Deschutes River Focus of 'Home Waters' Speaker Series

Central Oregon Community College and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council host annual event on local water resources

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:01pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Central Oregon Community College's community education department and the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council are hosting the fourth annual 'Learn About Your Home Waters' speaker series, a multi-week event focused on topics of water use, water conservation, fish reintroduction and habitat restoration along the Deschutes River. The series includes evening presentations at the High Desert Museum and full-day field trips to locations like Wickiup Reservoir, La Pine State Park and Round Butte Dam.

Why it matters

The Deschutes River is a vital natural resource for the Central Oregon region, providing water for agriculture, recreation, and wildlife. The speaker series aims to educate the community on efforts to protect and restore the Deschutes watershed through collaborative projects.

The details

The 'Learn About Your Home Waters' speaker series features presentations from specialists at organizations like the Deschutes River Conservancy, the North Unit Irrigation District, U.S. Forest Service, city of Bend, Portland General Electric, Think Wild and the University of Oregon. The series includes four evening lectures at the High Desert Museum and two full-day field trips to locations along the Deschutes River.

  • The fourth annual 'Learn About Your Home Waters' speaker series begins on April 23, 2026.
  • The series runs every other week through June 12, 2026.

The players

Central Oregon Community College

The community college hosting the speaker series through its community education department.

Upper Deschutes Watershed Council

The non-profit organization co-hosting the speaker series and working to protect and restore the Deschutes River watershed.

Kris Knight

The executive director of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, who said the series is ideal for those interested in learning about local rivers and water resources.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The series is ideal for those interested in learning about their local rivers and water resources, citizen scientists and naturalists.”

— Kris Knight, Executive Director, Upper Deschutes Watershed Council

What’s next

Registration for the 'Learn About Your Home Waters' speaker series is now open on the Central Oregon Community College website.

The takeaway

The annual 'Home Waters' speaker series provides an opportunity for the Central Oregon community to learn about and engage with efforts to protect and restore the vital Deschutes River watershed through educational presentations and field trips led by local conservation experts.