USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

14092500 DESCHUTES RIVER NEAR MADRAS, OR

LOCATION - Lat 44°43'34", long 121°14'45" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in SE 1/4 SW 1/4 sec.01, T.10 S., R.12 E., Jefferson County, OR, Hydrologic Unit 17070306, on right bank, 400 ft downstream from re-regulating dam, 2.7 mi downstream from Pelton Dam, 8.5 mi northwest of Madras and at mile 100.1.

DRAINAGE AREA - 7,820 mi². approximately.

REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 1398: Drainage area.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - December 1923 to current year.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 1,390.25 ft above NGVD of 1929 (levels by Portland General Electric Co.). See WSP 1738 for history of changes prior to Nov. 23, 1957.

REMARKS - Diurnal fluctuation caused by Lake Simtustus and reregulating reservoir since 1957 (combined capacity for normal operation, 6,500 acre-ft). Some winter and spring runoff stored in Ochoco Reservoir (active capacity, 39,600 acre-ft, from survey completed in 1990), in Crescent Lake, and Crane Prairie and Wickiup Reservoirs (combined active capacity, 342,200 acre-ft), since 1960 in Prineville Reservoir (active capacity, 148,600 acre-ft, from survey completed in 1998), and since 1964 in Lake Billy Chinook (active capacity, 273,900 acre-ft). Large diversions in upper basin for irrigation.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 22,500 ft³/s July 16, 1983, gage height, 7.70 ft, from floodmarks, caused by accidental release from Pelton Dam; minimum discharge, 916 ft³/s July 4, 1982, result of power company testing control gates on dam.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - WATER TEMPERATURE: March 1952 to November 1956, January to September 1958, October 1971 to October 1988, November 2005 to current year.

INSTRUMENTATION - Temperature probe and data logger.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - WATER TEMPERATURE: Maximum, 18.0°C occurred during period Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, 1974; minimum, 3.5°C Feb. 8, 1979.