Deschutes River Basin

About

Along its 250-mile path, the Deschutes River is being stretched thin. The river is an important irrigation source for farmers in high-desert areas of central Oregon, supports world-class fishing and rafting, feeds fast-growing cities, and generates critical renewable energy. Regionally, it links to the mighty Columbia River system, where it plays a critical role as habitat for cold-water fish such as salmon and steelhead. 

In the face of growing drought, intensifying use, and competing demands, the Deschutes is struggling. To find a more sustainable balance, The Freshwater Trust (TFT) is examining the entire basin to identify the specific combination of interventions that can reduce nutrient runoff, harmful algal blooms, and water temperature; improve fish habitat and instream flows; and maintain urban, agricultural, and hydropower users. 

To do this, we are working with the Oregon Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to identify high-priority irrigation-system improvement investments in agricultural areas across Eastern Oregon. We are also working with irrigation districts and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to develop precision analytical tools that highlight where to strategically link water delivery system upgrades (the arteries in the system) with on-farm irrigation upgrades (the capillaries) to maximize water savings and water quality improvements. And we are working with utilities and restoration partners to determine how reservoir operations and strategic habitat improvements can help improve balance across the region. 

To tie it all together, we have secured philanthropic and foundation funding that allows us to keep driving a data-driven and integrated funding and implementation strategy for the Deschutes and Columbia basins.