DESCHUTES BASIN WATER COLLABORATIVE 

DEVELOPMENT OF AN UPPER DESCHUTES SUB-BASIN WATER 

MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Applicant:

Deschutes River Conservancy

700 NW Hill St Suite 1

Bend, OR 97703

Project Manager:

Dani Wise Johnson, Programs Director

Deschutes River Conservancy

700 NW Hill St Suite 1

Bend, OR 97703

(541) 387-
 

2022 CWMP PROPOSAL DESCHUTES RIVER CONSERVANCY

Table of Contents 

A. Technical Proposal and Evaluation Criteria ................................................................................... 2

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 2

Project Location ...................................................................................................................................... 2

Technical Project Description ................................................................................................................. 4

Evaluation Criteria .................................................................................................................................. 7

E.1.1. Evaluation Criterion A— Watershed Group Diversity and Geographic Scope (30 points) ..... 7

Sub-criterion No. A1. Watershed Group Diversity ............................................................................. 7

Sub-criterion No. A2. Geographic Scope............................................................................................ 8

Please provide the following information in response to this sub-criterion:....................................... 8

E.1.2. Evaluation Criterion B — Addressing Critical Watershed Needs (35 points)........................ 10

Sub-criterion No. B1. Critical Watershed Needs or Issues ............................................................... 10

Sub-criterion No. B2. Developing Strategies to Address Critical Watershed Needs or Issues......... 12

E.1.3. Evaluation Criterion C— Implementation and Results (25 points)........................................ 15

Sub-criterion No. C1—Project Implementation................................................................................ 15

Sub-criterion No. C2—Building on Relevant Federal, State, or Regional Planning Efforts............ 20

E.1.4. Evaluation Criterion D— Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation Priorities

(10 points).......................................................................................................................................... 22

E.1.5. Sub-criterion No. E.3. Tribal Benefits.................................................................................... 24

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement.......................................................................................... 24

B. Project Budget............................................................................................................................... 25

C. Budget Narrative........................................................................................................................... 26

Salaries and Wages................................................................................................................................ 26

Fringe Benefits:..................................................................................................................................... 26

Personnel ............................................................................................................................................... 26

Contractual ............................................................................................................................................ 27

Indirect .................................................................................................................................................. 27

Letters of Support .................................................................................................................................. 27

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A. Technical Proposal and Evaluation Criteria 

Executive Summary 

The Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) is applying for funding to support the Deschutes Basin Water 

Collaborative (DBWC or the Collaborative), the key forum to address water supply issues in the 

Deschutes Basin. Specifically, funding will be used for staffing for facilitation and technical services to 

support the DBWC’s development of an Upper Deschutes Comprehensive Water Management Plan.

The DRC is in Bend, Oregon, a municipality within Deschutes County. The DBWC serves the Upper 

Deschutes Sub-Basin in Central Oregon. The DBWC is building on previous planning efforts, and the 

extensive information generated through the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative and the Upper 

Deschutes Basin Study, to develop a Comprehensive Water Management Plan (the Plan) to guide the 

implementation of water projects to meet needs for rivers, agriculture, and growing communities. Recent 

studies identify shortages for instream and out-of-stream water demands ranging from 130,000 to 

400,000 acre-feet depending on the hydrologic year. These shortages affect river function, water quality,

and habitat for native fish species and the Oregon spotted frog, a threatened species under the 

Endangered Species Act. Shortages also affect the viability of irrigated agriculture and growing 

communities. The Plan will be developed through the collaborative work of the DBWC with technical 

support, coordination, and Plan drafting by the DRC. This Plan will provide a roadmap to meet longterm needs in the Upper Deschutes and will give the basin a powerful platform to ensure implementation 

outcomes that maximize benefits for the resource and communities. The Plan will also help secure 

funding needed for implementation and address barriers to implementation. The project is planned for 

August 2022-July 2024. The planning area contains the Deschutes Project, which includes two 

Reclamation storage facilities and five irrigation districts, including one Reclamation district, and

benefits over 100 miles of river within the Deschutes National Forest and Bureau of Land Management 

acres, including multiple Wild and Scenic River sections. 

Project Location 

This proposal seeks to develop an Upper Deschutes Sub-Basin Water Management Plan. The Upper 

Deschutes Sub-Basin is an eight-digit HUC, located in the Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, and Klamath 

counties of Central Oregon. It encompasses the middle and upper reaches of the mainstem Deschutes 

River, above the Pelton-Round Butte Dam Complex, and associated tributaries, including Whychus 

Creek, Tumalo Creek, Crescent Creek and the Little Deschutes River. It comprises five irrigation 

districts and the cities of Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and La Pine. The DBWC has a mission to serve the 

broader interests of the entire Deschutes Basin, including the Lower Deschutes and Crooked River 

systems as well, but has prioritized their Phase 1 work in the Upper Deschutes Sub-Basin. 

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Map of Deschutes River Basin and Major Water Users 

Upper and Middle Deschutes Reaches, Tributaries, and Major Water Users 

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Technical Project Description 

Applicant Category 

This application is for an Existing Watershed Group. The DBWC was formalized in 2020, has an 

established charter, a formal, diverse membership, and builds on a long history of collaborative planning 

in the Deschutes Basin. The DRC provides technical and facilitation support to this collaborative effort

and will be drafting the Comprehensive Water Management Plan.

A strong history of collaborative water management in the Deschutes Basin well-positions the 

stakeholders of the DBWC to develop a Comprehensive Water Management Plan to help resolve the 

most challenging and long-standing issues in the Deschutes Basin. A summary of this history follows:

• The DRC formed in 1996 with a mission to restore streamflow and water quality using 

collaborative voluntary methods. The DRC was set up to operate by consensus of a multistakeholder board of directors and was federally authorized by the Bureau of Reclamation.

• The Deschutes Water Alliance (DWA) formed in 2002 to engage all related governing bodies in 

regional water management planning. The DWA and DRC completed a set of studies in 2006 

funded by Reclamation’s WaterSMART program. These studies assessed basin water supply and 

demand and evaluated tools to reduce the gap.

• The 2006 WaterSMART studies led to increased collaborative implementation of:

o Water conservation projects that protected water instream

o DRC’s annual Instream Leasing Program and the DRC’s operation of a temporary 

groundwater mitigation bank

o Operation of the DWA Water Bank that systematically governed the permanent transfer 

of water from urbanizing acres within irrigation districts to instream protection in the 

Middle Deschutes River, both for restoration and to generate groundwater mitigation 

credits for the cities of Bend and Redmond

• These projects and programs made significant progress restoring flows to the Middle Deschutes 

River, Tumalo Creek, Whychus Creek, and the Lower Crooked River. These tools in and of 

themselves, however, did not restore flows in the Upper Deschutes River, an emerging priority. 

Thus, in 2012, the DRC and DWA launched the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative (DWPI) to 

specifically develop solutions to restore flows in the Upper Deschutes River. This effort was 

supported by a Reclamation Collaborative Water Management Planning grant.

• Due to the complexity of the tools necessary to restore the Upper Deschutes River, and the desire 

to incorporate more sophisticated modeling and climate change analysis, the DWPI evolved into 

the Basin Study Work Group (BSWG) and successfully obtained a Bureau of Reclamation Basin 

Study grant in 2015.

• The Upper Deschutes River Basin Study (Basin Study), completed in 2019 refined supply and 

demand numbers, modeled water shortages in different hydrologic years, and identified water 

management tools to restore flows in the basin while meeting agricultural and municipal needs. 

The Basin Study also provided state of the art modeling for several water management scenarios, 

including information on how different tools could work together. 

• While the Basin Study generated the information necessary to forge a broadly supported plan, 

Basin studies are not directed to culminate in a plan. Basin stakeholders were eager to stay 

together to continue planning and to and accelerate implementation of projects. This led to the 

formation of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) in 2020, in part to develop a 

Comprehensive Water Management Plan for the Upper Deschutes Sub-basin. 

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Eligibility of Applicant 

The DRC is applying for funding to support the DBWC’s development of an Upper Deschutes 

Comprehensive Water Management Plan. The Plan will be developed through the collaborative work of

the DBWC with technical support, coordination, and initial Plan drafting by the DRC.

The DRC is a 501c(3) organization founded in 1996 and incorporated in Oregon. Since its formation, the 

DRC has used its consensus-based approach to water management to restore over 200 cubic feet per 

second of water to streams and rivers throughout the Deschutes Basin. As a result, measurable 

improvements have been made in water quality and fish habitat in over 225 river miles. This work has 

been accomplished in close partnership with irrigation interests and has resulted in substantial benefits to 

local producers. The DRC estimates that flow restoration efforts have improved the efficiency of water 

deliveries to over 100,000 acres of irrigated land, helped to construct three in-conduit hydroelectric 

facilities, and provided pressurized water to over 2,000 acres of commercial farmland. In addition to 

strengthening agriculture in the basin, the DRC has also helped municipal water providers by operating a 

groundwater mitigation bank and by coordinating long-range water supply planning efforts. The DRC is 

the convenor and a member of DBWC and provides the technical staff to support to the Collaborative.

The DRC is applying for funding on behalf of the DBWC to support the continued work of this group. 

Goals 

The DBWC’s Mission Statement is to work together to achieve balance of water use in the Deschutes 

Basin. Specifically, the mission states that the DBWC will work cooperatively to:

• Build clear, consistent communication across the Deschutes Basin among water users, 

stakeholders, and the public.

• Support water projects in the Basin that advance DBWC goals and consensus agreements.

• Support policies that advance DBWC goals and consensus agreements, and which balance water 

needs for the Basin.

• Develop a Comprehensive Deschutes Basin Water Plan for the Basin aligned with the state of 

Oregon’s Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Planning model.

The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative’s Primary Goals are to:

• Restore stream flows and improve water quality to support instream beneficial uses including 

fish and wildlife and recreation.

• Secure and maintain a reliable and affordable supply of water to sustain agriculture.

• Secure and maintain a safe, affordable, and high-quality water supply for urban communities.

Approach 

The Plan will be primarily built through the existing DBWC collaborative process, which includes:

1) A Planning Team, which “deliberate(s) on issues and develop(s) recommendations, help(s) set 

the agendas for Deschutes Basin Working Group meetings, and steer(s) the effort." (Charter)

2) A Working Group, composed of all 80 members representing 46 organizations, which “will 

review information and proposals developed by the Planning Team, and serves as the ultimate 

decision-maker for the DBWC” (Charter).

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2022 CWMP PROPOSAL DESCHUTES RIVER CONSERVANCY

3) Four DBWC Committees:

• Technical Committee – which will help identify and resolve key technical issues for the 

development of the Plan, with particular emphasis on transferring water from senior to 

junior water rights holders and securing more water instream to meet the targets of the 

recently completed Deschutes River Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and North 

Unit Irrigation District farmers;

• Groundwater Committee – which is focusing on the community’s need for water via the 

Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation program;

• Instream Committee – which is identifying instream flow targets, and water quality and 

habitat goals; and 

• Communications and Outreach Committee – which helps engage DBWC members, other 

stakeholders and interests, and community members in all DBWC activities.

The major focus of this proposal is to utilize the work of the four committees listed above and the 

DBWC Working Group to build on the extensive information generated in the Deschutes Water 

Planning Initiative and the Upper Deschutes Basin Study to develop a Comprehensive Water 

Management Plan that guides the implementation of water projects to meet needs for rivers, agriculture,

and growing communities. This plan will be developed through regular meetings of the DBWC and its 

various committees, with technical support on Plan development based on meeting inputs and outcomes. 

This Plan will provide a roadmap to meet long-term needs in the Deschutes, secure required funding for 

implementation, address barriers to implementation, and give the basin a powerful platform to ensure 

implementation results have as much benefit as possible to the resource and communities. The proposal 

supports DRC staff time to support the technical components of the Plan, the drafting of the documents 

themselves, and to coordinate/facilitate the DBWC; a graphics consultant to support the outreach plan, 

as well as the Comprehensive Plan; a consultant to support analyses of economic considerations and 

development of the Framework(s) for Action; a consultant to provide editorial and support services for 

the completion of the Comprehensive Water Management Plan; and a consultant focused on mediation 

and to assist with conflict resolution as the group managed the tough issues. Most of these activities fall 

under Task B. As a result of the Plan, DBWC will develop a prioritized list of projects that includes 

timelines, milestones, and budgets. This activity falls under Task C. 

The planning that DBWC will undertake differs from the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative, funded 

by a CWMP in 2012, and the Basin Study that generated information and options. This planning process 

will engage in the difficult and time-intensive work of negotiating and building agreement around 

putting an implementation plan in place. 

Key questions that need to be addressed through this process include: 

• What does balanced water management look like in the Upper Deschutes Basin? 

• Specifically, how will specific types of projects be integrated and on what timelines? 

• What kind of innovative movements of water between users and uses needs to happen and how 

can we develop the tools to facilitate those? 

• How will we collectively fund this work? 

Once a Comprehensive Plan is established that will meet the needs of the “three legs of the stool,” water 

for rivers, agriculture, and cities, the DBWC expects that it can leverage this Plan to expand resources 

needed for efficient implementation. 

