Trout Creek Ranch, Deschutes Basin

Modified Land Management
The Freshwater Trust reached an agreement with Portland General Electric, who owns Trout Creek Ranch, to permanently acquire ecologically significant water rights on the ranch and convert these water rights to permanent instream use. Trout Creek provides some of the best spawning and rearing for the Deschutes Basin’s famed summer steelhead runs. However, most of Trout Creek’s natural flow has been historically removed for irrigation in the summer. Serious impacts to the fishery occurred due to the stream drying up. This permanent flow protection is a vital first step to protecting Trout Creek's steelhead population.