Deschutes Basin Restoration Priorities
At the Deschutes Coordinating Group meeting on September 12 at the Madras Fire Hall, stakeholders gathered to discuss and develop a basin wide short list of restoration priorities for fish and wildlife. The meeting was spurred by a request from the Council for sub-basin planning groups to provide resource priorities in advance of a November project funding solicitation. In assessing priorities, the Council stressed the need to adhere to the restoration priorities developed in the sub-basin plan.
The meeting also provided the Deschutes Coordinating Group its first opportunity to discuss the Deschutes Sub-Basin Plan following review of the plan by the Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP).
The Group developed five general restoration priorities with the requested focus on areas of fish habitat, wildlife habitat, and hatchery production:
- Restore/increase in-stream and riparian diversity and complexity through the interaction of the stream and floodplain. (Fish & Wildlife)
- Increase minimum stream flows. (Fish)
- Increase water infiltration, retention, and soil stability in the uplands. (Fish & Wildlife)
- Connect favorable habitats including fish screening and fish passage assistance. (Fish)
- Support and enhance natural reproduction through hatcheries. (Hatchery)
In the course of the present meeting discussion, the Deschutes Coordinating Group chose general priority areas rather than specific program or geographic priorities. Additional study of the sub-basin plan and its additions, the funding solicitation, and group discussion will be needed to develop restoration strategies for the basin. An additional meeting will be needed to reach consensus on general priority areas.
(See meeting attendees: 10k PDF)