In Re Water Rights of Deschutes River

A short history, as indicated in the briefs and record, relates that the Deschutes river is a nonnavigable stream and has well-defined banks and bed and flows directly north from Central Oregon. It is, perhaps, the longest and most important stream which, throughout its entire course, traverses the arid region of the state of Oregon. In the section through which this river flows there is no other source of water for most of the irrigated land.

The entire drainage area of the system is 9,180 square miles. The flow at the mouth fluctuates generally between 5,000 second feet and 8,000 second…