The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the City of Bend convened their second joint intergovernmental meeting on June 30, continuing a landmark partnership that has brought tribal and municipal leadership to the same table on issues shaping the future of Central Oregon.
The meeting — held under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2024 — was the first of its kind between the Tribe and any Central Oregon city. It established a rotating annual meeting schedule between the Tribal Council and the Bend City Council to address matters of shared concern.
Deschutes Basin Water at the Center
A significant portion of the June 30 session focused on Deschutes Basin water resources, including strategies to conserve water and mitigate groundwater usage. Water in the Deschutes Basin is a defining issue for Jefferson County and the Warm Springs Reservation, which holds federally reserved water rights tied to the river's flows.
Both governments received an update on public art programming, including plans to replace the artwork at the Highway 20 and Cooley Road roundabout in Bend. The City of Bend also presented its long-range growth plan, an effort to guide the next two decades of population and development expansion.
A Relationship Measured by Action
The Tribes' Secretary-Treasurer and CEO, Edward R. Henderson, offered a pointed perspective on what the meetings must ultimately produce.
"Both councils have new people at the table, and new relationships need to be built and old ones strengthened now. That is why this meeting mattered. But meetings are not the goal. We have sat at many tables over the years. What matters is what happens after we leave them. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will measure this relationship by what is done, not by what is said."
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler echoed the importance of collaborative action. "Together we face challenges and opportunities that are best addressed by working collaboratively," she said. "I'm grateful for this opportunity to listen, learn, and continue building a strong relationship that benefits all of our communities."
Why This Matters to Jefferson County
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs — whose reservation lies within Jefferson County and spans more than 640,000 acres — are a major stakeholder in water policy, land use decisions, and economic development across the region. Agreements between the Tribe and neighboring cities and counties have broad implications for the rural communities of Jefferson County that share the same watershed and landscape.
The next joint meeting between the Tribes and the City of Bend is expected to be held in Warm Springs, as the MOU calls for rotating host locations.