The Environmental Center

Oregon's Water Strategy: Madras Regional Community Conversation
2023-06-07 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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
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
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
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!

Discover Fish Migration and Conservation Efforts: A Guided Tour of Pelton Round Butte
2024-06-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Round Butte Overlook Park, From Madras: Jct. of Belmont Lane & Hwy. 97, travel west on Belmont Lane for 6.8 miles to Mountain View Drive, turn south onto Mountain View Drive for 1.7 miles to access road and sign to Round Butte Overlook Park. Turn west onto signed access road for 0.8 mile to Round Butte Overlook Park., OR, United States
Come tour the Pelton Round Butte Fish Passage and Hatchery Facilities On this tour you’ll get to see juvenile steelhead making their way downstream to the ocean, and adult Chinook that have recently returned to the hatchery. Come learn about collaborative efforts to reintroduce anadromous fish to the upper basin and restore the habitat that their survival depends upon.
Tour Leaders:
– Bobby Brunoe, CEO & Secretary/Treasurer of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the DRC Board Chair
– Megan Hill, Hydro Environmental Manager, Portland General Electric
Space is limited to 50 tickets
GET TICKETS

City Club: How Wildfire Decisions are Made
2024-06-20 11:30 - 13:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR, United States
The focus of this forum is to discuss how decisions are made to fight a wildfire when they start. Particularly, how decisions differ based on the area and/or type of land where they start: wilderness, urban interface, grasslands and tribal lands.

What agencies are involved and how do they coordinate?
What are decision-making points for fire managers?
Where does funding come from?
Why do some fires receive massive resources and others do not?

Speakers:

Kevin Moriarty, Deschutes County Forester
Shawn Jaca, Central Oregon Fire Management, US Forest Service
Trey Leonard, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
James Osborne, Central Oregon Fire Management, BLM

Moderated by: Jessica Neujahr, Oregon Dept of Forestry
A feature story on the topic will appear in the June 16 issue of The Bulletin.
REGISTER HERE

River to Fields: Explore How Irrigation Affects Our Landscape
2024-07-24 15:00 - 17:00 | Pioneer Park, Northwest Wall Street, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Tour the Irrigation Diversions Along the Upper/Middle Deschutes River.
Learn where the water goes, how it’s used on the land, and what happens downstream. Get an on-the-ground look at local water management and the related environmental impact. Great for anyone interested in water conservation and river health in the Deschutes Basin.
The tour starts at Pioneer Park and will move to the point of diversion (across from Fyre of Bend) before ending at Sawyer Park. Drinks will be provided after the tour at the park.
Tour Leaders:

Josh Bailey, General Manager, North Unit Irrigation District
Baxter Davies, Operations Manager, Central Oregon Irrigation District
Jeremy Giffin, Watermaster for Central Oregon, Oregon Water Resources Department

This event is free, but please only register if you are sure you’re planning to come.
We encourage carpooling as parking will be limited near the irrigation diversion.
REGISTER HERE!

2024 Annual Deschutes River Cleanup
2024-07-27 09:00 - 14:00 | Farewell Bend Park, 1000 SW Reed Market Road, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council is hosting the 28th annual Deschutes River Cleanup! Cleanup activities will take place at six different sites on the Deschutes River where volunteers will help pull invasive weeds and remove litter from the river and its streambanks. The cleanup sites are Farewell Bend Park, First Street Trail, La Pine State Park, Riverbend Park, Sunriver, and Tumalo State Park.
You will register for a specific site when you sign up. While much of the work will take place along the streambanks, we are excited to once again have several scuba divers from Central Oregon Diving and Deschutes County Search and Rescue join us this year! We are seeking fifty paddlers to support our divers on the water in the Old Mill District during the cleanup.
One week prior to the event, you will receive an email with specific site details and meeting logistics. On the morning of the cleanup, you will meet your volunteer host at 9:00 am at the site you selected. Please double-check your email to make sure you are going to the correct cleanup location. We encourage all volunteers to come prepared with sturdy shoes, a hat and sun protection, gloves, a water bottle, and snacks.
For all volunteers who register for Farewell Bend and Riverbend Park, please meet your site host at the Farewell Bend shelter at 9:00 am. There will be a brief introduction and thank you to partners and sponsors prior to cleanup activities. If you registered as a paddler, you will be partnered with a scuba diver to assist them on the water. You must bring a whistle, PFD, and a throwable safety device in order to participate on the water.
Thank you to our fabulous event sponsors: Bend Park and Recreation District, Car Stickers, The City of Bend, Confluence Fly Shop, Luno, Mt. Bachelor/Sun Country Tours, Qorvo, REI, SOLV Energy, Tumalo Creek, and Visit Bend!
The volunteer appreciation celebration will take place near Confluence Fly Shop in the afternoon following the cleanup from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Wrap-up activities will include volunteer acknowledgment, thank you to sponsors, door prize giveaways, beverages, and food. What a wonderful way to celebrate a day of hard work and active stewardship!
The Deschutes River Cleanup is an opportunity for us to come together to steward the Deschutes River and its riparian areas. Recreation in and around the Deschutes River has led to significant impacts to the health of the river and in order to keep our river beautiful and protect water quality for fish and wildlife, the Watershed Council coordinates the Deschutes River Cleanup every year. Thank you for your support as a river steward!
REGISTER HERE

