Go Pumpkin Patches Fall has arrived and with it piles of pumpkins in the grocery stores, but where’s the fun in that? Celebrate fall by visiting one—or both—of the great pumpkin patches Central Oregon has to offer. Smith Rock Ranch has amusement for all ages with an intricate corn maze (Batman-themed this year), seasonal produce, […]
Deschutes River
Posted inNews
Stuck in the Muck
Mirror Pond’s owners ask DEQ to step in against the city
A local investor group, Mirror Pond Solutions, is calling for the City of Bend to take more action to address the problem of sediment buildup in Mirror Pond. The City of Bend is calling into question the methods by which that group is basing its claims. On July 29, Jason Conger, attorney for Mirror Pond […]
Posted inNews
In Search of a Cooler River
Deschutes River Alliance files suit against PGE
To the average houseboater dipping her toes in Lake Billy Chinook, the water might feel relatively warm and inviting. Well below the surface, however, the temperatures take a nosedive. The frigid waters of the Metolius River flow into the reservoir and sink to the bottom, while the warm waters of the Crooked River stay near […]
Posted inNews
Upper Deschutes Watershed Council River Clean-up
While we have been busy wringing our hands about the river trash, Upper Deschutes Watershed Council has been busy doing something about it. The local river stewards coordinate the annual Deschutes River Clean-up, and Kolleen Miller, the group’s Education Director, confirms that, “We have watched the problem increase exponentially over the past six years. Last […]
Posted inOpinion
Mirror Pond Dam
Now that PacificPower has announced it's planning to keep the Mirror Pond dam after all, we can all breath a temporary sigh of relief. While in some quarters this decision by the energy company has upended the apple cart of “progress” on Mirror Pond, for those who share the sentiment that the best solution for […]
Posted inNews
River Trash: Whose Mess Is It, Anyway?
The great debate of social responsibility vs. district duties continues
Trash. Garbage. Refuse. Waste. Litter goes by many names and comes in many forms, but whatever you call it, during the summer season in Bend, it is becoming more and more prevalent. As sun-seeking tourists and residents alike flood the river with inflatable fiestas, garbage is accumulating in their wake. The associated raft rentals, snow […]
Posted inOpinion
Taking Responsibility for River Trash
Local government and businesses have rolled out the red carpet for river runners. Parks and Rec launched the Ride the River shuttle long before we had a public bus system. Sun Country Tours rents float tubes to families at Riverbend Park Beach. Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe has helped create a veritable SUP armada on […]
Posted inOutside
The Other End of The Deschutes
Head North for early season hiking
With the Deschutes River running straight through town and the Cascades just beyond, it’s no secret that Central Oregon is an outdoor lover’s paradise. The Cascade Lakes Highway and Three Sisters Wilderness are just a few miles away, providing easily accessible world-class skiing in winter and top-notch hiking in summer. But as with most things, […]
Posted inNews
The Economic Beat of Warm Springs
Innovation promises security on the reservation
Located a little more than an hour north of Bend, The Warm Springs Reservation consists of approximately 1,000 square miles of land. The area is serene, with the Deschutes River running through the middle—a perfect tranquil setting. But life hasn’t always been easy here. With an estimated 6,500 people living on the reservation—and fewer than […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters 5/25-6/1
Help Hillary Trounce Trump When Tom Freedman (May 5) and Don Schuman (May 12) are done celebrating Bernie Sanders’ Oregon primary victory, they and the rest of Bernie’s movement must quit demonizing Hillary Clinton and elect her to the Presidency. Tom condemns Hillary as a stealth Republican. This is Naderite false equivalency. No Republican has such […]
