Middle Deschutes River
Deschutes River Conservancy
The Middle Deschutes is defined as the 35-mile section of the Deschutes River between the city of Bend and Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon. This section of river flows through numerous rimrock canyons and is flanked by a mix of sagebrush, Juniper trees, Ponderosa Pines, grasslands, and agricultural fields. This ecosystem is home to redband and brown trout, deer, quail, coyotes, muskrats, rattlesnakes, and foxes.
Historically, due to the over appropriation of the Deschutes River, 98% of the stream flow was diverted in Bend during irrigation season, leaving only 30 cubic feet per second in this segment of the river. These seasonal disruptions of stream flow have degraded habitat for fish and wildlife, resulting in poor water quality and a decline in the overall health of the river. Today, local irrigators are aware of the serious problems caused by seasonal disruptions of flow and are partnering with the Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) to create viable solutions.
This past irrigation season, thanks to the work of the DRC and local irrigation districts, over 115 cubic feet per second flowed in the Middle Deschutes during the summer months, helping foster a healthy ecosystem for people, plants, and wildlife. A number of fly fishing guides who regularly fish this area report improved fish populations.
