UDWC monitors stream temperature in the Upper and Middle Deschutes River, on Tumalo Creek, and on Whychus Creek, to evaluate stream temperature status and trends alongside increases in stream flow achieved through restoration efforts by Deschutes River Conservancy and subbasin irrigation districts. UDWC’s Water Quality Monitoring Program implemented from 2001 to 2009 compiled data from more than 20 local partners and over 200 monitoring stations across 18 watersheds in the Upper Deschutes Basin. These water quality data reflected the chemical, physical, and biological health of our watersheds and allowed partners to track trends in water quality over time, evaluate the effectiveness of restoration projects, and identify emerging water quality issues that could affect watershed health and salmon and trout spawning, rearing and migration.

Since 2010, UDWC has continued to monitor water temperature in association with streamflow restoration projects in the middle Deschutes River and in Whychus Creek. Temperature is a good indicator of key water quality parameters (such as dissolved oxygen), is directly influenced by streamflow restoration, and is the limiting factor for reintroduced salmon and trout.

UDWC conducts water quality monitoring following a DEQ-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan and Standard Operating Procedures. The resulting data are submitted to the State of Oregon annually so this information can be available for conservation and restoration planning in the region. All water quality monitoring data compiled through the Water Quality Monitoring Program from 2001-2009, and stream temperature data collected by UDWC since 2010, are available for download below, grouped by parameter and year. Data are organized within download files by collecting partner. For a summary of monitoring stations and data available by year, please download the Water Quality Master Station List below.

For any questions regarding our monitoring work, please contact Monitoring Program Manager Lauren Mork.