AGRICULTURE TO INSTREAM WATER TRANSFERS UNDER UNCERTAIN WATER AVAILABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE DESCHUTES RIVER, OREGON

Prior appropriations of river flows (primarily to agriculture) have greatly reduced flow in many Oregon streams, causing major changes in stream ecosystems. This study focuses on trade-offs between instream and agricultural uses for the two largest irrigation districts in Oregon's Deschutes River basin. Both short- and long-term water lease strategies are examined, as are requirements now in place that water leases be accompanied by fallowing land formerly served by the leased water. The low-cost strategies combine canal lining with reductions in farmer's per acre water use. Short-term leases are less costly than long-term leases