakes near sources of Deschutes River. ................................. 15 Stream,flow, by P. P. Henshaw. .......................................... 16 Definition of terms.........'.......................................... 16 Convenient equivalents................................................ 17 Accuracy and reliability of field data and comparative results. .......... 19 Gaging stations........................................................ 20 Publications.......................................................... 21 Station records........................................................ 21 Big Marsh outlet near Crescent, Oreg............................... 21 Deschutes River near Lapine, Oreg................................ 22 Deschutes River at Alien's ranch near Lava, Oreg................... 22 Deschutes River at West's ranch and at Benham Falls near Bend, Oreg. 24 Deschutes River at Bend, Oreg.................................... 27 Deschutes River at Laidlaw, Oreg................................. 28 Deschutes River near Cline Palls, Oreg............................. 29 Deschutes River at Mecca, Oreg..................................... 30 Deschutes River at Moody, near Biggs, Oreg ....................... 31 Crescent Lake outlet near Crescent, Oreg........................... 34 East Fork of Deschutes River at Crescent, Oreg...................... 34 West Pork of Deschutes River near Lapine, Oreg.................... 36 West Fork of Deschutes River near Lava, Oreg. .................... 36 Odell Lake outlet near Crescent, Oreg.............................. 38 Tumalo Creek near Laidlaw, Oreg.................................. 38 Tumalo Creek near Bend, Oreg..................................... 40 Squaw Creek near Sisters, Oreg.................................... 41 Crooked River near Post, Oreg.................................... 43 Crooked River at Stearns ranch, near Prineville, Oreg................ 44 Ochoco Creek at Elliott's ranch, near Prineville, Oreg............... 45 Metolius River at Allingham ranger station, near Sisters, Oreg........ 46 Metolius River at Hubbard's ranch, near Grand view, Oreg .......... 47 Metolius River at Riggs ranch, near Sisters, Oreg.................... 47 Lake Creek near Sisters, Oreg...................................... 49 Whitewater Creek at mouth, near Grandview, Oreg.................. 49 Shitike Creek at Warm Spring, Oreg................................ 50 Warm Springs River near Warm Spring, Oreg....................... 51 White River near Tygh Valley, Oreg................................ 51 Tygh Creek at Tygh Valley, Oreg................................... 52 Canal stations..................................................... 53 Central Oregon canal at Bend, Oreg............................ 53 Pilot Butte canal near Bend, Ore;*.............................. 55 Wimer canal near Laidlaw, Oreg................................ 57 Columbia Southern canal near Laidlaw, Oreg ................... 58 McAllister's ditch near Sisters, Oreg............................ 59 3 4 CONTENTS. Stream flow Continued. Page. Summaries of discharge for principal stations............................. 60 Duration of low-water period........................................... 65 Comparisons of discharges at adjacent stations........................... 68 Purpose of comparison............................................. 68 Benham Falls and Bend............................................ 68 Bend, Laidlaw, and Cline Falls.................................... 69 Mecca and Moody.................................................. 71 Economic distribution of water of Deschutes Eiver, by John H. Lewis....... 72 Present and prospective use............................................ 72 Power................................................................. 75 Irrigation...:......................................................... 77 Storage................................................................ 81 Domestic supply...................................................... 82 Summary............................................................ 83 Accuracy of irrigation data............................................. 84 Quality of water, by Walton Van Winkle................................... 85 Availability of the water supply, by F. F. Henshaw......................... 86 Evaporation.......................................................... 86 Duty of water........................................................ 89 Return waters........................................................ 89 Possible use of water for irrigation...................................... 91 Above Benham Falls.............................................. 91 Below Benham Falls.............................................. 100 From Tumalo Creek................................................ 105 From Crooked River.............................................. 108 Possible use of water for power development-........................... 109 Conditions of study, j. .............................................. 109 Minimum natural flow available for power........................... 109 Theoretical horsepower............................................. Ill Water stored at Benham Falls...................................... 113 Effect of future diversion........................................... 113 Power from water used for irrigation ................................ 116 Power from water stored on Crooked River .......................... 117 Developed water powers in the Deschutes drainage basin, by W. B. Heroy.... 120 Bend plant............................................................ 120 Crooked River plant................................................... 121 White River plant.................................................... 121 Undeveloped power sites, by E. J. McCaustland............................ 122 Methods of development............................................... 122 Market for power...................................................... 123 Available flow........................................................ 124 Field studies.......................................................... 124 Sites on Deschutes River.............................................. 124 General conditions................................................ 124 Moody power site.................................................. 125 Lockit power site................................................. 126 Reclamation power site............................................ 126 Sinamox power site............................................... 126 Oak Brook power site.............................................. 126 Sherar Falls power site............................................. 127 Oak Springs power site............................................ 127 Maupin power site.................................................. 127 Frieda power site............................ '. ...................... - 128 White Horse Rapids power site...................................... 128 CONTENTS. O Undeveloped power sites Continued. Page. Sites on Deschutes River Continued. Coleman power site................................................ 128 Mecca power site.................................................. 128 Pelton power site................................................... 129 Metolius power site................................................. 129 Sites on Metolius River................................................ 129 General conditions................................................ 129 Riggs power site.................................................... 130 Whitewater power site............................................. 130 Jefferson Creek power site........................................... 130 Jacks Creek power site............................................. 131 Summary.............................................................. 131 Water rights and appropriations, by John H. Lewis.......................... 132 Old and new water law of Oregon........................................ 132 Value of the water code................................................ 134 Determination of old rights............................................. 134 Water-right certificate.................................................. 135 The granting of rights................................................... 136 Protection of rights.................................................... 137 Protection of public interest............................................ 138 Riparian rights........................................................ 138 State or national control....................................."........... 139 Land complications.................................................... 142 Federal-control through land ownership.................................. t 142 Indirect control by the United States...................................