The Deschutes River starts high in the Cascade Mountains at Little Lava Lake.  It flows through two reservoirs, Crane Prairie and Wickiup, on its way to the City of Bend.  Irrigation water storage in and release from these two reservoirs causes low winter and high summer streamflows.  The altered streamflow pattern erodes river banks and stresses riparian ecosystems.  Soil eroded from the banks of the upper Deschutes River deposits downstream in Bend, causing sedimentation in Mirror Pond.

We focus on stabilizing streambanks and restoring winter streamflow in this reach. These actions require innovative strategies that connect irrigation season leasing, transfers, and conservation with winter storage releases.