What are the problems that the DRC is addressing?
Nearly 90% of the streamflow from the Deschutes River in Bend is diverted through irrigation canals during the irrigation season which typically runs from April through October. During the summer months, the diversions cause a dramatic reduction of streamflow. The porous, volcanic soil characteristic of this region causes as much as 50% of the water that is diverted from the river in irrigation canals to seep into the ground before it reaches the farm. As a result, irrigation districts need to divert twice the amount of water as they need to serve their patrons. These seasonal flow disruptions have contributed to a decline in the overall health of the river including degraded fish habitat and poor water quality.
