Savage in Bend: Exposing the Quirks that Make Central Oregon Unique

Hello readers!

Let’s dive right into our question.

Sherri, a longtime local resident, asks,

“When I was a kid, it was illegal to swim in the Deschutes River in Bend. Yet now, thousands of people float the river and swim all summer long. What makes it safer today?”

What good is such a beautiful river if you can’t play in it? Kidding. Hopefully, we all know the Deschutes River is more than a place to recreate. This important waterway is the lifeblood of our region.

Long before paddleboards, giant yellow duck floats and fearless surfers were ubiquitous on the Deschutes, indigenous tribes, including the Warm Springs, Wasco, Klamath and Paiute, used the river for generations. French fur traders first named it Des chutes meaning “of the falls.” Pioneers also used it as a route to and from the Columbia River. Today, much of the upper Deschutes is diverted to irrigate local farmland. In fact, with the rapidly growing population of our area, the water is overallocated, but let’s save that issue for another article.

All clues point to one major reason why swimming was illegal – the lumber mills. Most everyone knows at least a bit of history about the Brooks-Scanlon and Shevlin-Hixon empires. In those days the mills were the main economy of the region, but their presence came with a heavy cost: a dirty Deschutes.

The mills operated on both sides of the Deschutes. They used tugs and often dredged the river, which had many harmful environmental consequences. A friend of mine who grew up here shared stories about how you best be careful not to step on the rebar sticking out of the ground. Parents used scare tactics to warn their kids about the dangers, often referring to the “River of No Return,” a popular movie of the era starring Marilyn Monroe. “The Bulletin” told of “leg sucking silt deposits,” and the city warned of up to a $500 fine and even imprisonment.

Basically, it was an industrial site. Who would want to swim in that stuff?!

Times were different, but it must have been pretty awesome to watch a Pond Monkey in action with his peavy (a heavy wooden lever with a metal tip and hook). These were the guys who jumped from log to log to keep logs from jamming the river and guide them into the intake. Quite the talent and a dangerous job, for sure.

The last log in the mills was cut in 1994. Afterward, an effort to clean up the river began when Bill Smith purchased a good portion of the land. His vision was to transform it into a mixed-used development area that would be the heart of Bend, what we now know as the Old Mill District. The process also included riparian restoration and other projects along the river to reverse the environmental damage after many years of industry. Bend Park and Recreation District contributed to the revitalization as well. Through grants and bonds, BPRD restored many areas and created popular spots like the small beach at Farewell Bend, Riverbend Park and the Whitewater Park.

The Old Mill opened to the public in 2000, but from all the accounts I’ve been researching, people didn’t waste time to get in the river as soon as it was somewhat cleaner. Humans will be humans, and nothing beats the river on a hot day.

Though not as dirty as the days when the mills operated, the Deschutes River can still be dangerous. According to one source, 11 people have died in the river since 2011. Life jackets and other floatation devices are encouraged. Diving or jumping off a bridge into a river or canal is still prohibited and can result in a Class B civil infraction.

To learn more about the river and its diverse benefits for the region, consider joining groups like the Deschutes River Conservancy or the Deschutes River Alliance, stewards of Central Oregon’s most important waterway. For a fun perspective of the river, follow Loot the Deschutes on Instagram.

Most importantly, remember the Deschutes River is the lifeblood of Central Oregon. Respect and protect it.

– Questions for Savage? Email savageglobetrotters@gmail.com.

This article appears in Source Weekly October 31, 2024.