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The Deschutes Water Planning Initiative marked the beginning of gathering stakeholders together to 

build consensus and to develop options to restore the Upper Deschutes River. The technical complexity 

of the issue merited the fuller analytical framework of a Reclamation Basin Study. While the DRC was 

optimistic at the time that the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative would result in a plan for the Upper 

Deschutes reach, we have learned how much time and dedication collaborative efforts take around 

complex technical and policy issues, particularly in the context of ESA issues. Forging agreements 

during highly sensitive and political processes is difficult and cannot be rushed if the plans are to be 

durable and long-lasting. Now, and with the recent signing of an ESA-related Habitat Conservation Plan 

in the upper basin, the time is right to develop a Comprehensive Water Management Plan.

Evaluation Criteria 

E.1.1. Evaluation Criterion A— Watershed Group Diversity and Geographic Scope (30 points) 

Sub-criterion No. A1. Watershed Group Diversity 

Please describe the efforts that you will undertake to ensure that the watershed group will include a 

diverse array of stakeholders, including outreach to stakeholders or collaborating with other groups or 

partners. If the watershed itself does not include a diverse set of interests and sectors, please also provide 

an explanation of this (e.g., some watersheds may not include affected stakeholders in all the sectors 

identified in the definition of a “watershed group” provided in Section A.2. Objective of this Notice of 

Funding Opportunity). In responding to this sub-criterion, please include: 

● For New and Existing Watershed Groups, a description of the stakeholders within the 

watershed that affect or are affected by the quantity or quality of water within the watershed 

(“affected stakeholders”). 

● For Existing Watershed Groups, an explanation of the current membership of the watershed 

group and whether the current membership is representative of the affected stakeholders within 

the watershed. In other words, if the watershed group is already diverse, please provide support 

demonstrating the diversity of the group. Provide a description of the stakeholders that are 

involved, what their involvement in the group entails, and reference any letters of support or 

pledges/donations from affected stakeholders. 

● For New and Existing Watershed Groups, if the group does not already represent the full 

stakeholder diversity of the watershed, provide details on how you plan to target affected 

stakeholders to ensure that your group will represent a diverse set of stakeholders within the 

watershed, such as engaging in outreach to include new members, or collaborating with different 

groups or partners (e.g., outreach or partnership activities, public meetings, newsletters, 

marketing materials, or recruitment of new members). 

● Any other support demonstrating that the watershed group will include a diverse membership. 

The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative has a large and diverse membership that includes more than 

40 groups, spanning the broad range of key interests in water management in the Upper Deschutes SubBasin. Stakeholders that would be considered “affected” are highlighted with an asterisk in the list 

below. The following organizations and individuals support the formation of DBWC and have adopted 

the DBWC Charter: 

Arnold Irrigation District* Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council

Avion Water Company* Central Oregon Irrigation District*

Central Oregon Cities Organization* Central Oregon LandWatch

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City of Bend*

City of La Pine*

City of Madras*

City of Prineville*

City of Redmond *

Coalition for the Deschutes

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs*

Crook County*

Crooked River Watershed Council

Deschutes County*

Deschutes River Conservancy

Deschutes Soil & Water Conservation District

Great Old Broads for Wilderness

Jefferson County*

League of Women Voters of Deschutes County

Lone Pine Irrigation District*

North Unit Irrigation District*

Ochoco Irrigation District*

Oregon Department of Agriculture

DESCHUTES RIVER

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Oregon Environmental Council

Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Office

Oregon Land and Water Alliance

Oregon Natural Desert Association

Oregon Water Resources Department

Portland General Electric*

Sunriver Anglers

Trout Unlimited – Deschutes Redband Chapter

Trout Unlimited – Oregon State Office

Upper Deschutes Watershed Council

US Fish and Wildlife Service

US Forest Service

Water for Life

WaterWatch of Oregon

Wild River Owners’ Association

Yancy Lind, resident

The DBWC is committed to building the most diverse and inclusive group possible to focus on water 

issues, as water affects everybody, and durable community solutions necessitate the participation of the 

full range of interests. The Collaborative will continue to reach out directly to recreation groups, as well 

as under-represented groups, such as the Latinx community, and others, to recruit broader engagement.

In addition, the DBCW plans to use an educational Seminar Series produced through the Deschutes 

River Conservancy, as well as the media to communicate about its work, inviting new and interested 

members to engage. 

Sub-criterion No. A2. Geographic Scope 

Please provide the following information in response to this sub-criterion: 

● Provide a map illustrating the geographic boundaries of the area in which the watershed 

group will work.

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Map of Deschutes Basin, Warm Spring Reservation, and Major Water Users 

● The map should also identify the location or boundaries of the stakeholder groups 

within the area and indicate which stakeholders are currently involved in the group and 

which will be targeted through outreach. If a map of stakeholder locations cannot be 

provided, please describe the geographic scope of the area to the best of your knowledge, 

including where specific stakeholders are located within the watershed:

Stakeholder groups are dispersed throughout the Upper Deschutes Basin (and beyond). By 

incorporating participation by the Irrigation Districts, the municipalities, and the Confederated 

Tribes of Warm Springs (shown in the map above), as well as state and federal agencies, local 

citizens, environmental groups, and other interested parties (dispersed across the basin), all the 

Basin stakeholders are well represented. Additionally, the DBWC is co-led by the Deschutes 

River Conservancy, a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based conservation organization that strives 

for balanced stewardship of water, a public resource. The DBWC includes at least five other 

conservation groups and is co-chaired by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 

Reservation.

● Describe the efforts that you will undertake to ensure that the watershed group will

target stakeholders that represent the full geographic scope of the area in which the 

watershed group will work. For example, will outreach focus on stakeholders in a certain 

part of the watershed the have historically not been represented in the watershed group. 

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In the creation of the DBWC, all stakeholders, including those that have been historically

underrepresented in watershed planning efforts, were invited to participate. The significant 

number and diversity of members includes those underrepresented groups and their participation

is critical in the collaborative efforts and Plan development. The DBWC will continue to monitor 

its membership and will engage additional stakeholders that may emerge in this geography. 

● Describe why you have chosen to work within the watershed area you described. For 

example, if the watershed group is only working along the river corridor, describe why 

they are not working within the larger watershed area. 

This proposal is to continue the process of developing a Comprehensive Water Management 

Plan for the Upper Deschutes Sub-Basin, which is an 8-digit HUC watershed, and includes the 

upper and middle reaches of the Deschutes River and its tributaries. The DBWC, as a watershed 

group, represents the geographic scope of the basin, including the irrigation districts, cities, 

counties, agency personnel, and conservation interests. However, the DBWC has prioritized 

focusing on the Upper Deschutes geography first, specifically to address altered streamflow 

resulting from the storage and diversion of water for irrigation, which contributes to loss of 

habitat for native and ESA-listed species. As a result of the recently completed HCP, restoring 

flows to the Upper Deschutes is a major priority. Basin stakeholders are working collaboratively

to ensure this can be done while still meeting the needs of agriculture and growing communities

in the basin.

DBWC plans to expand into other areas of the Deschutes Basin in future phases of its work, 

namely, the Crooked River Basin and the Lower Deschutes Basin. The Crooked River 

stakeholders currently participate in the DBWC through representatives from an irrigation 

district, the watershed council, and city and county employees from Crook County. Future 

outreach is planned to communities in the lower basin that are not directly involved in Phase 1, 

but that will be included in future efforts.

The entire 8-digit HUC of the Upper Deschutes is included in the planning efforts of the DBWC, 

not just the river corridor.

E.1.2. Evaluation Criterion B — Addressing Critical Watershed Needs (35 points) 

Sub-criterion No. B1. Critical Watershed Needs or Issues 

• Please describe in detail the critical issues or needs occurring within the watershed, 

for example: declining ecological resiliency, water shortages, flooding, structural 

impairments, water supply, water quality issues (e.g., addressing Total Maximum 

Daily Loads), endangered species issues, conflicts over water supply, and other 

related issues faced by affected stakeholders. 

• Endangered species issues may focus on, but are not limited to, activities prioritized 

by resource agencies such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 

(NOAA) Fisheries or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and appropriate state 

natural resource agencies. 

• Provide quantitative and qualitative support to describe the severity of the critical 

issues or needs. If the concerns are not yet severe, describe why it is important to 

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address the concerns preemptively and explain the potential impacts of not addressing 

the concerns. 

The Upper Deschutes Basin has a story familiar to many western basins: over-appropriated 

streams, continued demand for reliable agricultural water, growing municipal water needs,

increased pressures due to climate change, and endangered species. Working collaboratively, 

stakeholders have restored over 200 cfs instream in key reaches while increasing the reliability of 

irrigation rights. Nonetheless, flow issues persist; most notably, in the Upper Deschutes River, 

upstream of Bend. The 2014 ESA-listing of the Oregon spotted frog (OSF) accelerated the 

urgency for restoration in this reach and intensified liability of several irrigation districts, 

particularly North Unit Irrigation District (NUID), the junior district in the basin (1913 priority 

date). Flow alterations in the upper river are largely due to the storage and diversion of irrigation 

water in Wickiup Reservoir (200,000 AF), which stores water for NUID, located in Jefferson 

County near Culver and Madras. Much of NUID’s irrigated lands are engaged in economically 

productive agriculture, and, as the junior district, over the past few years, as drought conditions 

have persisted and worsened, several irrigation districts, including NUID, have had to “turn off” 

water to their patrons well before the end of the irrigation season. This has resulted in significant 

crop losses (economic losses) and hardships related to maintaining livestock.

The increased frequency and intensity of drought and associated water management challenges

have had a great impact on Jefferson County agriculture. In 2021, 50% of Jefferson County 

farms were fallowed and it is likely that struggling farms may begin to fail. Since the economy in 

Jefferson County is heavily influenced by agriculture and contributes $260M to the local 

economy, this has a ripple effect on associated businesses. If available flows continue to decline 

due to drought and out-of-stream pressures, existing in-conduit hydropower could also be 

impacted. This in-conduit hydropower in piped irrigation district systems provides clean power 

supply during irrigation season, but these projects are dependent on and impacted by, water 

availability.

Recreation and Tourism has a $1.28 billion dollar per year impact on the local economy (2019-

VCO-Annual-Report.pdf, visitcentraloregon.com). Persistent drought is impacting certain

segments of this economic driver (fishing, water recreation, rafting, river and lake use). There are 

associated negative impacts to property values in junior irrigation districts, which have been 

receiving a reduced allotment of water, or no water for a full season for the past 2 years (2020-

2021).

The recently completed HCP set aggressive streamflow restoration targets in the upper river, 

which irrigation districts need to meet incrementally over the next 30 years. The previously 

completed Basin Study (2018) identified that median shortages associated with meeting instream 

water rights, existing irrigation demands, and current and future water to meet municipal needs

are approximately 130,000 AF to 300,000 AF in dry years. To achieve higher winter flows, 

required to meet the Endangered Species Act needs under the HCP, median shortages range from 

approximately 200,000 AF to 400,000 AF in dry years.

Significant hydraulic connectivity between surface water and groundwater in the Upper 

Deschutes Basin restricts new groundwater allocations in the region, which are required to meet 

municipal water needs. Consequently, the State of Oregon requires mitigation for any new non11
 

 

 

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exempt groundwater rights. In most cases, this mitigation is in the form of instream transfers and 

leases of existing irrigation water rights. The Basin Study (2018) identified the municipal 

demand for groundwater mitigation over the next 50 years as 16,000 acre-feet. Complicating this 

scenario of groundwater withdrawal and surface water mitigation, is the recently assessed 

declining groundwater levels in the Upper Deschutes Basin. Current drought conditions, 

groundwater withdrawals, and decreased recharge from canal piping projects are all thought to 

be factors in these decreased groundwater levels. 

Summary of Supply and Demand Imbalance 

The imbalances of water supply and demand are well documented in the Upper Deschutes Basin. 

These imbalances are cause for concern for agricultural, municipal, and environmental water 

users, with the biggest unmet demand being for instream use. Climate change conditions are and 

will continue to exacerbate these imbalances. The failure to address existing and future 

imbalances will affect all basin stakeholders:

• Inadequate instream water supplies jeopardize restoration efforts, impair ecosystem 

functions, and limit recreational and economic opportunities including angling and other 

water dependent activities. 

• Inadequate agricultural water supplies affect landowners within, and beyond the basin, 

and limit existing in-conduit hydropower production. Inadequate habitat related to water 

management for species listed under the Endangered Species Act also creates risk for 

irrigators. 

• Inadequate potable water supplies (municipal and quasi-municipal water supplies) limits

economic development and threatens public health and safety. 

If basin stakeholders do not act now, most, if not all the water supply for NUID, along with other 

irrigation districts in the basin, will be needed to meet the instream flow requirements set forth in 

the HCP. There will be no additional groundwater available to meet the needs of growing cities 

in the basin, which could result in a moratorium on future growth in one of the fastest growing 

regions of the county. This will have devastating economic impacts across the basin and the 

state. 

