Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Program

The Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Program was developed to provide for new ground water uses while maintaining scenic waterway and instream water right flows in the Deschutes Basin.  Surface water flows in the Deschutes River and many of its tributaries are protected with scenic waterway designations and/or instream water rights.  In addition, there are hundreds of existing surface water diversions for various uses, including irrigation and municipal use.  In the 1990’s, a groundwater study completed by U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD) and other Deschutes Basin partners, found that there is a hydraulic connection between groundwater and surface water within the Deschutes Groundwater Study Area (DGWSA). As a result of this connection, additional groundwater uses within the DGWSA impact established instream flows and other existing surface water rights.  Without mitigation, WRD would not be able to approve new groundwater uses that require permits within the DGWSA.

OWRD collated and summarized prior feedback received on the program in the document below. Additional comments were accepted in April and May 2026. All comments are being considered during the ongoing development of the five-year legislative report (due in December 2026). It is anticipated that a draft version of the report will be circulated for public comment in September 2026.