River Solitude Where does one find solitude on a nearby river? The Deschutes River, of course, is one answer. Tumalo Creek is another. The Bend Park & Recreation District (BPRD) is offering an adult, full-day, 9-mile Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe paddle tour that will traverse flat water and offer ample opportunities to view wildlife. […]
Deschutes River
Posted inNews
Oregon Spotted Frog
Respecting the Endangered Species Act
A group that has worked to restore upper basin flows in the Deschutes River says short-term steps must be taken immediately to improve habitat for the endangered spotted frog. The Coalition for the Deschutes was formed in 1985 as a not-for-profit corporation to protect the economic, recreational and environmental future of the Deschutes River basin. […]
Posted inOutside
Wildflowers in Springtime
Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge
Seasoned Oregon hikers and backpackers will often advise taking springtime hikes because they offer cooler weather and often an endless array of wildflowers, particularly in the Columbia River Gorge area. Deschutes River State Recreation Area The Deschutes River State Recreation Area is a very popular place for hiking. Located about 10 miles east of The […]
Posted inOpinion
Editorial: A Voice for Jefferson County
A lawsuit pertaining to the upper Deschutes River between Wickiup Reservoir and the City of Bend is ongoing. Last week, a federal judge denied the request of two major environmental groups to require immediate changes to water flow, which varies drastically with the irrigation season. The joint lawsuit, based on the federally-protected Oregon spotted frog, […]
Posted inOutside
Winter Fishing
High season for Steelhead
Fishing isn’t confined to fair weather months in the Bend area. It takes a little more grit, but the rewards of winter solitude and communing with nature often result in some great fishing. For those who want to chase Bull Trout or Rainbow, winter presents some of the best fly-fishing options available in Central Oregon […]
Posted inNews
Don’t Love That Dirty Water
Construction and tourist debris flood the Deschutes
Last month, Jaik Goff was fishing on the Deschutes when he saw a large piece of black plastic floating downstream from the Colorado Whitewater Project. He quickly sprung into action, grabbed ahold of a sheet of construction material he says was 20-by-30 feet. and dragged it to the shore. After heaving it onto the riverbank, […]
Posted inNews
Mirror Pond Proposal Leverages Public-Private Partnership for Downtown Development
The Mirror Pond Ad-Hoc Committee unveiled its Mirror Pond and Downtown Redevelopment Concept Friday afternoon to a packed room in the Bend Park and Rec District office. The proposal goes beyond addressing the failing Newport Dam and the local landmark that is Mirror Pond, and offers a vision for redeveloping the downtown area—both to better […]
Posted inNews
What A Long and Twisting River It Has Been
Financial report doesn’t clear up murky decision-making for Mirror Pond
Like the Deschutes River itself, it would appear that nothing to do with the decision about whether to keep the Newport Avenue Dam—the structure that creates Mirror Pond—is ever straightforward. For the past several years, it has been a tug-of-war with sentimental emotions to keep the iconic pond, and environmental considerations to blow the dam […]
Posted inOutside
What the Fish Are Eating
It is feeding time for salmon and trout
Peter Bowers is the high-energy and disarmingly friendly owner of The Patient Angler, a popular fly fishing shop along Bend’s Third St. The store is tidy and small, barely the length of a standard river fishing boat. But within the small space is both a wealth of knowledge and enough fishing flies to reel in […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Clearly Marked
Sign project aims to mitigate damage to public lands
The Deschutes Paddle Trail is a stunning stretch of nature, skirting along the twisty river, and ducking in and out of fir forests. But that beauty also creates a paradox: The Deschutes River’s beauty attracts hordes of visitors, but not all manage to preserve its natural habitat, trampling off-trail plants and unintentionally damaging adjacent land. […]