Sub-criterion No. B2. Developing Strategies to Address Critical Watershed Needs or Issues 

Please describe in detail how the group plans to positively contribute to the management of the 

issues and needs of the watershed through the proposed activities. Only address those Task Areas 

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that you propose to complete with this grant funding. Please address the following when 

responding to this sub-criterion: 

Task A: Water Group Development 

• Describe the Task A Watershed Group Development activities that will be completed as 

part of this grant project and explain why these activities are an important step for 

addressing the critical watershed needs and issues in the watershed discussed in subcriterion No. B1. Explain why establishment of a New Watershed Group or further 

development of an Existing Watershed Group is important for the addressing the critical 

watershed needs and issues in the watershed area.

• If the watershed group will build on previous partnership building efforts, describe these 

efforts and how the watershed group will expand upon them through this grant. 

Building on the solid and vast foundation of information generated in the Deschutes Water 

Planning Initiative (DWPI) and the Upper Deschutes River Basin Study, the DBWC stakeholders 

have the information and data about the critical watershed needs and issues, and the tools to 

address those needs. The irrigation districts have also generated NRCS Watershed Plans that 

contain additional information on conservation strategies aimed at making irrigation districts 

more efficient to free up water for other uses in the basin. Central Oregon Irrigation District and 

DRC’s Reclamation WaterSMART Water Marketing Grant is in year 3 of 3 and will inform 

future water marketing strategies. On-farm efficiency projects are being developed as well, with 

the help of NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Science guides each of these 

studies and actions to-date. An in-depth summary of the information available is in the Technical 

Project Description above. 

This CWMP grant will assist the stakeholders in bringing together this information to formulate 

a Comprehensive Water Management Plan, and, in the process, help resolve conflict in the basin 

and create lasting and durable strategies to address water shortages. Ultimately, the Plan will 

provide a roadmap to meet long-term needs in the Deschutes, help secure the funding required 

for implementation, address barriers to implementation, and give the basin a powerful platform 

to ensure implementation results are as beneficial as possible to the resource and communities.

The DBWC members and committees (described above) allow for representation and 

participation from each of the “three legs of the stool” in the basin: rivers, agriculture, and cities. 

By bringing these groups together through the Plan development process, the DRC and the 

DBWC plan to address the critical issues and needs in the basin. This consensus-intensive 

approach, while necessary, is challenging and must be approached thoughtfully and equitably.

Task B: Watershed Restoration Planning 

• Describe the Task B Watershed Restoration Planning activities that will be completed as 

part of this grant project and explain why these activities are an important step for 

addressing the critical watershed needs and issues in the watershed discussed in subcriterion No. B1. 

• How does the group plan to gather information regarding the critical issues and needs of 

the watershed (e.g., contacting government agencies, talking to stakeholders, literature 

research, monitoring and modeling activities)? 

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• Will the group identify opportunities to resolve conflicts? If so, how? 

• Will the group complete an analysis to prioritize issues within the restoration plan? 

• If the watershed group will build on previous efforts, describe these efforts and how the 

watershed group will expand upon them through the proposed work. 

The grant is necessary to support the work that is required to resolve key issues of disagreement 

and to draft and complete the Comprehensive Upper Deschutes Basin Water Management Plan

(i.e., a watershed restoration plan). The DBWC has completed the process of gathering 

information regarding the critical issues and needs of the watershed. It is now at a key juncture, 

identifying the critical issues of agreement and disagreement surrounding policy and the 

implementation of conservation projects, both of which are required to address the identified 

water shortages in the upper basin. The DBWC is seeking funding to work through these issues, 

and while doing so, draft the Plan. In the process, the DBWC will be working with watershed 

group members, landowners, Federal agencies, and state or local governments to determine how 

the watershed can be improved. Additionally, the DBWC will be identifying and prioritizing

watershed management projects for implementation. 

One of the main functions of the DBWC is to build consensus among stakeholders, which 

inevitably means trying to resolve conflicts. The DBWC’s voting structure includes an extensive 

process to understand and resolve issues if parties do not agree to proposals brought forward. 

The DBWC benefits from a high level of familiarity and trust already, having spent years 

working together in the DWPI and the Basin Study. The DBWC will use smaller committees, 

with the aid of a trained mediator, to resolve conflict and build consensus around specific issues. 

As part of this process, the DBWC members will complete an analysis to prioritize issues within 

the restoration plan. The group is focused on accelerating implementation of projects and will 

develop a prioritized list of projects as well as priority issues that need to be resolved. The group 

has already identified two major priority issues—how to restore streamflow in the Upper 

Deschutes River while supporting agriculture, and how to generate groundwater mitigation 

credits to meet the needs of growing municipalities.

The planning the DBWC will undertake differs from previous planning efforts and the Basin 

Study that generated information and options. This planning process will engage in the difficult 

and time-intensive work of negotiating and building agreement around putting an 

implementation plan in place. Once this comprehensive plan is established, that will meet the 

needs of the “three legs of the stool,” the DBWC expects that it can leverage this plan to expand 

resources needed for efficient implementation. 

A set of legal and regulatory issues associated with Oregon spotted frog makes this work critical 

right now. 

Task C: Watershed Management Project Design 

• Describe the Task C Watershed Management Project Design activities that will be 

completed as part of this grant project and explain why these activities are an important 

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step for addressing the critical watershed needs and issues in the watershed discussed in 

sub-criterion No. B1. 

• To the extent known, describe the project(s) for which the watershed group will complete 

a design. 

• Will the group complete an analysis to prioritize watershed management projects and 

identify specific project locations? If yes, describe this analysis. 

• How will the watershed group develop a project timeline and milestones for the project? 

• If the watershed group will build on previous efforts, describe these efforts and how the 

watershed group will expand upon them through the proposed work. 

As part of the Plan development, the DBWC will create a list of priority projects, as well as 

medium to long-term strategies for addressing water shortages. Many partners are working 

on project design concurrently in the basin: irrigation districts are engineering large-scale 

water conservation projects; DRC, soil and water conservation districts, and irrigation 

districts are developing and designing on-farm irrigation efficiency projects; the 

COID/DRC WaterSMART water marketing grant is developing a water marketing 

structure to guide water transactions. All these efforts will inform the Plan. In the 

Deschutes, however, the most challenging part of the Plan is how to integrate the projects, 

move water in innovative ways from current uses to where it’s needed, and coordinate 

across multiple jurisdictions and water uses to create the maximum benefit for multiple 

interests. The Plan will set the framework and roadmap, from which the DBWC can then 

prioritize projects based on impact, cost, and their interconnection/sequencing with other 

projects under the Plan. Because of all the parallel work, we will be able to incorporate 

project timelines, milestones, costs, and environmental compliance requirements.

E.1.3. Evaluation Criterion C— Implementation and Results (25 points) 

Sub-criterion No. C1—Project Implementation 

Applicants should describe their plan for implementing the proposed scope of work. Please 

include an estimated schedule that shows the stages and duration of the proposed work. The 

schedule should include: 

● Major tasks (e.g., stakeholder outreach; development of by-laws, a mission

statement, and articles of incorporation; or development of a watershed restoration 

plan and project design) 

● Milestones for each task 

● Start and end dates for each task and milestone 

● Costs for each task

The major focus of this proposal is to build on previous planning efforts and the extensive 

information generated in the Upper Deschutes Basin Study to develop a Comprehensive Water 

Management Plan that guides the implementation of water projects to meet needs for rivers, 

agriculture, and growing communities. This Plan will be developed through regular meetings of 

the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative and its various committees, with technical support for 

plan development based on meeting inputs and outcomes. The Plan will provide a roadmap to 

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meet long-term needs in the Deschutes, help secure the funding required for implementation, 

address barriers to implementation, and give the basin a powerful platform to ensure 

implementation results have as much benefit as possible for the resource and communities. The 

budget includes DRC staff time to support the technical components of the Plan, the drafting of 

the documents themselves, and to coordinate/facilitate the DBWC; a graphics consultant to 

support the outreach plan, as well as the Comprehensive Plan; a consultant to support analyses of 

economic considerations and development of the Framework(s) for Action; a consultant to 

provide editorial and support services for the completion of the Comprehensive Water 

Management Plan; and a consultant focused on mediation and to assist with conflict resolution as 

the group managed the tough issues.

Specific task descriptions follow. Please note that the budget per task is included. For a detailed 

breakdown of DRC staff and consultant fees (e.g., salary, fringe, etc.), see the table in the Project 

Budget section.

Develop Outline of Comprehensive Plan

Technical staff will build off the higher-level Framework for Action the DBWC is developing in 

2021/2022 to outline the draft comprehensive water management plan. This plan will address 

goals for instream, agricultural, and irrigation interests and will consider groundwater, water 

quality, and climate change impacts. It will adhere to the principles of the State of Oregon’s 

Integrated Water Resources Strategy and may adopt the plan framework currently being used in 

the state’s place-based planning pilot program. Input from the DBWC will influence this outline. 

The DRC will develop the Outline of the Comprehensive Plan.

Budget: $4,000.00

Draft Comprehensive Plan

Technical staff will use the outline and the existing body of information to draft a 

Comprehensive Plan. Much of the complexity, and the value and necessity of the DBWC, comes 

with agreeing upon how to integrate different water supply tools, how to move water across 

multiple jurisdictions and uses to meet needs, and how to address the barriers and challenges 

identified in the Basin Study. Building consensus around a Plan will require extensive 

collaborative engagement and many iterations of the Plan. This will be the most time-intensive 

part of the proposed scope of work. We expect that planning will run alongside continued 

implementation of water supply projects. The DRC will draft the Comprehensive Plan.

Budget: $40,000.00

Coordinate/Facilitate Bi-Monthly DBWC Working Group Meetings

The Working Group is the decision-making body of the DBWC and includes all DBWC 

members. The group meets bi-monthly and will play a key role in discussing Plan development 

and ultimately making decisions around and adopting the Plan. The group comprises 40+ diverse 

stakeholders who all bring important perspectives to share and discuss. The DRC and a 

consultant coordinate and facilitate these meetings.

Budget: $12,000.00

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Coordinate/Facilitate Bi-Monthly DBWC Planning Team Meetings

The Planning Team is the steering committee of the DBWC and helps to provide leadership and 

recommendations and sets agendas for the Working Group meetings. The group includes two 

tribal interests, two irrigation interests, two environmental interests, two municipal interests and 

the advisory participation of agencies. The DRC and a consultant will coordinate and facilitate 

these meetings.

Budget: $12,000.00

Coordinate/Facilitate/Participate in Monthly DBWC Technical Committee Meetings

The technical nature of planning around water needs in the basin is complex, due to the nature of 

water law and policy, water rights, hydrology, and ecological needs, amongst other things. The 

Technical Committee draws the technical experts together to guide this work. The Technical 

Committee can make recommendations to the Planning Team and Working Group and is 

expected to do most of the brainstorming around Plan development. The DRC and a consultant

coordinate and facilitate these meetings.

Budget: $12,000.00

Coordinate/Facilitate/Participate in Monthly DBWC Instream Committee Meetings

While the Basin Study identified the overall water shortages across the basin and quantified the 

needs for agriculture and municipalities, disagreement remains regarding the flow and water 

quality targets necessary to adequately support ecological function. This Committee engages 

experts and DBWC instream interests to provide recommended goals for instream needs. The 

DRC coordinates and facilitates these meetings.

Budget: $12,000.00

Coordinate/Facilitate Bi-Monthly DBWC Groundwater Mitigation Committee Meetings

The DBWC has prioritized resolving two outstanding water issues in the Deschutes Basin: how 

to keep agriculture whole while restoring the Upper Deschutes River and ensuring the Deschutes 

Groundwater Mitigation Program can help the cities secure reliable, efficient, and cost-effective 

mitigation to allow for planned growth. Resolving key issues in the mitigation program is a 

highly technical and political endeavor. This Committee engages the experts in this field to 

provide recommendations related to meeting municipal needs in the planning effort. The DRC 

and a state representative coordinate and facilitate these meetings.

Budget: $12,000.00

Coordinate/Facilitate Monthly DBWC Outreach Committee Meetings & Implement Outreach 

Plan

Continued outreach is important to build more general support for the Comprehensive Water 

Management Plan, and to communicate with decision-making bodies directly throughout the 

process with whom we will look to for implementation support. We will develop or update 

existing outreach materials to assist in these efforts. The Outreach Committee will manage the 

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outreach plan and contribute to these efforts. The DRC coordinates and facilitates this 

committee, but will work with a consultant for design work. 

Budget: $8,000.00

Project Management Coordination by DRC

DRC provides coordination and facilitation services, as well as technical support. This support is

critical to the planning and execution of DBWC meetings in all their various forms, including 

agenda-setting, member communication, identification of contentious issues and the design of 

successful processes to work through these. DRC maintains regular communication with DBWC 

members between and after all meetings and serves as the behind-the-scenes workforce keeping 

the Collaborative moving.

Budget: $8,500.00

Manage Correspondence and Website Updates

Communication with DBWC members is key to the success of the group. DRC plays an essential 

role in fielding questions and concerns and helping members navigate the meeting schedule and 

materials. All materials and meetings are posted on the DBWC website, which will need to be 

maintained and updated throughout the planning period. 

