Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Program

Surface water flows in the Deschutes River and many of its tributaries are protected with State Scenic Waterway designations and/or instream water rights. In addition, there are hundreds of existing surface water rights for various out-of-stream uses. Owing to the significant hydraulic connection between groundwater and surface water within the Deschutes Basin, the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) must jointly manage groundwater and surface to ensure that new groundwater uses do not diminish streamflows. The Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Program (Mitigation Program) was established in the early 2000s to provide a pathway for new permitted groundwater use while maintaining flows for scenic waterways and senior surface water rights, including instream water rights. 

OWRD conducts annual reviews of Mitigation Program and more comprehensive program evaluations every five years. Previous annual and five-year reports can be accessed via the Mitigation Program Evaluation link to the left.