Advocacy: Our Vision and Objectives for The Deschutes River Basin

Floating through the wild and scenic lower Deschutes River Canyon.

The Power of People Committed to Protecting and Restoring Their Home Rivers

In order to provide support and engage in work in the Deschutes River Basin, TU has a Central Oregon staff equipped to tackle regional projects. The Project Manager for the Upper Deschutes Home Rivers Initiative, Darek Staab, lives in the Deschutes watershed and guides efforts to protect, reconnect, restore, and sustain the quality of the Upper Deschutes River and its tributaries. TU's Home Rivers Initiative will be a collaborative effort that combines scientific and economic research, community outreach, on-the-ground habitat protection and restoration, and the development of long-term conservation and management strategies to work towards comprehensive watershed health. We want people to connect to their local native fish populations and view these different fish species as indicators for general watershed health. Together as a community, we will conserve river habitat which supports our fish populations well into the future. We hope you can join in the effort.

The biological imperative of the Upper Deschutes Home Rivers Initiative has three components:

1. Protect high quality native and wild trout habitat either through regulatory measures on public lands or incentive-based measures on private lands;
2. Implement projects that reconnect protected headwaters to downstream stretches of river by removing unwarranted barriers and working with organizations seeking to secure instream flow agreements; and
3. Restore trout habitat by improving land management practices through activities such as stream-bank fencing, facilitating the creation of protected and conserved corridors, and organizing and participating in riparian tree and other vegetation plantings for both shade and structure.

The social imperative of the Upper Deschutes Home Rivers Initiative involves engaging and revitalizing TU members in the area; developing lasting partnerships that align our protection and restoration priorities with the regional community; and training the next generation of river stewards and advocates. We hope you will join our efforts in building this initiative and improving the overall health of the Upper Deschutes River Basin.

Project Manager Darek Staab (right of center) works with Environmental Center staff and other volunteers in supporting a stream stewardship day hosted by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council.