Budget: $8,000.00

Incorporate and Revise Comprehensive Plan Based on Ongoing Input from DBWC Meetings

The draft Comprehensive Water Management Plan will be revised based on input from the 

DBWC throughout the planning period. Revisions and iterations will be brought back to the 

group to assess. DRC will provide the technical support to receive and synthesize diverse input. 

Budget: $30,000.00

Finalize Comprehensive Water Management Plan

Once the contents of the plan are agreed-upon, technical staff will finalize the language and 

contents of the Plan and will work with members group and their constituents to gain DBWC 

approval and broad community support. This Plan will be communicated to decision-making 

bodies and stakeholder groups.

Budget: $15,000.00

Conduct Outreach for Input and Build Support

Once materials have been drafted and an Outreach Plan has been approved, the DBWC will 

conduct outreach to the public and to decision-making bodies to gather input and build support 

throughout the development of the Plan.

Budget: $12,000.00

Develop Prioritized List of Near-Term Projects

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The Plan will include a section that prioritizes near-term actions and identifies timelines, 

milestones and budgets. We did, however, call this out as a Task C sub-task as the funding 

opportunity identified this action within Task C. 

Budget: $9,000.00

Reporting

Comply with Reclamation reporting requirements. DRC will comply with all Reclamation 

reporting requirements.

Budget: $5,000.00

Tasks, Schedule, and Budgets 

Task Sub-Task 

Q3 

22 

Q4 

22 

Q1 

23 

Q2 

23 

Q3 

23 

Q43 

23 

Q1 

24 

Q2 

24 Budget 

B Develop outline of comprehensive plan $4,000 

B Draft comprehensive plan $50,000 

B 

Coordinate/facilitate bi-monthly DBWC

Working Group meetings $14,000 

B 

Coordinate/facilitate bi-monthly 

Planning Team meetings $14,000 

B 

Coordinate/facilitate monthly Technical

Committee meetings $18,000 

B 

Coordinate/facilitate monthly In-stream

Committee meetings $18,000 

B 

Coordinate/facilitate bi-monthly

Outreach Committee meetings $8,000 

B 

Project management coordination 

between DRC and COIC $8,500 

B 

Manage correspondence and website

updates $8,000 

B 

Incorporate and revise water 

management plan based on ongoing

input from DBWC meetings $20,000 

B 

Finalize Upper Deschutes Sub-basin 

Water Management Plan $15,000 

B 

Conduct ongoing outreach to the public

and to decision-making bodies to gather

input and build support throughout the

plan. $12,000 

C 

Develop prioritized list of near-term

projects $5,000 

Reporting $5,000 

Total Budget $199,500 

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Sub-criterion No. C2—Building on Relevant Federal, State, or Regional Planning Efforts 

Please describe how the proposed activities that are part of this grant project will complement, 

build upon, or meet the goals of relevant Federal, state, or regional planning efforts. Such plans 

may include but are not limited to:

● Water conservation plans 

● Drought contingency plans 

● Plans that meet the criteria identified in the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency’s (EPA) Nonpoint Source Management Program 

● Plans that meet the EPA’s criteria for Watershed-Based Plans 

● other relevant plans or planning efforts 

Reclamation suggests that groups contact Federal, state, or local agencies in your area to 

identify existing goals and plans relevant to the watershed group. Please reference any 

relevant plans, but do not include these plans as part of this application. 

The goals of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative support the objectives of a host of 

state and regional watershed plans: 

Deschutes Subbasin Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council, 2004 

• Identifies instream and habitat restoration of the middle and upper Deschutes River as a 

priority action in the Deschutes Basin (MP-6) 

• Calls for an improved flow regime by increasing minimum winter flows in the Upper 

Deschutes (MP-80) 

The DBWC Comprehensive Plan will outline how to meet the instream needs of the middle 

and upper Deschutes River, a priority action of the Deschutes Subbasin Plan. 

Upper Deschutes River Subbasin Fish Management Plan, Oregon Department of Fish and 

Wildlife, 1996 

• The plan identifies irrigation water management as having the greatest deleterious impact 

on abundance of native fish (p 25) in the upper basin. 

• Identifies working with irrigators to improve instream flows as key action item (p 99). 

• Recommends water leasing, water transfers, off-stream storage, and conservation as tools 

to improve flow management (p 99).

Each of the strategies that will be included in the DBWC Comprehensive Plan address 

working with irrigators to improve instream flows, through water leasing, water transfers, 

off-stream storage and conservation, recommendations of the Upper Deschutes River 

subbasin Fish Management Plan. 

Upper Deschutes Wild and Scenic River and State Scenic Waterway Comprehensive 

Management Plan, US Forest Service and State of Oregon, 1996 

• Joint state and federal agency plan to guide the management of the upper Deschutes 

River. 

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• Identifies flow modification due to water management practices as a key limiting factor 

for fisheries health. 

• Sets interim and long-range targets for instream flow restoration. 

The DBWC includes members representing state and federal agencies. The Comprehensive 

Plan directly addresses interim and long-range targets for instream flow restoration 

through the implementation of recommended water conservation and marketing strategies. 

Integrated Water Resource Strategy –Oregon Water Resources Department, 2017 

• Plan seeks to understand current water supplies in Oregon and articulate a strategy for 

meeting future needs. 

• Identifies balancing instream and out of stream water needs as a key water management 

issue. 

• Recommends implementing place-based integrated water resource planning. 

• Recommends reaching environmental objectives through non-regulatory approaches. 

• Identifies the DRC as a key partner in implementing voluntary flow water management 

projects. 

The DBWC planning process follows the recommended framework for a comprehensive 

basin water management plan, under the State’s place-based planning framework and as 

identified in the State’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy. DBWC’s composition, 

governance, and process embrace the values and goals of the IWRS, balancing instream 

and out-of-stream water needs, engaging in regional planning and using non-regulatory 

approaches. 

Deschutes Water Planning Initiative Report 

• Includes a needs analysis for irrigation, instream, and cities in the Upper Deschutes subbasin

• Identifies key strategies to meet needs

• Includes several water management scenarios and preliminary flow modeling analysis

The DBWC Plan will build on the work of this report and the strategies contained within. 

Upper Deschutes River Basin Study 

• Reclamation study framework completed in 2020

• Refines water use and water demands in the Upper Deschutes Basin

• Completed several flow-habitat studies

• Analyses key strategies to meet needs

• Develops water management scenarios integrating tools

• Modeled water management scenarios and identified shortages

• Assessed various policy issues associated with strategies

• Analyzed climate change impacts

The DBWC planning process builds on the robust foundation of information generated in 

the Upper Deschutes River Basin Study and takes the next step of using the tools and 

strategies identified within the Basin Study to develop a water management plan. 

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Deschutes Basin Board of Control System Improvement Plans and NRCS Watershed 

Plans 

• Each irrigation district in the Deschutes has identified the water conservation 

opportunities in their districts and has developed a plan for implementing conservation 

(canal piping) projects. 

The DBWC Plan will incorporate these conservation plans into its Comprehensive Plan. 

WaterSmart Water Marketing Strategy Study 

• COID and DRC are partnering on a Reclamation grant to develop a robust water 

marketing strategy to guide the water transactions work in the Deschutes Basin, 

specifically between senior and junior irrigation districts and to the Upper Deschutes 

River. The strategy should be in place by the start of this grant, providing important 

pieces of the planning puzzle.

The DBWC Plan will incorporate the water marketing strategy as a core piece of the 

Comprehensive Plan. 

Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan 

• Completed in December 2020, the HCP and associated Final Environmental Impact 

Statement agrees to a set of conservation measures over the next 30 years to benefit ESAlisted species, in exchange for an Incidental Take Permit. The FEIS analyzes in-depth the 

impact to species. The work of the DBWC in planning and implementing projects will 

assist in meeting flow targets set in the HCP and conservation measures. 

The DBWC Plan will incorporate the HCP conservation measures as foundational to the 

larger Comprehensive Plan. 

Biological Opinion for Section 10(a)(1)(B) Incidental Take Permit (TE89773D-0) for the 

Deschutes Basin HCP and the Bureau of Reclamation's continued Operation and 

Maintenance of the Deschutes River Basin Project. 

• Also completed in December 2020, the BiOp provides the science that supports the 

issuance of the HCP. DBWC actions will support restoration of ESA-listed species, as 

recorded in the BiOp.

The BiOp provides important biological information that will be incorporated into the 

goals of the DBWC Comprehensive Plan. 

E.1.4. Evaluation Criterion D— Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation Priorities 

(10 points) 

Sub-criterion No. E1. Climate Change: Points will be awarded based on the extent the 

project will reduce climate pollution; increase resilience to the impacts of climate change; 

protect public health; and conserve our lands, waters, oceans, and biodiversity. Address the 

following as relevant to your project. 

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Combating the Climate Crisis: E.O. 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and 

Abroad, focuses on increasing resilience to climate change and supporting climate- resilient 

development. For additional information on the impacts of climate change throughout the 

western United States, see: https://www.usbr.gov/climate/ 

secure/docs/2021secure/2021SECUREReport.pdf. Please describe how the project will 

address climate change, including the following: 

• Please provide specific details and examples on how the project will address the impacts 

of climate change and help combat the climate crisis. 

Many of the critical issues discussed previously are exacerbated by the changing climate and 

persistent drought conditions that this region is experiencing. The efforts of the DBWC are 

focused on creating a Plan and implementing projects that will improve water security, result in 

more water instream (leading to cooler water temperatures), and enhance the reliability of 

surface and groundwater resources. All these efforts will result in increasing resilience for all the 

stakeholders in the basin as we move through the ever-changing impacts of climate change.

Specifically, in the Deschutes Basin, on-farm efficiency work, canal piping, water marketing, as 

well as creative water storage solutions, are being implemented and will be built off as part of the 

DBWC Plan development.

• Does this proposed project strengthen water supply sustainability to increase resilience to 

climate change? Does the proposed project contribute to climate change resiliency in other 

ways not described above? 

The Plan for moving forward in the Deschutes Basin is primarily focused on strengthening water 

supply sustainability and resilience for all water users. By accounting for water scarcity and 

managing this resource in times of higher need and lower supply, the members of the DBWC 

must bring creative and effective solutions to the table. This region has experienced considerable 

negative effects of warmer summers, drier winters, and record droughts – including the 

prolonged one we are currently experiences. 

Sub-criterion No. E2. Disadvantaged or Underserved Communities: Points will be awarded 

based on the extent to which the Project serves economically disadvantaged or underserved 

communities in rural or urban areas. 

• Will the proposed project serve or benefit a disadvantaged or historically underserved 

community? Benefits can include, but are not limited to, public health and safety by 

addressing water quality, new water supplies, or economic growth opportunities. 

• If the proposed project is providing benefits to an underserved community, provide 

sufficient information to demonstrate that the community meets the underserved definition in 

E.O. 13985, which includes populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as 

geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to 

participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. 

With increased reliability to water supplies for the predominantly agricultural communities, such 

as those within Jefferson County, the residents, laborers, and businesses that rely on the 

agricultural economy will benefit. Jefferson County has a significantly higher percentage of the 

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Hispanic and native American population than the rest of Central Oregon or than the state at 

large. Specifically, Jefferson County is 19.9% Hispanic/Latino and 18.3% Native American. This 

compared to 8.3% and 1.1% respectively for Deschutes County, or 13.4% and 1.8% respectively 

for the state.

(https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/deschutescountyoregon,jeffersoncountyoregon,OR

/PST045219)

Jefferson county meets applicable state criteria or meets the definition in Section 1015 of the

Cooperative Watershed Act as economically disadvantaged (defined as a community with an 

annual median household income that is less than 100 percent of the statewide annual median 

household income for the state)

(https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/deschutescountyoregon,jeffersoncountyoregon,OR

/PST045219 With $53,277 in median family income vs. $62,818 statewide).

E.1.5. Sub-criterion No. E.3. Tribal Benefits 

Points will be awarded based on the extent to which the Project will honor the Federal 

government’s commitments to Tribal Nations. 

• Does the proposed project directly serve and/or benefit a Tribe? Will the project improve 

water management for an Indian Tribe? 

A member of th Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) co-chairs the Deschutes Basin 

Water Collaborative, chairs the Board of the Deschutes River Conservancy, and the Tribes are 

integral to the water management planning efforts in the Deschutes Basin. The collaborative 

philosophy and operational model in the Deschutes Basin began with the Tribes’ ‘good neighbor 

policy,’ and the belief that collaboration would result in better resource outcomes than conflict. 

Clean, cool, and plentiful water quantity and quality is critical to the Tribes’ way of life. Water 

was the first gift of the creator. Sustaining wild salmon populations is central to tribal culture and 

values. 

• Does the proposed project support Tribal resilience to climate change and drought impacts or 

provide other Tribal benefits such as improved public health and safety by addressing water 

quality, new water supplies, or economic growth opportunities? 

The DBWC goals include restoring streamflow and improving water quality in the Deschutes 

Basin, goals that are central to the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. The tribal 

reservation is downstream of the proposed planning area and is impacted by, and benefits from 

flow restoration and water quality improvements upstream. Improved water quality will benefit 

the Tribes, currently facing severe water quality challenges. The DBWC was created to address 

basin-wide issues, including those that benefit steelhead and salmon, species at the center of 

tribal culture. 

