Bend Bulletin: Commentary: Responding together to a historic drought
By Kate Fitzpatrick, Executive Director for the Deschutes River Conservancy
The dog days of summer this year are driving home the importance of the Deschutes River for Central Oregon communities. As we begin July in one of the most significant droughts on record, we see firsthand how low flows in the Deschutes River and its tributaries impact rivers and water users. This winter’s meager snowpack melted out by the beginning of June, and the river is now running with about a third less water than in a typical year. Wickiup Reservoir, which many irrigators depend on to get through the summer, started the season nearly full and dropped to less than half its capacity by the end of June. Irrigation districts are facing water turnoffs weeks earlier than ever recorded, and some water users are being curtailed for the first time. Lower streamflows in creeks and rivers will lead to higher water temperatures and less suitable habitat for fish and wildlife.
Water challenges in the Deschutes Basin are nothing new. By the early 1900s, state water law led to the overallocation of rivers to out-of-stream uses, leaving rivers and riparian ecosystems in artificially created drought conditions every year. During natural droughts, irrigators with less reliable water rights face water scarcity. Climate change is driving groundwater declines, making it harder for cities to access water for growing populations, and reducing the flow of cold-water springs that support downstream fisheries critical to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
This is an urgent moment to accelerate the intentional, collaborative work to address water needs now and into an increasingly uncertain future. This collaborative approach has long defined the Deschutes Basin, bringing together the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, irrigation districts, cities, agencies, the Deschutes River Conservancy, and other partners to improve streamflows, modernize water management, and strengthen long-term water reliability.
Even within the constraints of a century-old water law system, together we have deployed innovative but proven irrigation modernization and water transaction tools that are making a difference. Canal piping and irrigation modernization have restored more than 220 cubic feet per second (cfs) of flow to basin rivers and streams while improving water reliability for agriculture. Irrigation districts and water users are rolling out dozens more of these conservation projects. Instream leasing provides a flexible option for water rights holders to leave water rights instream, contributing 75 cfs to rivers annually. Voluntary programs like these have restored more than 350 cfs to the basin, benefiting fish and wildlife and supporting agricultural and community water needs. This work helps meet regulatory obligations such as the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan, providing greater certainty for farmers, fish, and communities.
Building on these proven tools, and in recognition of the need to continue to evolve water law with flexibility and accountability, the DRC helped pass state legislation in 2025 that created new ‘water bank’ authorities for the Deschutes Basin. This means water can move more easily to farmers who need it, as well as directly to rivers, benefiting both agriculture and fish and wildlife. But meeting the challenges ahead will take everyone — irrigation districts, cities, Tribes, water users, and community partners — working together to scale up this progress, to use water more efficiently, to add flexibility, and to get water where it’s most needed.
Whether you are a city water user, irrigation district patron, angler, floater, visitor, or simply someone who values the Deschutes River, we all have a stake in its future. Continued investment in irrigation modernization, voluntary water trading, and collaborative water management will help ensure healthy rivers, resilient farms, and reliable water supplies for generations to come. Learn more, support these efforts, and stay engaged by subscribing to DRC updates at deschutesriver.org/get-involved/subscribe/.
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