Bureau of Land Management to accept applications for new Special Recreation Permits on Lower

Deschutes Wild and Scenic River

 

Prineville, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Prineville District Office is announcing the

open period for new Special Recreation Permit (SRP) applications from individuals and companies

interested in guiding activities that will require a watercraft on the Lower Deschutes River. The

application period opens October 1, 2020 and will close October 30, 2020.

 

The Lower Deschutes Wild and Scenic River Management Plan allows for the number of permitted guides

and outfitters to increase by five percent annually. With just over 80 active guiding SRPs on the

Lower Deschutes currently, applicants will be applying for up to four new available permits. The

application is for non-motorized activities on the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River only.

Successful applicants would be able to use their permit in the 2021 boating season.

 

The prospectus and application are available on the BLM website at

https://www.blm.gov/office/prineville-district-office. Application packets can also be requested

by calling the Prineville District Office at (541) 416- 6700.

 

Applicants are encouraged to read the prospectus carefully to ensure they provide all required

elements, as incomplete applications will not be considered. For more information or for questions

about this SRP application process, please contact the permit lead, Cecilia Marella, at (541)

416-4624.

 

The Lower Deschutes River is a remarkable resource that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors

annually. Guide and outfitter businesses facilitate access to recreation opportunities and help

local communities and create jobs. The BLM, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and

State of Oregon work collaboratively to manage the river for its wild, scenic and recreational

values.

 

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states,

including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate

throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands

generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported

471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly

through royalties on minerals.