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement 

Applicants must provide a statement that addresses if there is any overlap between the proposed 

project and any other active or anticipated proposals or projects in terms of activities, costs, or 

commitment of key personnel. If any overlap exists, applicants must provide a description of the 

overlap in their application for review. 

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The Deschutes River Conservancy has applied for and received funding in support of the DBWC 

from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. This funding helps to support the facilitation 

efforts and other aspects of the staffing support required to maintain the Collaborative, produce 

the outreach materials, and begin the Plan development process.

DRC has not submitted applications for funding that would be considered duplicative to this 

proposal.

B. Project Budget 

BUDGET ITEM DESCRIPTION 

COMPUTATION Quantity 

Type TOTAL COST 

$/Unit Quantity 

Salaries and Wages 

Executive Director, Kate F $57.66 570 hours $32,866.20

Programs Director $43.27 475 hours $20,553.25

Communications Director $38.68 318 hours $12,300.24

Senior Program Manager $41.42 235 hours $9,733.70

Program Manager $40.00 495 hours $19,800.00

Fringe Benefits 

Executive Director, Kate F $28.12 570 hours $16,028.40 

Programs Director $21.36 475 hours $10,146.00 

Communications Director $16.50 318 hours $5,247.00 

Senior Program Manager $20.40 235 hours $4,794.00 

Program Manager $19.99 495 hours $9,895.05 

Contractual/Construction 

Conflict Resolution $100.00 100 hours $10,000.00

Editorial Support $100.00 100 hours $10,000.00

Economic Analyses $100.00 100 hours $10,000.00

Graphics Support $100.00 100 hours $10,000.00

TOTAL DIRECT COSTS 

Indirect Costs 

DRC de minimus MTDC 10% $18,136.16

TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS $199,500.00 

Total Project Cost Table 

SOURCE AMOUNT 

Costs to be reiumbursed with the requested Federal Funding $199,500.00 

Costs to be paid by the applicant $0 

Value of third-party contributions $0 

Field Code Changed 

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C. Budget Narrative 

Salaries and Wages 

DRC staff will provide facilitation, technical support, Plan development, and outreach efforts for 

the DBWC. Kate Fitzpatrick, Project Manager and Executive Director, will be the main link to 

the previous planning efforts, and will play a lead role in building consensus amongst DBWC 

members. The Programs Director will play the lead role providing technical support to the 

DBWC, as well as participating in committees and co-authoring the Plan. The Programs

Manager will contribute directly to the Outreach and Technical committees and co-author the 

plan. The Communications Director will be involved throughout the Outreach Plan development 

and implementation process. The Senior Program Manager will be integrally involved in all 

committees and in Plan development. Breakdown by task is detailed in the Project 

Implementation section.

Fringe Benefits: 

Regarding the listed salaries and associated fringe benefits, each employee has a different fringe 

rate, due to longevity, rate of pay, and other factors. The rate also changes from year to year, 

with adjustments in rate of pay and which benefits are being utilized. For the budget, we took a 

weighted average to fit the proposed budget format. We weighted the rates based on proposed 

hours to get to the 50% of the hourly rate included in the budget. Fringe benefits include medical 

and dental insurance, retirement contributions, FICA/ Medicare, unemployment insurance, and 

workers’ compensation insurance.

Personnel 

Kate Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, brings seventeen years of experience in water 

management, collaborative planning, partnership development and leadership to the DRC. She 

has a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies and has gained a deep working knowledge of 

water law, policy and transactions.

Dani Wise Johnson, Programs Director, has a Master’s degree in natural resources management 

with a focus on watershed hydrology and over twenty years of experience working in water 

resources management, river restoration, water quality assessment and collaborative master 

planning.

Lisa Seales, Programs Manager, has ten years of experience in working in water management 

and policy in Oregon. Lisa has a PhD and an MS in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the 

University of Florida with a focus on adaptive, large-scale watershed management and 

collaborative management and policy.

Gen Hubert, Program Manager, BS in Natural Resource Policy and BA in Journalism, has 

fifteen years of experience managing DRC’s Water Leasing Program, Conserved Water, 

Instream Transfers, the Groundwater Mitigation Bank, and the Blue Water Fundraising Program. 

Gen coordinates with 8 irrigation districts and up to 200 landowners to protect up to 60 cfs 

26
 

 

 

 

2022 CWMP PROPOSAL DESCHUTES RIVER

CONSERVANCY

annually through the instream leasing program. Gen is a co-director on the board for the 

Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District.

Marisa Chappell Hossick, Communications Director, has ten years of experience in 

communications and outreach for DRC. She works on DRC's Social Media campaign, event 

coordination, newsletters, and website, bringing additional skills of professional photography to 

this work.

Contractual 

Contracted services will be sought for services related to DBWC committee and group conflict 

resolution. The DRC/DBWC will seek a qualified local entity familiar with the issues and 

partners, and skilled in these areas. Competitive procurement will not take place as the cost does 

not exceed $10,000. Breakdown by task is detailed in the Project Implementation section. 

Contracted services will be sought for services related to graphics support for the Outreach 

Committee, implementation of the outreach plan, and development of the Comprehensive Plan. 

The DRC/DBWC will seek a qualified local entity familiar with the issues and partners and 

skilled in communications. Competitive procurement will not take place as the cost does not 

exceed $10,000. Breakdown by task is detailed in the Project Implementation section.

Contracted Services will also be sought for development of the Framework(s) for Action 

regarding the various pathways for water management that the DBWC will be exploring in 

development of the Plan. DRC/DBWC will secure a qualified consultant with expertise in 

program evaluation and economic analyses. Competitive Procurement will not take place as the 

cost does not exceed $10,000. Breakdown by task is detailed in the Project Implementation 

section.

Contracted services will be sought for services related to editorial and drafting of various 

components of the Comprehensive Plan. The DRC/DBWC will seek a qualified local entity 

skilled in these areas. Competitive procurement will not take place as the cost does not exceed 

$10,000. Breakdown by task is detailed in the Project Implementation section. 

Indirect 

DRC elects to take the “de minimus” 10% indirect rate. We do not have a federally negotiated 

indirect rate and feel that 10% is adequate.

Letters of Support 

Please see Attachment for Letters of Support for this application.

Official Resolution 

The Deschutes River Conservancy will be acquiring a Resolution for this proposal at the 

upcoming Board meeting on April 8, 2022. 

27
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coalition for the Deschutes 

PO Box 1589 

Bend, OR 97709 

March 29, 2021 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Water Resources and Planning Office 

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan 

Mail Code: 84-51000 

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225 

Dear Review Committee, 

Coalition for the Deschutes (CFD) strongly supports the Deschutes River Conservancy’s application

on behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) to the Bureau of Reclamation’s 

Cooperative Watershed Management Program for Phase I funding to support the Collaborative’s 

capacity to engage in water management and planning. The Deschutes Basin has a long history of

collaborative engagement and is poised to implement long-lasting solutions to meet water needs in

the basin. Continued support for this collaboration is critical, as forging and implementing broadlysupported strategies is time-intensive. As a member of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, our

organization is excited to participate in this basin planning process that will build on the body of work 

completed in the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative and the Upper Deschutes Basin Study to

identify and prioritize implementation activities to meet the water allocation needs of communities,

agriculture, and the Deschutes River. The result of this effort will be a balanced, implementable Plan

that will provide for the orderly and well-supported execution of implementation projects to serve the

shared goals of all DBWC members.

CFD is a non-profit partner focused on collaborative solutions to restore the health of the Deschutes 

River so that fish, families, and farms can thrive. With over 60 partners across non-profit, local

businesses, agriculture, and the greater Central Oregon community, we support projects focused on

water conservation designed to rebalance flows within the Deschutes River and provides direct

support for the communities served by the water. Coalition for the Deschutes both supports and

endorses this collaborative water management work in the Deschutes Basin. You can consider CFD a 

partner and an advocate on behalf of DBWC, its mission, and the watershed management projects.

Through this letter, I am acknowledging the partnership between CFD and the other members of the

Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative. Through our collaboration, we will realize the intended goals of

the project application to build a comprehensive Upper Deschutes Sub-basin Water Management

Plan, alongside the ongoing implementation of water projects. By leveraging our shared resources,

we will ultimately deliver a more protected and efficient watershed.

Holly Mondo 

Board Member | DBWC 

Representative 

Coalition for the Deschutes 

Sincerely, 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CITY OF LA PINE 

16345 Sixth Street — PO Box 2460 

La Pine, Oregon 97739 

TEL (541) 536-1432 — FAX (541) 536-1462 

March 25, 2022 www.lapineoregon.gov 

Bureau of Reclamation

Water Resources and Planning Office

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan

Mail Code: 84-51000

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225

Dear Review Committee,

The City of La Pine strongly supports the Deschutes River Conservancy’s application on behalf of the Deschutes

Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed Management

Program for Phase I funding to support the Collaborative’s capacity to engage in water management and

planning. The Deschutes Basin has a long history of collaborative engagement and is poised to implement longlasting solutions to meet water needs in the basin. Continued support for this collaboration is critical, as forging

and implementing broadly supported strategies is time intensive. As a member of the Deschutes Basin Water

Collaborative, our organization is excited to participate in this basin planning process. This process will build on

the bodyof work completed in the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative and the Upper Deschutes Basin Study to

identify and prioritize implementation activities to meet the water allocation needs of communities, agriculture,

and the Deschutes River. The result of this effort will be a balanced, implementable Plan that will provide for the

orderlyand well-supported execution of implementation projects to serve the shared goals of all DBWC members.

As an organization that is keenly aware of, and deeply invested in the prioritizing of long-term maintenance of

our larger regional watershed, the City of La Pine both supports and endorses this collaborative water

management work in the Deschutes Basin. You can consider the City of La Pine a partner and an advocate on

behalf of DBWC, its mission, and the watershed management projects.

Through this letter, I am acknowledging the partnership between the City of La Pine and the other members of

the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative. Through our collaboration, we will realize the intended goals of the

project application to build a comprehensive Upper Deschutes Sub-basin Water Management Plan, alongside

the ongoing implementation of water projects. By leveraging our shared resources, we will ultimately deliver a

more protected and efficient watershed.

Sincerely,

Geoff Wullschlager

City Manager

City of La Pine

The City of La Pine is an equal opportunity provider 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logo Department Name Agency Organization Organization Address Information

United States Forest Deschutes National Forest 63095 Deschutes Market Road 

Department of 

Agriculture 

Service Bend, OR 97701 

541-383-5300 

File Code: 1560

Date: March 28, 2022

Bureau of Reclamation 

Water Resources and Planning Office 

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan

Mail Code: 84-51000 

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225

Dear Review Committee,

The Deschutes National Forest strongly supports the Deschutes River Conservancy’s application 

on behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) to the Bureau of Reclamation’s 

Cooperative Watershed Management Program for Phase I funding. This funding would support 

the DBWC’s capacity to engage in long-term planning for water conservation and management. 

The Deschutes Basin has a long history of collaborative engagement and is poised to implement 

long-lasting solutions to meet water needs in the basin. Financial support to maintain the 

DBWC’s administrative capacity will be critical in accomplishing conservation goals within the

basin. As a member of the DBWC, our agency is excited to participate in this basin planning 

process. This effort will build upon the body of work completed by the Deschutes Water 

Planning Initiative and the Upper Deschutes Basin Study to identify and prioritize 

implementation activities to meet the water allocation needs of rivers, communities, and 

agriculture. The result of this effort will be a balanced and implementable plan that will provide

a path forward for a program of work that meets the shared water conservation goals of all 

DBWC members.

As a land management agency with significant ownership, and a long and active history of 

collaborative watershed stewardship and restoration, the US Forest Service both supports and 

endorses this collaborative water management work in the Deschutes Basin. The Deschutes 

National Forest is a partner of the DBWC and an advocate of its mission and work toward 

conservation. 

The Deschutes National Forest is confident that through the collaboration of the members of the 

DBWC, we will realize the intended goals of building a comprehensive Upper Deschutes Subbasin Water Management Plan, while continuing to support and advance ongoing water 

conservation projects. By leveraging our shared resources, we will ultimately secure a future that

provides the water resources needed to support thriving rivers, communities, and livelihoods. 

Sincerely,

HOLLY JEWKES

Forest Supervisor

Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper
 

March 28, 2022

Bureau of Reclamation

Water Resources and Planning Office Attn:

Ms. Avra Morgan 

Mail Code: 84-51000

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225

Dear Review Committee,

The Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads, a chapter of the national Great Old 

Broads for Wilderness, strongly supports the Deschutes River Conservancy’s

application on behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) to the 

Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program for 

Phase I funding to support the Collaborative’s capacity to engage in water 

management and planning. The Deschutes Basin has a long history of

collaborative engagement, and is poised to implement long-lasting solutions to 

meet water needs in the basin. Continued support for this collaboration is critical, 

as forging and implementing broadly-supported strategies is time-intensive. As a 

member of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, our organization is excited 

to participate in this basin planning process that will build on the body of work 

completed in the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative and the Upper Deschutes

Basin Study to identify and prioritize implementation activities to meet the water 

allocation needs of the Deschutes River, local communities, and Central Oregon 

agriculture. The result of this effort will be a balanced, implementable Plan that 

will provide for the orderly and well-supported execution of implementation 

projects to serve the shared goals of all DBWC members. 

The Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a national grassroots organization, led by

women, that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness

and wild lands. The focus areas of the Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads include 
restoring healthy rivers in our watershed, supporting wild lands protection, 

addressing climate change, and building relationships in rural areas. Our local 

chapter both supports and endorses this collaborative water management work 

in the Deschutes Basin. You can consider the Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads 

a partner and an advocate on behalf of DBWC, its mission, and the watershed 

management projects. 

Through this letter, I am acknowledging the partnership of the Central Oregon 

Bitterbrush Broads has with the other members of the Deschutes Basin Water 

Collaborative. Through our collaboration, we will realize the intended goals of the

project application to build a comprehensive Upper Deschutes Sub-basin Water 

Management Plan, alongside the ongoing implementation of water projects. By 

leveraging our shared resources, we will ultimately deliver a more protected and

efficient watershed.

Sincerely, Joanne E. Richter,

Co-Leader Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads

60065 River Bluff Trail Bend, OR 97702

March 29, 2022

Bureau of Reclamation

Water Resources and Planning Office

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan

Mail Code: 84-51000

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225

Dear Review Committee:

The Oregon Water Resources Department strongly supports the Deschutes River Conservancy’s

application on behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (Collaborative) to the Bureau of

Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program for Phase I funding to support the

Collaborative’s capacity to engage in water planning and management.

As a member of the Collaborative, our organization is excited to participate in this basin planning process

that will build on the body of work completed in the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative and the Upper

Deschutes Basin Study to identify and prioritize implementation activities to meet the water allocation

needs of communities, agriculture, and the Deschutes River. The result of this effort will be a balanced,

implementable Plan that will provide for the orderly and well-supported execution of implementation

projects to serve the shared goals of all Collaborative members. The Deschutes Basin has a long history of

working together and is well-poised to implement long-lasting solutions to meet water needs in the basin.

Continued support for this collaborative effort is critical, since forging and implementing broadly 

supported, durable strategies is time and resource intensive.

The Department is responsible for understanding and meeting Oregon’s instream and out-of-stream water

supply needs through monitoring, studies, protection of existing rights, and support for integrated water

resources planning and projects. The Deschutes Basin has continually been at the forefront of

collaborative water planning and management in Oregon and is building on several decades of successful

plans and projects. The Deschutes Basin serves as a model for other basins in Oregon by demonstrating

how we can make things better by working together and has been recognized in Oregon’s Integrated

Water Resources Strategy.

Our Department has been and will continue to be a dedicated partner in collaborative water planning and

management efforts in the Deschutes Basin. We see the value and necessity of this approach, especially

for some of the larger, more complex issues that the Collaborative seeks to tackle. Through our

collaboration, we will realize the intended goals of the project application to build a comprehensive Upper

Deschutes Sub-basin Water Management Plan, alongside the ongoing implementation of water projects.

By leveraging our shared resources, we will ultimately secure a more sustainable, balanced, and secure

water future for the Deschutes Basin.

Sincerely,

Kyle Gorman 

Region Manager – South Central Region 
 

 

 

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Portland General Electric 

P.O. Box 960, Warm Springs, OR 97761 121 SW Salmon St. Portland, OR 97204 

March 29, 2022

Bureau of Reclamation 

Water Resources and Planning Office

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan 

Mail Code: 84-51000 

P.O. Box 25007

Denver, CO 80225 

Dear Review Committee:

Portland General Electric and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, as co-licensees of the Pelton 

Round Butte Hydroelectric Project, strongly support the Deschutes River Conservancy’s application on 

behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative 

Watershed Management Program to support the development of a comprehensive water management

plan.

The Deschutes Basin has a long history of collaborative engagement and is poised to implement longlasting solutions to meet water needs in the basin. Continued support for this collaboration is critical, as

forging and implementing broadly-supported strategies is time-intensive. As a member of the Deschutes 

Basin Water Collaborative, we are excited to participate in this basin planning process that will build on 

the body of work completed in the Upper Deschutes Basin Study to identify and prioritize implementation 

activities to meet the water allocation needs of communities, agriculture, fisheries and the Deschutes

River. 

The Licensees are working to reintroduce self-sustaining and harvestable runs of spring Chinook, sockeye 

salmon and steelhead trout to the upper Deschutes basin. Collaborative water management is critical to 

achieving this objective. Through our collaboration, we will realize the intended goals of the project

application to build a comprehensive water management plan, alongside the ongoing implementation of

water projects. By leveraging our shared resources, we will ultimately deliver a more protected and 

efficient watershed. 

Sincerely, 

Sania Radcliffe

Director of Government Affairs and Environmental Policy

Portland General Electric

cc: Jim Manion, Warm Springs Power Enterprises
411 SW Ninth Street 

Redmond, OR 97756 

CITY OF REDMOND 

Office of the Mayor 

March 28, 2022

Bureau of Reclamation

Water Resources and Planning Office

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan

Mail Code: 84-51000

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225 

Dear Review Committee,

The City of Redmond strongly supports the Deschutes River Conservancy’s application on 

behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) to the Bureau of Reclamation’s 

Cooperative Watershed Management Program for Phase I funding to support the Collaborative’s 

effort to engage in water management and planning. The Deschutes Basin has a long history of

collaborative engagement and is poised to implement long-lasting solutions to meet water needs 

in the basin. Continued support for this collaboration is critical, as forging and implementing 

broadly supported strategies is time intensive.

As a member of the DBWC, our organization is excited to participate in this basin planning 

process that will build on the body of work completed in the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative 

and the Upper Deschutes Basin Study to identify and prioritize implementation activities to meet 

the water allocation needs of communities, agriculture, and the Deschutes River. The result of 

this will be a balanced, implementable Plan that will provide for the orderly and well-supported 

execution of implementation projects to serve the shared goals of all DBWC members.

As a municipal water provider, the City of Redmond both supports and endorses this 

collaborative water management work in the Deschutes Basin. You can consider Redmond a 

partner and an advocate on behalf of DBWC, its mission, and the watershed management 

projects.

Through this letter, I am acknowledging the partnership between Redmond and the other 

members of the DBWC. Through our collaboration, we will realize the intended goals of the 

project application to build a comprehensive Upper Deschutes Sub-basin Water Management 

Plan, alongside the ongoing implementation of water projects. By leveraging our shared 

resources, we will ultimately deliver a more protected and efficient watershed.

Sincerely,

George Endicott

Mayor

Redmond, Oregon
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bureau of Reclamation March 28, 2022

Water Resources and Planning Office

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan

Mail Code: 84-51000

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225

Dear Review Committee,

The Deschutes Redbands Chapter of Trout Unlimited strongly supports the Deschutes River

Conservancy’s (DRC) application on behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) to

the Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program for Phase I funding. 

These resources will allow continuation of the DBWC’s facilitation work with the Basin partners to

engage in water management and planning. The Deschutes Basin has a long history of collaboration.

We now hope and expect through this process that talk will turn to action by implementing long-lasting

solutions to meet water needs in the Basin. Continued financial support for this collaboration is critical.

As a member of the DBWC, our organization is excited to participate in designing and implementing

solutions that are built upon years of work as part of the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative and the

Upper Deschutes Basin Study. The results of this current effort will be a balanced, implementable

plan of action to restore the health of the Deschutes and its tributaries by providing for the orderly and

well-supported execution of implementation projects that serve the shared goals of all DBWC

members.

The Deschutes Redbands is an organization with 710 members that is focused on restoring,

preserving and conserving the cold-water fisheries in the Deschutes Basin. Our Chapter supports and

endorses this collaborative water management work so long as it remains focused on implementable

and measurable results that ensure the health of our river systems.

Through this letter, I am acknowledging the partnership between the Deschutes Redbands Chapter

and the other members of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative. Accordingly, we encourage the

Bureau of Reclamation to approve the DRC’s grant application for this much needed funding.

Sincerely, 

Shaun Pigott, President

Deschutes Redbands Chapter – Trout Unlimited

16 NW Kansas Ave.

Bend, OR 97703
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 30, 2022 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Water Resources and Planning Office 

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan 

Mail Code: 84-51000 

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225 

Dear Review Committee, 

The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council strongly supports the Deschutes River 

Conservancy’s application on behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) 

to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program for 

funding to support the Collaborative’s capacity to engage in water management and

planning. The Deschutes Basin has a long history of collaborative engagement, and is 

poised to implement long-lasting solutions to meet water needs in the basin. Continued 

support for this collaboration is critical, as forging and implementing broadly-supported 

strategies is time-intensive. As a member of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, 

our organization is excited to participate in this basin planning process that will build on 

the body of work completed in the Deschutes Water Planning Initiative and the Upper 

Deschutes Basin Study to identify and prioritize implementation activities to meet the 

water allocation needs of communities, agriculture, and the Deschutes River. The result 

of this effort will be a balanced, implementable Plan that will provide for the orderly and 

well-supported execution of implementation projects to serve the shared goals of all 

DBWC members. 

As an organization that focuses on watershed restoration, monitoring and education, 

the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council both supports and endorses this collaborative 

water management work in the Deschutes Basin. You can consider the Upper Deschutes 

Watershed Council a partner and an advocate on behalf of DBWC, its mission, and the 

watershed management projects. 

Through this letter, I am acknowledging the partnership between the Upper Deschutes 

Watershed Council and the other members of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative. 

A comprehensive water management plan will be developed through collaborative work 

of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, with technical support on plan 

development. This plan will provide a roadmap to meet long-term needs in the 
 

 

 

Deschutes and will give the basin a powerful platform to ensure implementation results 

have as much benefit as possible to the resource and to communities. 

Sincerely, 

Kris Knight 

Executive Director 

Upper Deschutes Watershed Council 
Bureau of Reclamation 

Water Resources and Planning Office 

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan 

Mail Code: 84-51000 

P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225 

March 27, 2022 

Dear Review Committee, 

I support the Deschutes River Conservancy’s application on behalf of the Deschutes Basin Water 

Collaborative (DBWC) to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program

for Phase I funding to support the Collaborative’s capacity to engage in water management and

planning. 

As an individual citizen and sometimes representative of organizations including Central Oregon 

Flyfishers, the Association of Northwest Steelheaders, and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s

Restoration & Enhancement Board, I have been actively involved in a wide variety of water issues in 

the Deschutes Basin for over a decade including the now concluded Basin Study Work Group and the 

new Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative. 

The allocation and management of water in the rapidly growing and heating Deschutes Basin is based 

on policies that are often over 100 years old and are in urgent need of modernization. Properly 

funded, the DBWC could play an import role in this broad collaborative effort. 

Please help this this effort by providing needed funding. 

Sincerely, 

Yancy Lind 

PO Box 633 

Bend OR 9707 
 

 

March 28, 2022

Bureau of Reclamation

Water Resources and Planning Office

Attn: Ms. Avra Morgan

Mail Code: 84-51000

P.O. Box 25007

Denver, CO 80225

Re: Suppport for Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative Funding Request

Dear Review Committee,

The Wild River Owners Association (WROA) represents approximately 150 homeowners who live on 

or near the Deschutes River about 8 miles below Wickiup Dam. We are directly affected by river flows, 

water quality, erosion, and fish and wildlife habitat.

The WROA strongly supports the Deschutes River Conservancy’s application on behalf of the 

Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative (DBWC) to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed 

Management Program for funding to support the Collaborative’s capacity to engage in water 

management and planning.

As affiliates of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, WROA is eager to participate in the basin 

planning process that will build on the body of work completed in the Deschutes Water Planning 

Initiative and the Upper Deschutes Basin Study to identify and prioritize implementation activities to 

meet the water allocation needs of communities, agriculture, and the Deschutes River. The result of this 

effort will be a balanced, implementable Plan that will provide for the orderly and well-supported 

execution of implementation projects to serve the shared goals of all DBWC members

We, the administrators of the Wild River Owners Association, acknowledge an ongoing partnership with 

members of the Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative. It is through this collaboration that we will 

realize the intended goals of the project to build a comprehensive Upper Deschutes Sub-Basin Water 

Management Plan together with the ongoing implementation of water projects. We believe that by 

leveraging our shared resources, we will ultimately participate in delivering a more protected and 

efficient watershed.

We respectfully request Bureau of Reclamation approval of the DRC’s application for funding.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors, Wild River Owners Association

53525 Wild River Way

La Pine, OR 97739
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative - Charter 

June 15, 2020 

The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative is a mechanism for stakeholders to collaborate on critical 

water allocation and management issues in the Deschutes Basin, and develop strategies to meet stream 

flow, ecological, agricultural, and community needs for water. The DBWC was built on the momentum of 

the Upper Deschutes Basin Study Working Group, the Water Summit convened by the Confederated 

Tribes of Warm Springs and the State of Oregon in the fall of 2018, as well as the legacy of the 

Deschutes Water Alliance. 

