“Your Voices Resonated” Highlights from the DRA Community in 2024
The river we love, showing off its sublime winter coat.
A Pivotal Year
As we reflect on the past year at the Deschutes River Alliance (DRA), it is with great pride that we share the many accomplishments our collective efforts have achieved. This year has been instrumental in advancing our mission to protect and restore the lower Deschutes River, and we could not have made these strides without your unwavering support. Click here to make your contribution to the Deschutes River Alliance.
Earning the Ear of the Governor’s office
One of the most significant achievements has been the mobilization of nearly 1,000 supporters who actively contacted Governor Kotek, urging her to take action in saving the lower Deschutes River. Your voices resonated, leading to a crucial meeting with the Governor’s top conservation staffer. This engagement is a remarkable step forward, and we are excited about the opportunities it presents. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this vital conversation.
Galvanizing support
DRA has also played a pivotal role in uniting various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in our shared commitment to the lower Deschutes River. This unprecedented collaboration marks the first time we have presented a united front, strengthening our advocacy and amplifying our message. Together, we can achieve more, and this solidarity sets the foundation for our future endeavors.
However, our work is just beginning. In the coming year, we will intensify our efforts to organize and galvanize our supporters to maintain pressure on the Governor to take decisive action. It is crucial that we do not allow any future Interim Agreements to emerge. These backdoor deals between PGE and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) compromise our ability to protect the river. Since their inception in 2011, these agreements have undermined the publicly negotiated original operating plans, and we are committed to preventing their continuation.
Additionally, we are preparing for the upcoming update of the Water Quality Management and Monitoring Plan, which will occur after the implementation of the new aquatic life rules. This critical document dictates the operational framework for the project on the Deschutes River, and DRA has been actively monitoring the DEQ’s Aquatic Life Rules Update process. Your engagement has already proven impactful, as the collective efforts of over 300 supporters writing to the DEQ helped us halt the proposed relaxation of the pH standard on the Crooked River. This is an essential issue that we must continue to address, and together we will ensure the best outcomes for our river.
Cooler, Cleaner H20: Help us get there in 2025
None of this important work could happen without the steadfast support from each of you. Your letters, emails, and postcards create a significant impact, fueling our advocacy efforts. Furthermore, your financial contributions empower us to provide high-quality scientific research and the necessary tools to advocate for the Deschutes River that we all cherish. Help us help the lower Deschutes. Donate, please.
As we move forward, we remain grateful for your commitment and partnership. We will continue to fight for the health of the lower Deschutes River, ensuring it remains a vibrant resource for generations to come.
Thank you for standing with us.
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How to Support the DRA
Everyone wants clean, healthy water in the Deschutes River. Oregonians cherish our clean and healthy waterways to provide drinking water, wildlife habitat and recreational activities. The lower Deschutes River is a federally designated Wild & Scenic River, and a national treasure. It must be protected for the environmental and economic health of Central Oregon. We believe by working together we can return the lower Deschutes River to full health.
