Upper Deschutes Watershed Council reports post‑fire resilience, fish passage work and a potential $15M OWEB funding request

Chris Knight, executive director of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, presented the council’s annual report to the county June 3, describing restoration work, post‑fire resilience of restored floodplains, and restoration priorities. Knight said a restored three‑mile stretch of Whitehorse/White Juice Creek helped preserve riparian vegetation during the Flat Fire and performed well during unusually high winter flows in December.

Knight highlighted that restoration investments protect habitat and can increase resilience to wildfires and floods: the restored floodplain retained vegetation and supported stream functions despite fire impacts upslope. The council is tracking ecological responses, and Knight said early surveys have found steelhead redds (spawning beds) in restored reaches. The council is planning additional restoration work on burned areas and exploring opportunities to reuse some burned large wood as habitat structures where appropriate.

The council is preparing a July funding application to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board under its Focused Investment Partnership program. The proposed package, submitted in partnership with local land trusts, could request up to $15 million to support habitat restoration, irrigation modernization and related projects in the upper basin; the fund is competitive and expected to back a limited number of partnerships statewide.

Knight also reviewed the council’s education programs for K–12 and adults, and promoted the annual river cleanup on July 11, which includes volunteer teams and scuba divers for underwater retrievals. The council thanked the county for service‑partner funding that helps leverage state, federal and private dollars for local work.