The DBWC Planning Team built this Charter based on the following: 

• Research conducted by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council; 

• Consultations with key stakeholders; 

• The work of a small core stakeholders’ group that met in June and July, 2019; 

• Feedback from 70 stakeholders at the September 30, 2019 DBWC kickoff meeting and a 

February 12, 2020 follow-on meeting 

GEOGRAPHY 

The ultimate focus and framing of this effort is the entire Deschutes Basin. 

However, due in large part to momentum created by the Upper Deschutes Basin Study and Basin Study 

Working Group efforts, some areas are more ready for coordinated and collaborative implementation in 

the short term. Therefore, the initial focus will be on implementation activities involving the Upper and 

Middle Deschutes River main stem. There will be “cross-walks” to the Crooked River, Metolius, and 

Lower Deschutes Basins to ensure that actions on behalf of the Upper and Middle Deschutes do not 

have unintended consequences for the remainder of the Basin. Further, this effort will support the 

development of capacity to undertake similar collaborative engagement in other parts of the Basin, 

which could include research, outreach, identification of key issues, and action planning. There will be 

consistent communication across the Basin. We anticipate that an annual Deschutes Basin 

Summit/Workshop will be an excellent means to bring all parts of the Basin together. 

DBWC Charter – June 15, 2020 

1 
 

 

DBWC Mission Statement 

DBWC will work together to achieve balance of water use in the Deschutes Basin. DBWC will work 

cooperatively to: 

• Build clear, consistent communication across the Deschutes Basin among water users, 

stakeholders, and the public. 

• Support water projects in the Basin that advance DBWC goals and consensus agreements. 

• Support policies that advance DBWC goals and consensus agreements, and which balance water 

needs for the Basin. 

• Develop a comprehensive Deschutes Basin Water Plan for the Basin aligned with the state of 

Oregon’s Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Planning model. 

I. DBWC GOALS 

• Primary Goals: 

o Restore stream flows and improve water quality in order to support instream beneficial 

uses including fish and wildlife and recreation. 

o Secure and maintain a reliable and affordable supply of water to sustain agriculture. 

o Secure and maintain a safe, affordable and high-quality water supply for urban 

communities. 

The DBWC will engage in the following activities to achieve the above primary goals: 

• Information sharing and coordination – Provide a venue for transparent information sharing 

and coordination of activities across the Basin. 

o This includes developing shared information and understandings among DBWC 

participants, with other stakeholders across the Basin and the state, and the public. 

Shared understanding of the issues will be critical to creating consensus on joint action. 

• Develop a Framework for Action1 for the Middle and Upper Deschutes River2 to set the stage 

for joint action. The short-term focus of the DBWC is to accelerate implementation of projects in 

the Upper and Middle Deschutes to meet instream and out of stream water supply needs. To 

facilitate this, we will develop a Framework for Action – a set of high-level consensus points and 

understandings developed in the Upper Deschutes Basin Study and other recent processes – 

with which to identify implementation actions that the DBWC could support. Development of a 

Framework for Action allows some near-term implementation “wins,” sets the stage for the 

1 The Framework for Action will help the Working Group assess if individual proposals are consistent with DBWC 

goals and agreements. However, only proposals that have been explicitly deliberated by the Working Group, and 

confirmed as per the Working Group decision-making process below, will be considered supported by the DBWC 

(i.e. a proposal that appears to be consistent with the Framework for Action may not be communicated as being 

supported by the DBWC without Working Group confirmation). 2 For the purposes of the DBWC, the Middle and Upper Deschutes is defined as that part of the Deschutes River 

upstream of Lake Billy Chinook. 

DBWC Charter – June 15, 2020 

2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

development of a longer-term Plan, allows for joint advocacy, and supports community 

education and information goals. 

The Framework for Action will include: 

o The water supply goals for instream and out of stream uses, as identified in the Upper 

Deschutes Basin Study. 

o The water supply options, as identified in the Upper Deschutes Basin Study, including 

but not limited to the following broad categories of tools: 

 Water conservation 

 Water marketing 

 Storage opportunities 

o A series of principles to guide the utilization of different water supply options. 

• Develop and Act on Consensus Points – Where it is possible for the group to reach consensus 

on basin water issues, communicate these to decision-makers and the public. This will allow for 

streamlined advocacy and the development of a “whole basin” voice for water issues. 

• Longer-Term: Create a Comprehensive Deschutes Basin Water Plan. The Plan will be designed 

to achieve the Primary Goals outlined above, and will be consistent with the State of Oregon’s 

Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Planning model, several steps of which have already 

been completed in the Upper Deschutes portion of the Basin. 

II. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER RELATED EFFORTS 

• Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) – The Deschutes Basin Board of Control and the City of 

Prineville are developing an HCP with the intent of receiving an Incidental Take Permit from the 

US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to reduce risk related to the 

Endangered Species Act. The HCP will likely set flow targets and timelines in some key reaches in 

the Deschutes Basin. These agreements will contribute to and complement implementation and 

plans that will be developed in the DBWC. 

• Watershed Plans – Central Oregon irrigation districts are developing Watershed Plans in 

partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to access federal funding for canal 

piping. These Watershed Plans will inform the DBWC by providing details around large-scale 

piping priorities in each district. 

• The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and the state of Oregon convened a Water 

Summit in the fall of 2018 that brought partners in the basin together to share and coordinate 

around basin water management issues. It is anticipated that future (possibly annual) Water 

Summits will be an ongoing outcome of this effort and an important way for the DBWC to 

coordinate and communicate across the entire Deschutes Basin. 

• Upper Deschutes Habitat Restoration - Basin restoration partners are creating a strategic action 

plan that will integrate flow and physical habitat restoration actions in the Upper Deschutes 

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geography. This effort will inform an integrated restoration plan by providing details around the 

streamflow restoration component of the plan. 

• WaterSmart - Central Oregon Irrigation District, DRC and other interested partners will be 

working on developing water marketing strategies under a Reclamation WaterSmart grant. This 

work will inform the water marketing component of this effort. 

• Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Planning – This new Oregon framework could yield 

opportunities for DBWC efforts. The Basin Study Working Group process has essentially 

completed 4 of the 5 steps, and building a Plan will complete it. 

III. PROCESS STRUCTURE 

The DBWC has a two-tiered structure to guide actions: 1) A Planning Team that will facilitate 

deliberation on key issues, set agendas, develop proposals, and keep the process moving; and 2) the 

Deschutes Basin Working Group that will allow for very broad stakeholder engagement in the process 

and outcomes. 

Phase 1 Upper and Middle Deschutes Implementation Planning Team 

The Planning Team will deliberate on issues and develop recommendations, help set the agendas for 

Deschutes Basin Working Group meetings, and steer the effort. The Planning Team will include the 

following interests, with one seat each unless otherwise noted – every effort has been made to ensure 

balanced representation of key interests on the Planning Team: 

• Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (two seats) 

• Irrigation Districts (three seats – designated by the Deschutes Basin Board of Control) 

• Deschutes River Conservancy 

• Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council 

• Central Oregon Cities Organization (COCO) 

• Counties (three seats, representing Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties) 

• Environmental organizations with a stake in Deschutes Basin stream flow (three seats) 

• Agency Representatives (advisory; non-voting) In addition, the DBWC requests the participation 

of the following agencies, as available and appropriate, to provide important technical, 

regulatory, and programmatic context: OR Water Resources Department, US Bureau of 

Reclamation, Oregon Governor’s Office, USF&W, USFS, ODF&W, OR DEQ, NMFS, ODA, NRCS, 

and BLM. 

While the focus of the Phase 1 Planning Team is implementation in the Upper Deschutes, basin-wide 

and state-wide interests are welcome to participate in Planning Team meetings. Further, the DBWC will 

actively encourage whole-basin engagement with this effort. 

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Deschutes Basin Working Group 

The Working Group includes Planning Team members as well as the rest of the stakeholders that wish to 

serve and be involved in the process, subject to the membership guidelines stated below. As a starting 

point, organizations that were members of the Basin Study Working Group and organizations 

represented on the Planning Team will automatically be invited to participate on the Working Group. 

The Working Group will review information and proposals developed by the Planning Team, and will 

serve as the ultimate decision-maker for the DBWC. The Working Group can also propose items for 

discussion by the Planning Team (i.e. proposals can come from the Working Group or from the Planning 

Team). Every effort will be made to ensure balanced representation of interests on the Working Group. 

Following is a list of organization that are automatically members of the Deschutes Basin Working 

Group, categorized by their primary interest in water, if they confirm their desire to become members. 

The Planning Team will invite these organizations to designate a representative and an alternate to 

represent it at Working Group meetings. Alternates are expected to have an up-to-date understanding 

of the work of the Working Group so they can fully participate when called on to do so. 

Environmental and Instream: 

Central Oregon Flyfishers 

Central Oregon LandWatch 

Coalition for the Deschutes 

Deschutes River Conservancy 

Great Old Broads for Wilderness 

Native Reintroduction Network 

Oregon Land & Water Alliance 

Sunriver Anglers 

Trout Unlimited 

Upper Deschutes Watershed 

Council 

WaterWatch of Oregon 

Broad/General Interests 

Confederated Tribes of Warm 

Springs 

Central Oregon 

Intergovernmental Council 

Crook County 

Deschutes County 

Jefferson County 

Crooked River Watershed 

Council 

Agricultural Interests: 

Arnold Irrigation District 

Central Oregon Irrigation 

District 

Lone Pine Irrigation District 

North Unit Irrigation District 

Ochoco Irrigation District 

Swalley Irrigation District 

Three Sisters Irrigation District 

Tumalo Irrigation District 

Water for Life 

Agencies/Regulatory 

NMFS/NOAA Fisheries 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Oregon Department of 

Agriculture 

Oregon Dept. of 

Environmental Quality 

Oregon Department of Fish & 

Wildlife 

Oregon Governor’s Office 

Oregon Water Resources 

Department 

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 

U.S. Bureau of Land 

Management 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

U.S. Forest Service 

Community/Drinking Water 

Interests: 

Avion Water Company 

Central Oregon Cities 

Organization 

City of Bend 

City of La Pine 

City of Madras 

City of Prineville 

City of Redmond 

Other Interests 

Bend Paddle Trail Alliance 

Deschutes Soil and Water 

Conservation District 

Portland General Electric 

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The DBWC will also solicit the participation of three “general public” seats available to residents with no 

formal stake in Deschutes Basin water management issues. These seats will be filled through an open 

and inclusive application process. 

The Facilitator or support staff will communicate with any member whose representative(s) do not 

attend a meeting(s). If a member organization does not participate in two consecutive meetings, they 

may not participate in decision-making again until they have participated in at least two of the prior four 

meetings. The Facilitator is responsible for keeping track of members, approved representatives, and 

attendance records. 

One representative or alternate from each member organization will sit at the table, participate in the 

discussion, and participate in decision-making. The representative at the table may call on her or his 

alternate to speak when that representative is recognized by a Co-Chair or Facilitator. 

Requesting to Join the Working Group 

Additional organizations may join the Working Group, subject to the following process. Interested 

organizations should email the Facilitator a request to join the Working Group with the following 

information: 

• The names of a representative and alternate. 

• A statement explaining: 

o How the petitioning organization represents an interest that is not represented on the 

Working Group; OR 

o If the interest is already represented at the table, a statement demonstrating that the 

Working Group membership is unbalanced and should include more organizations 

representing the interest of the petitioning organization. 

The Working Group will then determine through the decision making process outlined below if the 

petitioning organization may join. The Planning Team or Working Group may also decide to proactively 

invite individuals and organizations to join the Working Group or Planning Team. 

DBWC Chair 

The DBWC will be served by a Chair or Co-Chairs determined by the Working Group. 

The Chair role is as follows: 

• Convene meetings and invite participants to the DBWC. 

• Speak on behalf of the DBWC, as appropriate and only regarding approved decisions 

• Help decide on DBWC’s internal funding and staffing issues 

• Strive to invest in meeting all participants’ needs. 

• Help resolve conflicts 

• Help secure resources and political support for implementation of agreed-upon actions 

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Subcommittees 

The Planning Team or Deschutes Basin Working Group may develop subcommittees as desired and 

needed. 

Facilitation, Coordination and Administration, and Technical Information Support 

The DBWC is served by three primary types of staff support: 1) an experienced, trusted facilitator, who 

should not have a personal or organizational stake in the outcomes of the process; 2) coordination and 

administration services, including correspondence, meeting materials, outreach/press releases, grant 

administration and reporting, etc.; and 3) technical information support to provide data and technical 

knowledge resources. 

Regular Engagement with Senior Government Officials 

The DBWC will benefit from regular engagement with senior officials at Oregon Water Resources, the 

Governor’s Office, the Bureau of Reclamation, or other agencies via the Planning Team, the Working 

Group, as well as in other venues. The Facilitator, Technical Coordinator, Co-Chairs, or others designated 

by the Planning Team may engage with senior governments, legislators, etc. to represent the interests 

of the DBWC, but may only speak to DBWC agreements as per the guidelines in Section VIII of this 

Charter. 

IV. STAFFING ROLES 

COIC will provide facilitation, process, and coordination support. DRC will provide technical information 

support and project development/solutions. DBWC will employ contractors for additional technical 

support, as needed, and advocacy/lobbying efforts. 

