The Environmental Center

Raise the Deschutes Seminar Series
2022-07-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
What’s Wrong with Our Rivers?
Hydrology and Water Management in the Upper Deschutes Basin
​Presenters: DRC and Oregon Water Resources Department ​(Jonathan LaMarche)
Deschutes River Conservancy’s Raise the Deschutes Seminar Series was created to increase regional water knowledge, understanding of local issues, and awareness of available solutions.

Irrigation Water Management Workshop 2 - Adapting to Drought Conditions
2022-07-21 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join The Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District (DSWCD) and Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service for a series of workshops on improving your irrigation system and management skills in times of drought.

Stream Sampling on Whychus Creek
2022-08-11 08:30 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Creekside City Park, Sisters, OR, 97759, United States
Sampling benthic macroinvertebrates, the aquatic life form of insects including mayflies and stoneflies, provides important insights into the health of Whychus Creek. Volunteers will meet at Creekside Park in Sisters for a sampling training, then, in teams of two to four, collect macroinvertebrate samples from sites along Whychus. This event is a great opportunity to learn about restoration and reintroduction of steelhead and salmon on Whychus Creek, see less-visited reaches of the creek, and contribute to knowledge about how restoration actions are changing stream conditions.

Raise the Deschutes Seminar Series
2022-08-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Water Rights 101. ​Presenters: DRC and Oregon Water Resources Department.
Deschutes River Conservancy’s Raise the Deschutes Seminar Series was created to increase regional water knowledge, understanding of local issues, and awareness of available solutions.

Raise the Deschutes Seminar Series
2022-09-13 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Canal Piping, Watershed Planning, and PL566 Funding
Presenters: DRC and Deschutes Basin Board of Control
Deschutes River Conservancy’s Raise the Deschutes Seminar Series was created to increase regional water knowledge, understanding of local issues, and awareness of available solutions.

Lawns, Beer, and Golf: Urban and Suburban Water Use in Central Oregon
2022-11-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This seminar will focus on where the City’s water comes from, where it goes, and how the cities are conserving water and planning for growth into the next century.
Attend in person or online. Doors open at 6 pm.

Bringing the Fish Home: Fish Reintroduction and River Restoration in the Upper Deschutes Basin
2023-02-28 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Sixty years after the construction of the Pelton Round Butte Dam Complex, migrating salmon and steelhead are returning to the Upper Deschutes Basin. This seminar will focus on the history of the reintroduction and ongoing restoration efforts to support these fish, which also benefit resident fish and other wildlife.
Speakers:
Megan Hill – Natural Resources Manager, Portland General Electric
Kris Knight – Executive Director, Upper Deschutes Watershed Council
Jacob Kimiecik – Program Manager, Deschutes River Conservancy
Lisa Seales (Moderator) – Program Director, Deschutes River Conservancy
Learn More and Register.

Raise the Deschutes Seminar - Many Voices, One Plan: The Future of Water in the Upper Deschutes
2023-05-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
From the Cascades to Lake Billy Chinook, the Deschutes River has been over-tapped for decades. Fish, farmers, and families all depend on water supplies that are impacted by drought and climate change. The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, a consortium of more than 45 stakeholders, is working to accelerate funding, market-based solutions, and implementation of water conservation projects in the basin to help meet demand. Come learn about this work and give the Collaborative your feedback on how you see Central Oregon meeting its water needs in the future.
Speakers:
Bobby Brunoe
Secretary/Treasurer & CEO
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation,
Steve Johnson
General Manager
Arnold Irrigation District
Phil Chang
County Commissioner
Deschutes County
Lisa Seales
Moderator
Programs Manager, Deschutes River Conservancy
Program:
6:00 – Doors open, drinks available
6:15 – 7:45 – Seminar + Q&A
8:00 – Doors close, bar closes
Beverages are available for purchase before and after the event. You are welcome to bring your own dinner.
Register here!

