Oregon spotted frog
Posted inNews

Dam Drought

The Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan was approved in December with the goal of increasing instream flows in the river. Then another drought year happened.
Avatar photo by Jack Harvel

Last summer the Wickiup Reservoir dried to just 1% of its capacity, the lowest it has been since it was built in 1949. In an average year the reservoir, which stores Deschutes River water, would be at about 25% of its capacity at the end of irrigation season, with just over 63,000 acre-feet. Last year’s […]

Posted inNews

Oregon Spotted Frog

Respecting the Endangered Species Act
Brian Jennings

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 inOpinion

The Slipper 12/23-12/30

The Source Staff

Reclaiming the River To say that water is the lifeblood of Central Oregon is an understatement. So it’s understandable that any threat—real or perceived—to people’s ability to use water in the ways they are accustomed to meets with resistance. But water is not an unlimited resource and, as demands on that resource increase it’s imperative […]

Posted inNews

Out to Dry

WaterWatch puts irrigation districts on notice over frog deaths
Avatar photo Erin Rook

WaterWatch of Oregon says that agencies responsible for management of the Crane Prairie, Wickiup, and Crescent Lake dams and reservoirs are causing harm to the threatened Oregon spotted frog. And if they don’t take action to comply with federal law, the conservation organization intends to sue. The 60-day notice filed by WaterWatch on August 12 […]

Posted inNews

Frog Out of Water

Decreased water levels at Colorado Dam threaten endangered species
Avatar photo Erin Rook

The delicate balance between human-driven development and wildlife conservation came to a head last month when the extraction of the Colorado Avenue Dam caused an unexpected drop in water levels in the adjacent marsh, threatening the habitat of the endangered Oregon spotted frog. “When they pulled the dam out, it pulled the water out of […]

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