COALITION FOR THE DESCHUTES

Our role is to tell the story of the Deschutes, to provide the opportunity for people to learn about the river, and to advocate for it and be its voice at the decision-making table. Because we, all of us, are our river’s people.

In order to restore to Upper Deschutes River, we first have to deal with the river's water flow problems. Most of the river’s water is allocated to and used for irrigation. That’s where the water is going and the river is managed almost exclusively for that purpose. The Deschutes River has been referred to by one watershed scientist as the most beautiful irrigation ditch in the world.

We advocate for modern, collaborative approaches that will return the Deschutes to its full historic health and vitality while preserving recreation, irrigated agriculture and other vital uses.