Bend Municipal Watershed

The U.S. Forest Service requires special use permits, agreements and regular monitoring for any water used from the Bend Municipal Watershed.

Image of a creek surrounded by green trees. The creek has crystal clear water.

The City of Bend is proud to provide clean, safe and reliable drinking water to our community. Our main source is fresh surface water from the Bend Municipal Watershed, which flows into our system using gravity. This efficient method helps us deliver high-quality water every day.

During the summer, when water use goes up—primarily for irrigation—we also rely on a second source: groundwater from the Deschutes Aquifer. This backup supply gives us extra security and helps meet the needs of our growing community.

Our water system is supported by long-standing agreements and special use permits, along with regular monitoring to make sure everything stays safe and up to standard. These efforts help protect the water we all depend on.

History of the Bend Municipal Watershed

This strong foundation didn’t happen overnight. Back in 1923, Bend faced a serious water problem. The Deschutes River, which was the main water source at the time, became polluted due to algae blooms in the reservoirs being built upstream. The private company then in charge—Bend Water Power and Light—struggled to navigate the complex legal, engineering and funding requirements needed to find a new water supply.

That’s when the City of Bend stepped in. With the support of the community, the City purchased the water system and created the Bend Municipal Watershed. Since 1926, we’ve worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service to protect and manage this vital resource.

Thanks to that partnership and the community’s commitment, we’ve been able to provide high-quality water for about a century now—and we’re still going strong.

Special Use Permit

Special Use Permit Monitoring Reports

Prowell Springs Diversion

This is the location of the diversion structure that diverts spring flow into Bridge Creek, located high in the Bend Municipal Watershed at 6,300 feet. There are four gaging points that each include flow and temperature.

Bridge Creek Intake

In addition to the diverted flow monitoring that is part of the special use permit data, this gaging station is designed to measure the flow and temperature going past the City of Bend intake on Bridge Creek, located about a quarter mile from the confluence with Tumalo Creek.

Surface Water Production Data

Surface Water Monthly Use Reports
MGD – Millions of gallons per day – 24 hour totals

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Link to archive reports (2016-2019)

Surface Water Daily Use Reports
CFS – Hourly average flow rate in cubic feet per second (CFS) by month

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Link to archive reports (2016-2019)

Monthly Report Archives

MGD – Millions of gallons per day – 24 hour totals

2016/2017

2018

2019

CFS – Hourly average flow rate in cubic feet per second (CFS) by month

2017

2018

2019

Contacts