WaterWise Landscape Field Day
2023-06-04 09:00 - 13:00 | Hollinshead Barn, 1235 NE Jones Rd., Bend, OR, United States
Event Line Up

Presentations:
Local professionals will give 30-minute presentations on the following topics:

Design and Site Considerations
Plant Selection in the WaterWise Garden
Irrigation-Hands-on Drip Conversion Demostration

Demonstration and Display Booths
Gather information on irrigation, design, and landscape resources from local vendors: Bend Urban Gardens, Central Oregon Lawn Center, Ewing, Horizon, Oregon Bee Atlas, OSU Master Gardener Q&A, Pollinator Pathway Bend, Water Whys Irrigation, and Your Garden Companion.
Native Plant Giveaway
Receive 6 free native plants from Wintercreek Nursery compliments of Worthy Environmental and the City of Bend in cooperation with Pollinator Pathway Bend. Must register to receive plants.
To register for this event, click this link.
Download a copy of the flyer: Water-Wise Field Day June 4, 2023.

Oregon's Water Strategy: Madras Regional Community Conversation
2023-06-07 18:00 - 20:00 | COCC Madras Campus, 1170 Southeast Ashwood Road, Madras, OR, 97741, United States
In Oregon we have a plan for our water. It is called the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy helps us understand what water we have available in Oregon and what we need for people, plants, animals, and the land. It also has actions we can take to meet those needs.
Now it’s time for that plan to be updated. The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and 13 other state agencies are working with Oregon’s Kitchen Table (OKT), a program at Portland State University.
We want to hear what you want to see in the update to Oregon’s water Strategy. Your input will help the state plan for the future to meet our water needs. We are hosting community conversations in different parts of the state.
If you are interested in attending one of these, please register here. Walk-ins are welcome. We will have food and supervised play for children.
Contact us at (503)725-5248 or info@oregonskitchentable.org if you have questions.

Raise the Deschutes: Fox Hollow Ranch Picnic and Farm Tour
2023-07-12 16:00 - 18:00 | Fox Hollow Ranch, 3459 SE Baldwin Drive, Madras, OR, 97741, United States
Join us on July 12 from 4-6 for a fun and informative afternoon at a family owned and operated farm, Fox Hollow Ranch.
The Richards family are junior irrigators in North Unit Irrigation District (just south of Madras) who grow hay, hybrid carrot seed, Kentucky Bluegrass seed, peppermint oil, and wheat. Learn how they have worked hard to do more with less water than other farmers in the basin and how they have remained successful despite a multi-year drought.
Register Here!

Deschutes River Cleanup
2023-07-29 09:00 - 14:00 | Oregon
Join us for our largest annual day of stewardship, the Deschutes River Cleanup on July 29th. River and riparian cleanup activities will take place along the riparian areas of the Deschutes River at six different stewardship sites: La Pine State Park, Meadow Camp Picnic Area, Farewell Bend Park, Riverbend Park, First Street Rapids Trail, and Tumalo State Park. We would like to thank our partners at Oregon State Parks and Leave No Trace for helping make this incredible day of stewardship possible!
Community volunteers of all ages are invited to pull invasive weeds, remove litter from the stream banks, and dive instream to pull debris out of the river itself. Thanks to volunteers’ hard work last year, we removed approximately 2,600 pounds of garbage and weeds from the Deschutes River and its sensitive riparian areas! We hope you can join us for another great day of stewardship this summer.
Register here!

2023 Lava Island Fish Rescue
2023-10-14 - 2023-10-16 | Oregon
Sign Up for Your Time Slot HERE!
Every fall flows drop in the Upper Deschutes as water begins to be stored in Wickiup and Crane Prairie Reservoirs for irrigation use next summer. When this happens, fish residing in the Lava Island side channel of the Deschutes become stranded from the main stem of the river.
DRC is once again aiding irrigation district efforts to rescue fish by coordinating volunteers. Volunteers will collect fish from the Lava Island side channel and transport them in buckets to the mainstem of the Deschutes River.
The projected rescue dates this year will be October 14th-16th. There will be two time slots per day. The morning slots will be from 8 or 9 AM to 12 pm and the afternoon slot will be from 1 PM to 5 PM.
***Please note, dates are tentative and may change due to weather and dam operations. DRC will be in touch with all volunteers via text to provide updates***
There will be three jobs throughout the day:
Netting fish (must be experienced and bring waders and boots)
Carrying bucketed fish to be counted (majority of the volunteers need)
Counting/identifying fish (must be experienced identifying and handling fish)
The majority of volunteers will be helping run buckets from the capture site to the counting site. The buckets will weigh 35-40 pounds each.
Please bring a water bottle, snacks, hiking shoes, hats, sunscreen. We will provide coffee, snacks, pizza, and water.

