Bend, Oregon – The U.S. Department of Interior announced on June 9th a $750,000 WaterSMART grant to the Deschutes Basin Board of Control (seven irrigation districts) working with a broad coalition of interests, called the Deschutes Basin Study Work Group (Basin Study Group), for the development of a “Basin-Study.” The federal grant, coupled with a $750,000 State of Oregon grant, will enable this broad coalition to manage $1.5 million for an evaluation of the potential effects of climate change on water supplies, and constructive steps to address the future water needs of cities, farmers, and fish and wildlife in Oregon’s iconic Deschutes Basin. This is one of only three comprehensive river basin studies funded in the U.S.  Read More...