Will we save the Deschutes River and its species?

The biggest decision-point in our lifetimes for the future of the Deschutes River Basin was triggered this fall when irrigation districts submitted a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Unfortunately, that plan is woefully inadequate relative to the health of the River and the welfare of its fish and wildlife. The proposed plan does not do enough to stop the continuing unraveling the River’s channel, stream banks and flood plains. It offers too little too late for our beloved river.

Central Oregon LandWatch will be submitting substantial comments on the HCP's inadequacies and how it could be improved. In addition to Rivers Conservation Director Tod’s Heisler’s 15 years of experience with this basin, we have a team of experts commenting on on various aspects of the plan, including: hydrologists, water managers, wildlife specialists, and attorneys.

WHAT'S NEXT?

U.S. Fish & Wildlife will review the comments and release a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and HCP sometime during Spring, 2020. We hope the final plan will reflect the public's desire to truly restore the health of the Deschutes River Basin, and we will continue to advocate strongly with Federal decision-makers to get the draft significantly revised.