Hands on Habitat - Beaver Works Volunteer Opportunity
2023-10-21 09:00 - 16:00 | Oregon
This is a one-day project to plant beaver and other wildlife habitat in Tetherow Crossing Park in Redmond, Oregon
Difficulty level: Easy/Medium
Itinerary: Planting will take place between 9AM and 4PM on Saturday, October 21st.
Tasks will include: Digging in somewhat-rocky soil, assessing survival, growth rate, and recruitment of existing plants, planting potted native riparian plants, removing weeds by hand, and installing wildlife trail cameras.
What you’ll need: A positive attitude and work ethic; Plan to bring your own lunch and we’ll bring the special treats. We’ll have work gloves, but feel free to bring your own. Work will be outside, so dress for the weather.
About the Location: Tetherow Crossing Park occupies a scenic stretch of the trout-filled upper Deschutes River. This park is home to one of the oldest standing houses in Deschutes County. Our work site is in a really picturesque and accessible section of the park. Volunteers will be part of the second stage of a multi-year project, as well as learn about beaver, wildlife habitat use, and riparian restoration. There are no bathrooms nearby.
We’ll need about 10 people for this project – so share this with your friends and make a fun day out of it while helping to restore beaver habitat!
SIGN UP HERE!

UDWC Holiday Benefit Jam
2023-12-02 19:00 - 23:30 | The Domino Room, 51 Northwest Greenwood, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
If you love the Deschutes River and live music, you won’t want to miss out on the 2nd Annual Holiday Benefit Jam! Local bands Fractal and Watkins Glen will be jamming out together on Saturday, December 2nd, at the Domino Room in honor of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. All ticket proceeds go to support their mission to protect and restore the Upper Deschutes River watershed through habitat restoration, long-term monitoring, and community awareness.
Visit the link below to learn more and get your tickets today!
GET TICKETS

Is the Drought Over? Comparing the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers
2023-12-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 Northeast Bellevue Drive, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Raise the Deschutes – Is the Drought Over?
Is the drought over? Comparing the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers
Despite the nearly average precipitation last year, the drought persists. Learn how hydrology and geology affect these two rivers in completely different ways.
Speaker: Jason Gritzner – Hydrologist – USDA Forest Service
Moderator: Lisa Seales – Program Manager – Deschutes River Conservancy
In person at Worthy Brewing or Stream Online (choose during registration)
REGISTER HERE

Whychus Creek Watershed Speaker Series: Learn About Your Home Waters
2024-02-06 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-02-20 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-03-05 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-03-19 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-04-02 17:30 - 19:30 | Sisters Public Library, 110 N Cedar St, Sisters, OR, 97759, United States
Co-presented by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, a six-part informational speaker series about Whychus Creek and its watershed. Learn about Whychus Creek’s history, hydrology, water quality, habitat conditions, native fish, recreation, conservation, and stream restoration. There are five classroom sessions and one full-day field trip. Field trip date will be determined during the series.

Classroom sessions are every other Tuesday, 2/6, 2/20, 3/5, 3/19, 4/2. Field trip date is tentatively scheduled for the end of April, and will be finalized during the lecture series.

Raise the Deschutes - A River Runs Through It
2024-02-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Meadow Lakes Golf Course & Restaurant, 300 Southwest Meadow Lakes Drive, Prineville, OR, United States
Collaborative Strategies for the Future of the Crooked River
Join us for a discussion focused on balancing water conservation, agricultural needs, and sustainable management of the Crooked River. This seminar unites experts and community members to explore joint efforts in securing a resilient water future for Crook County — for fish, farms, and families alike.
Panelists:
Bill Nasham – Crook County Water Master
Bruce Scanlon – General Manager of Ochoco Irrigation District
Peter Lickwar – US Fish and Wildlife Service
Moderator: Lisa Seales – Program Manager – Deschutes River Conservancy
REGISTER HERE

OPB Think Out Loud: How Central Oregon is responding to ongoing drought
2024-03-01 13:30 - 15:00 | Riverhouse on the Deschutes, 2850 Rippling River Court, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Be part of the audience for an engaging, solution-oriented discussion about how Central Oregon is tackling the ongoing drought. “Think Out Loud” host Dave Miller will talk with local officials, policy makers, advocates, irrigators, conservationists and water users of all kinds. Discover the innovative strategies and initiatives being implemented to conserve water and safeguard the environment and economic interests. This in-person event will be held at Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend, in the Deschutes South room. Audience participation is welcomed.
Doors open at 1:30 with light refreshments, and the show will start promptly at 2pm.