V. BUDGET 

Following is a first-year budget for 2020. It does not include costs to staff subcommittees, develop a 

Comprehensive Upper Deschutes Basin Water Plan, nor lobbying/advocacy services, if needed. 

Facilitation and Coordination (COIC) = $30,000/year 

Technical Support/Project Development concepts (DRC) = $55,000/year 

Outreach = $15,000/year 

Potential Revenue Sources: 

• Local contributions 

• OWEB, OCF, BOR etc. grants 

VI. DECISION-MAKING 

Goal of Decision-Making Process 

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The goal of the DBWC decision-making process is to promote completion of the DBWC Goals as 

described above, to be open and inclusive, to encourage diverse viewpoints, and to strive for full 

consensus without demanding it in order to move forward. 

DBWC Planning Team: 

a) The DBWC Planning Team operates by full consensus. No member has the authority to make 

decisions for the full Planning Team. In the spirit of collaboration, members agree to do their best 

to meet the interests of all members. 

b) No formal votes will be taken. Each member organization receives one set of red, yellow, and green 

cards at each meeting. When asked by the Facilitator to indicate their level of agreement for a 

proposal, members will hold up one card. The green card indicates the member fully supports the 

proposal, the yellow card indicates that the member can accept the proposal, and the red card 

indicates that the proposal is not acceptable because the member has serious reservations. 

c) If a red or yellow card is presented, the Planning Team will make time to hear the concerns of the 

individual(s), discuss, and then engage in decision-making again by holding up cards. 

d) Consensus on the Planning Team means that no one member holds up a red card, after every 

attempt has been made to address the concerns of all members. 

e) Only consensus agreements will move forward under the DBWC Planning Team. 

f) Planning Team members will make meaningful efforts to engage others with other organizations 

that share similar interests in order to improve the chance that Planning Team recommendations 

will be broadly supported by the Working Group. 

g) Planning Team agendas and materials, including any requests for support or other proposals, will 

be delivered to members at least one week in advance of all meetings. 

DBWC Working Group: 

a) The DBWC Working Group seeks to make full consensus decisions. No member has the authority 

to make decisions for the full DBWC. In the spirit of collaboration, members agree to do their best 

to meet the interests of all members. 

b) When first considering a decision, no formal votes will be taken. Each member organization 

receives one set of red, yellow, and green cards at each meeting. When asked by the Facilitator to 

indicate their level of agreement for a proposal, members will hold up one card. The green card 

indicates the member fully supports the proposal, the yellow card indicates that the member can 

accept the proposal, and the red card indicates that the proposal is not acceptable because the 

member has serious reservations. 

c) Full consensus means that no member holds up or sends in a red card, after every attempt has 

been made to address the concerns of all members. 

d) If a red or yellow card is presented, the Working Group will make time to hear the concerns of the 

individual(s), discuss, and then engage in decision-making again by holding up cards. 

e) If the Working Group is unable to achieve full consensus, as defined in c) immediately above: 

i. The proposal or issue will be sent to the Planning Team for consideration and discussion 

at their next meeting, and individuals involved in the issue at hand may be invited to 

participate in the Planning Team meeting, or to meet and deliberate on their own. The 

Planning Team will then decide to either modify the proposal under consideration or 

leave it unchanged and send it back to the Working Group. 

ii. At the next Working Group meeting, the item under consideration will again be 

presented for decision-making via a show of cards. 

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a. The Co-Chair or Facilitator will again ask for a showing of cards. If 90% or more 

of the voting members present show a green or yellow card, the decision will 

be affirmed as a super-majority decision of the DBWC. 

b. The record of decision and any future communication of the decision will 

include notation that it was not made by full consensus, but rather by a 

percentage of vote (90% or more). 

c. Any persons that showed red cards will have the opportunity to provide a 

written explanation of their disagreement on the decision, which will be 

included in the record. 

d. Working Group members that oppose a DBWC decision by displaying a red 

card are not constrained from communicating or otherwise acting upon that 

opposition. 

f) Working Group agendas and materials, including any requests for support or other proposals, will 

be delivered to members at least one week in advance of all meetings. 

Absences 

a) If a member in good standing of either the Planning Team or Working Group is unable to attend a 

meeting in person, they may send their alternate, who may participate in decision-making. If 

neither the member nor the alternate may participate in person, they may participate via the 

web (audio/video/materials) meeting link. Participants that need assistance will be trained in 

how to participate in DBWC meetings via the web. Members that do not participate in person or 

via web link may not participate in decision-making. 

Special Circumstance 

a) Subcommittees 

i. Subcommittees operate by consensus, with the same definition of consensus as 

described for the Planning Team above. 

ii. No member has the authority to make unilateral decisions for the Subcommittee. 

iii. No Subcommittee has the authority to make decisions for the Planning Team or Working 

Group. 

iv. If a Subcommittee is unable to agree on a proposal, it can send alternatives to the 

Planning Team or Working Group for a decision. 

VII. COMMITMENTS AND GROUND RULES 

Meeting Participation and Management 

a) Planning Team, Working Group, and Subcommittee members agree to: 

i. Attend meetings, or arrange for another representative of the organization to attend, 

as much as possible. 

ii. Fully participate in meetings and articulate the views of their organization and 

constituents. (Constituents are stakeholders, members, or board members of an 

organization; or colleagues, subordinates, and superiors at an agency.) 

iii. Keep their constituents fully informed about the deliberations and actively seek their 

input, so they can understand and support the decisions made by the group. 

iv. Strive to bridge gaps in understanding, seek creative resolution of differences, and 

commit to the goal of achieving consensus. 

v. Be willing to engage in respectful, constructive dialogue with other members. 

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vi. Recognize that open discussion is vital to a collaborative process, and commit to 

expressing their views and concerns in advance of a decision being made. 

vii. Arrive at the meetings fully prepared to discuss items on the agenda. Preparation 

includes reviewing meeting notes and other materials sent in advance. 

viii. Support any full consensus decisions made, and refrain from negative comments about 

items that were agreed to by full consensus. 

ix. Bring copies of their meeting agenda and materials to the meetings to save on copying 

expenses. 

x. Comply with the provisions of this Charter, and help remind others of its provisions to 

encourage compliance by everyone. 

b) Members of the public 

i. Planning Team and Working Group meetings are open to the public. Anyone is welcome 

to attend and observe the meetings. 

ii. Seating away from the table will be provided for members of the public. 

iii. At designated times during Working Group meetings, members of the public may be 

invited to address the Working Group. The Working Group may also elect to solicit 

written comments from the public. 

c) Facilitator (as appointed by the Planning Team) 

i. Facilitates both the Planning Team and the Working Group. 

ii. Assists in addressing conflict among the Planning Team and the Working Group 

members, during and between meetings. 

iii. While facilitating meetings, may ask questions and follow up. 

iv. Keeps notes on flipchart paper or on screen to ensure that decisions being made are 

clear to everyone. 

v. Generates draft meeting notes for review by the Planning Team or Working Group, 

ensuring they include key points of discussion as well as items of agreement and 

disagreement. 

vi. Keeps a “parking lot” for issues that are not addressed in a meeting. 

vii. Assists in building consensus among members. 

viii. Reminds members of the provisions of this Charter to encourage compliance. 

ix. Serves as a confidential channel of communication for members and observers who 

wish to express views and do not wish to address the full group. 

x. Advocates for a fair, effective, and credible process, while remaining completely neutral 

as to the outcome of the deliberations. 

d) Technical Coordinator (as appointed by the Planning Team) 

i. Provide technical information and support to the Planning Team, Working Group, and 

subcommittees. This may include: 

a. Packaging existing information from the Basin Study and other previous 

planning studies 

b. Serving as liaison between related implementation efforts, such as the 

WaterSmart water marketing grant, on-farm program development efforts, 

temporary groundwater mitigation banking etc. 

c. Compiling technical information into draft plans/programs 

d. Supporting DBWC with project/program development related to 

implementation 

i. Facilitate the “warehousing” and dissemination of technical information 

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ii. Generate additional technical information as requested and/or enlist the support of 

partner agencies or consultants to do so as necessary. 

iii. Communicate technical information to external partners, decision-makers or the public 

as requested. 

iv. Work closely with the facilitator to ensure technical components reflect an inclusive and 

consensus-based approach. 

Communication 

a) Planning Team and Working Group members agree to: 

i. Recognize that all members bring with them their own legitimate purposes and goals 

from their perspective or on behalf of their organizations. 

ii. Recognize the legitimacy of the goals of others, and assume that their goals will also be 

respected. 

iii. Get curious, instead of irritated, when someone says something they disagree with. 

iv. Listen carefully; ask questions to understand and to get others’ perspectives. 

v. Make statements to explain or educate, and help others understand their perspective, 

assumptions, reasoning, and intent. 

vi. Share all relevant information. 

vii. Use specific examples and make sure everyone agrees on the meaning of important 

words. 

viii. Request a break if needed. Stakeholder groups can request a break in order to caucus 

among themselves. 

ix. Avoid engaging in side conversations and working on email or texting during meetings. 

x. Bring it up at a meeting, or talk privately with the Chair or Facilitator, if they are having 

difficulty with another member or with the process. 

b) Other communication 

i. Planning Team and Working Group meetings are open to the public and are noticed to 

Planning Team members, Working Group members, and others who indicate an 

interest. 

ii. Planning Team and Working Group final meeting notes will be sent to all members and 

other interested parties. 

iii. Draft Planning Team and Working Group meeting notes, including a list of those who 

attended, will be sent to all members after each meeting. Approval of the notes will 

occur at the following meeting, with changes made by consensus of the Planning Team 

or Working Group. 

News Media 

a) All meetings are open to the news media. 

b) Outside of meetings, members are free to make statements to the media regarding their own 

opinions and consensus decisions by the Planning Team or Working Group; however, they agree 

not to attribute statements to others involved in the process or represent others’ interests. 

c) If members of the media interview Planning Team or Working Group members, those members 

are encouraged to alert the Planning Team or Working Group through the Facilitator. They are 

also encouraged to recommend that the reporter talk to the Working Group Chair or Co-Chairs, if 

any, and notify the Chair. 

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d) If an article or report appears that misquotes or inaccurately represents a member, that individual 

should inform the group of that occurrence as soon as possible. 

Failure to Abide by the Commitments and Ground Rules 

Members of the Working Group or Planning Team may be removed from the DBWC if they are found to 

have violated the above Commitments and Ground Rules, subject to the following process: 

a) A member of the Working Group, Planning Team, or DBWC staff informs the Facilitator or CoChairs, of the alleged violation. 

b) The Co-Chair or facilitator will then set up a meeting with the member to discuss the concern, and 

the member is placed on probation and precluded from any DBWC decision-making until the 

situation is resolved. 

c) The Working Group may then determine, using their decision-making protocol above, to: 

i. remove the person from probation, or 

ii. to terminate their membership in the DBWC. 

The Working Group shall have full discretion in these matters, including the period of time that a 

member remains on probation, any additional steps in the process (e.g. fact-finding, meetings to resolve 

the issue, etc.) or immediate termination of the member if the conduct is considered serious enough to 

warrant such. 

VIII. CHANGES TO THE CHARTER 

This Charter can be amended at any time by consensus decision of the Working Group. 

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DBWC Values Statements 

The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative values: 

- Action – We are working together to implement solutions. 

- Diverse and fair representation – We are committed to ensuring that all voices and perspectives 

have a seat at the table, and that, at the DBWC table, no interests are in a position of power 

relative to others. 

- Clarity of purpose – We will keep a clear focus on the goals of this effort, and will not duplicate 

or cloud other efforts and processes. 

- Mutual benefit – We are working on actions that will serve the needs and interests of all 

stakeholders, as defined in the Goals. We therefore also commit to collaborate in good faith, 

together. 

- Honest communication regarding outcomes – We ensure that all perspectives are accurately 

reflected in any communication regarding DBWC outcomes, outreach, advocacy, etc. 

- An wholistic view – We approach implementation in a wholistic manner and do not “cherry 

pick” actions to pursue in a vacuum. 

- Early successes – We commit to achieving tangible wins early in the process. 

- Sustainability – We will balance ecological goals with economic and community/social realities 

for each participating organization and the Basin as a whole. 

- Valuing the time and resources of our partners – We are focused on productive and engaged 

meetings that steadily move us towards implementation. 

- Steady commitment – We commit to staying engaged with this process, even during the tough 

times. 

- Transparency and information sharing – We provide accessible, credible, and timely information 

to each other, other stakeholders, and the public. This includes engagement and information 

sharing across the entire Basin, with stakeholders in other Basins, and with decision makers and 

stakeholders in Salem, Portland, etc. 

- Honesty – We commit to telling our truth and being open about our issues and concerns as well 

as hopes and goals. 

- Sustainable capacity – We will work together to make sure that this process has the resources 

needed to achieve our goals. 

- Honoring prior work and momentum – We build on previous information, outcomes, and 

processes and aim to keep that momentum (e.g. BSWG). We will revisit/revise prior work only 

when there is new information or new issues to address. 

- Creativity and flexibility – We are open to trying new solutions to getting our needs met and our 

interests served. 

- Science/evidence-based decision making – We commit to using scientifically valid and 

evidentiary information to help make decisions. 

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