Priorities

Watershed Priorities

Our restoration priorities for each watershed are as follows:

Whychus Creek:

  • Restore a more natural hydrograph (i.e., increased summer streamflow);
  • Provide fish passage and screening at dams and/or diversions; and
  • Protect and restore a healthy stream corridor (including protection and/or restoration of wetlands, in-stream habitat, riparian and floodplain areas).

Metolius River:

  • Provide fish passage and screening at dams and/or diversions, primarily on tributaries;
  • Protect and restore a healthy stream corridor (including protection and/or restoration of wetlands, in-stream habitat, riparian and floodplain areas); and
  • Reduce summer water temperature on Lake Creek.

While much of our energy is focused in Whychus Creek and the Metolius River, we also have restoration goals in the other watersheds of the Upper Deschutes subbasin.  These include:

Tumalo Creek:

  • Restore streamflow and water quality below the irrigation diversion; and
  • Restore habitat in the area burned by the Bridge Creek fire.

City of Bend Area (Deschutes River):

  • Protect and restore a healthy stream corridor (including protection and/or restoration of wetlands, in-stream habitat, riparian and floodplain areas);
  • Manage stormwater to reduce pollutant inputs into the Deschutes River;  and
  • Restore fish passage at the existing dams.

Upper Deschutes River (Upstream of City of Bend):

  • Restore a more natural hydrograph (i.e., increased winter streamflow and decreased summer streamflow); and
  • Protect and restore a healthy stream corridor (including protection and/or restoration of wetlands, in-stream habitat, riparian and floodplain areas).

Middle Deschutes River (Downstream of City of Bend):

  • Restore a more natural hydrograph (i.e., increased summer streamflow)

Little Deschutes River:

  • Restore a more natural hydrograph (i.e., increased winter streamflow and decreased summer streamflow); and
  • Protect and restore a healthy stream corridor (including protection and/or restoration of wetlands, in-stream habitat, riparian and floodplain areas).