Stream Sampling on Whychus Creek
2024-08-15 08:30 - 16:00, 2024-08-16 08:30 - 16:00 | Creekside City Park, Sisters, OR, 97759, United States
Sampling aquatic insects, including mayflies and stoneflies, provides important insights into the health of Whychus Creek. Volunteers meet at Creekside Park in Sisters for a sampling training, then, in teams of two to four, use nets to collect aquatic insect samples from the stream at sites along Whychus. This event is a great opportunity to learn about habitat restoration on Whychus Creek for salmon and steelhead, spend a day along less-visited reaches of the creek, and contribute to knowledge about how restoration actions are changing stream conditions.
UDWC will host our 14th annual Stream Sampling on Whychus Creek event on August 15th and 16th, 2024! This will be our 14th consecutive year collecting aquatic insect (macroinvertebrate) samples to learn about how physical habitat conditions for native trout and salmon and other aquatic organisms are changing alongside stream flow and stream habitat restoration work by UDWC and our partners.
2024 sample collection will focus on the following reaches of Whychus Creek:

Recently restored reaches at Deschutes Land Trust’s Rimrock Ranch Preserve, and at Creekside Park in Sisters;
Older restoration sites including Whychus Canyon Preserve Phase 1, Camp Polk Meadow Preserve upstream reaches, and Whychus Floodplain on National Forest lands upstream of Sisters);
Samples from unrestored, “control” reaches at Whychus Canyon Preserve; and
Samples from Alder Springs and upstream of USFS Road 6360, both affected by stream flow restoration but where no habitat restoration has occurred.

We will collect 18 samples over two days with restoration partners and community volunteers, working in teams of 2-4. You can register for one day or both at the links below:
Thursday, August 15th REGISTER
Friday, August 16th REGISTER

WaterWatch Presents an Evening with Angler and Author Steve Duda
2024-09-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Roundabout Books, 900 Northwest Mount Washington Drive #110, Bend, OR, 97703, United States
Join WaterWatch for a special evening at Roundabout Books in Bend on Thursday, September 12th at 6:30pm as we welcome angler, author, and musician Steve Duda of Patagonia as he discusses fishing, writing, and reads selections from his new book River Songs: Moments of Wild Wonder in Fly Fishing. WaterWatch development officer and fellow angler Jesse Robbins will be host to this fun free event and moderate the discussion with Steve.

Indigenous Perspectives of Earth, Water and Sky - Featuring Dr. Nour E. Rawafi
2024-09-19 12:00 - 13:00
Dr. Nour E. Rawafi is an astrophysicist and a Principal Professional Staff member at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). Dr. Rawafi is the project scientist of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission, launched on August 12, 2018, which is the record holder of the closest human-made object to a star (i.e., the Sun) and the fastest spacecraft. Parker will get as close as 3.8 million miles from the solar surface As part of the Parker Solar Probe team, Dr. Rawafi received the NASA Silver Achievement Medal Award, and the AAS Neil Armstrong Award.

Livable Future Forum
2024-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
How do we meet our community’s needs without compromising the environment and all that makes Central Oregon so incredible?
Through our Livable Future Forum, we’ll explore that question and more as LandWatch program directors chat with knowledgeable local leaders about land use and livability topics. From the fascinating life and times of mule deer to the reality of farming in the high desert to the creative work of developing Complete Communities, you’ll gain new insight into the many ways land use decision making is foundational to life in our region — and learn how you can participate in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future for Central Oregon.
Events will be on Oct. 3, Oct 23, and Nov. 13. All events will start at 7 pm and take place at Open Space Event Studios in the Bend Central District.
Each event in this three-part series will feature a LandWatch program director in conversation with fellow local experts covering a range of topics on land use and regional livability.
REGISTER FOR ALL THREE EVENTS
On October 3, we’ll start out by looking closely at the lives of mule deer, with the High Desert Museum’s Curator of Wildlife Jon Nelson. You see deer often, but how much do you know about this shy, fascinating species? Find out.
GET TICKETS FOR OCT 3 ONLY
On October 23, we’ll talk about farming in the high desert with local farmers and ambitious entrepreneurs Megan Kellner-Rode and Cate Havstad.
GET TICKETS FOR OCT 23 ONLY
And, on November 13, following hot on the heels of the national election, we will host a lively session all about how we can act locally to create Complete Communities to ensure a more equitable, climate-resilient future.
GET TICKETS FOR NOV 13 ONLY
