The Oregon Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program began nearly two decades before coming to the Middle Deschutes Watershed. Though primarily focused on watersheds with heavy agricultural use, the diversity of watershed served range in land use, geology, pesticides* use, and climate. The program provides a non-regulatory, voluntary approach to reduce the apprearance of pesticides in our rivers and streams using community outreach, education, and engagement. 

*Pesticides inclusively refers to pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.

The Middle Deschutes Pesticide Stewardship Partnership

The Middle Deschutes Pesticide Stewardship Partnership (PSP) was official established in 2019 to explore pesticide appearance within Campbell Creek, the Culver Drain, and Mud Springs Creek. These drainages receive water from natural springs, precipitation, and runoff from irrigated agriculture before connecting with the Middle Deschutes River. 

The Middle Deschutes PSP monitors water quality to identify concerns, track successes, and adapt its approach to community education and engagement. The program is non-regulatory by nature, we still limit how the data is seen or shared to maintain our community's trust. 

  The Strategic Plan

It's time to take what we have learned and develop a targeted, community-based plan to reduce pesticides in the Middle Deschutes River. We call this plan: the Strategic Plan.

The Strategic Plan considers data such as water quality, land use and management, climate and regional hydrology to develop goals and tools to reduce the appearance of pesticides in the natural drainages.

Click the link below to view to Middle Deschutes Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Strategic Plan: 

The Advisory Council continues to guide the implementaiton of the Strategic Plan, this is open to the public. Click here for more information on joining the Advisory Council and for more information on how the Strategic Plan was developed.