Bye Lawn, High Desert! How Turf Rebates Can Help
2024-03-09 09:00 - 10:15, 2024-03-12 18:00 - 19:15, 2024-03-20 18:00 - 19:15 | Online Event
Are you looking to update your landscape and save water? The City of Bend Water Conservation program is offering a Turf Removal Rebate to convert thirsty lawns into low water use landscapes. The result is a gorgeous High Desert landscape that provides a colorful, biodiverse, pollinator-friendly, and waterwise alternative to traditional lawns!
In this webinar, hosted by the City of Bend, Oregon you will learn how to:

Plan and Prepare for your Lawn Conversion
Remove Turf Without the Use of Chemicals
Use Highly Efficient Irrigation
Successfully Apply for the Turf Removal Rebate

Science Pub: Klamath Dam Removal and Beyond
2024-03-19 17:30 - 19:30 | OSU Cascades – Edward J. Ray Hall, Atrium, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
The largest dam removal in U.S. history is underway on Oregon’s Klamath River. Come hear from OSU’s biological engineer Desiree Tullos and anthropologist Bryan Tilt about the complex issues involved in the project including the hopeful impacts for ecosystems and Native peoples.
When: Tuesday, March 19, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 6 p.pm, Networking
9 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Presentation and Q&A
Registration Fee:
$22 per person includes:
Networking
Heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by OSU-Cascades’ Edge Catering
No-host bar with beer, wine, cider and non-alcoholic beverages.
Event Limited to 100 people
Where:
OSU-Cascades
Edward J. Ray Hall
1500 SW Chandler Ave
Bend Oregon 97702
For any questions regarding payment for registration or event, please email events@osucascades.edu
Full refunds provided for cancelations submitted 48 hours prior to event start day/time (no later than 5:30 p.m., Sunday, March 17th)

Webcast: Geology and Natural History of the John Day River Basin
2024-04-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Online Event
The geology of the John Day basin is complex and records a rich history of changing environments including deep oceans, subtropical rainforests, temperate forests, and sagebrush steppes. Volcanic and tectonic activity in the region not only built the land that we see today, but also helps us to know the age of the rocks that the land is built from. The John Day River and its tributaries, both current and ancestral, have helped to expose many of these rocks and to even deposit some of them, allowing us to learn and explore these stories. The John Day River basin is critical to our understanding of the past of the region which is preserved through a variety of public and private land.
Join us on April 3rd at 6pm as we welcome Nicholas Famoso, Paleontology Program Manager for the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, to take us on a journey through the geologic and natural history of the John Day River basin.
We will be raffling off a copy of Oregon’s Ancient Forests: A Hiking Guide and a “Wild: The Oregon Way” t-shirt. Tickets are $5 and are an optional purchase below. Raffle tickets not only help us continue these Wednesday presentations but also support our work safeguarding Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters.
REGISTER HERE

Shaping the Future: Conservation, Restoration, and Flow Management in the Upper Deschutes River
2024-04-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic and Recreation Center, 57250 Overlook Road, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
Learn about collaborative efforts implementing water conservation projects and how conservation savings are being used to meet needs for species in the Upper Deschutes River.
Speaker Bio:
Bridget Moran leads the development of the Deschutes River Basin’s Habitat Conservation Plan as Field Supervisor for the Bend Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, advising on habitat and species needs.
Moderator Bio:
Lisa Seales, PhD, manages the DRC’s On-Farm and Water Marketing programs and facilitates the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative.
REGISTER HERE

Deschutes RiverFeast
2024-05-04 17:00 - 20:30 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR, United States
Join us for a night dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the majestic Deschutes River. The Deschutes River Conservancy’s annual River Feast Dinner and Auction on May 4th will showcase an evening of gourmet dining, engaging conversation, and exciting silent and live auctions; all in support of the Deschutes River. Secure your ticket today for a memorable night that contributes to a thriving river ecosystem for future generations.
Interested in buying a full table? Simply add 8 seats and we will set aside a table just for you and your friends! Contact rebekah@deschutesriver.org with questions.
Get tickets here!
