Groundwater in Central Oregon is declining. But it should be an infinite resource. What’s really going on?

At the places where rivers begin and end, we find the ephemeral streams and tributaries that connect a diverse network of waterways.

The ongoing drought remains at the forefront of our minds as summer draws to a close. Isn’t it time to work together to change our water policies and eliminate wasteful practices? We all stand to benefit.

The Deschutes was once a very stable river. Before Wickiup Dam was completed in 1949, the Deschutes River exhibited very consistent seasonal flows. It’s common for most rivers to experience high flows with the onset of spring rains and melting snow and very low flows by the end of the summer.

During this time of year, you can visit the Deschutes twice on the same day and see two very different rivers. On Saturday, May 1, we took a trip to Benham Falls and caught the river just south of Bend.

This river holds the soul of Central Oregon. Photos still take our breath away. But, if you look closely towards the banks, you can see a river in dire want of restoration. The Deschutes still needs our help.

On February 3, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the River Democracy Act to Congress. This bill, the most extensive Wild and Scenic Rivers effort in U.S. history, would add 4,702 miles of Oregon rivers and streams to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system.

Part 5 as we dive into U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s conservation plan for the Deschutes River Basin. What’s going on in the Crooked River? Uncontracted water.