Depleted Wickiup Reservoir to blame for Deschutes River’s greenish color

(Update: Adding video, River users', watermaster's comments)

BEND, Ore (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes River has taken on a greenish cloudiness in recent days.

It's the low water levels that are to blame for the river's change in complexion.

People using the Deschutes River despite all that smoke have noticed the water is not optimal right now.

The last couple days, the water level here has gone down quite a bit, and it's gotten pretty murky,” surfer Tanner Wescott said Thursday.

The typically crystal-clear blue water is gone, and it’s hard to see the bottom of the river.

For the river's surfers, like the Summit High schooler Wescott, that means conditions aren't that great right now.

"You've just got to be a little more careful so you don't hit your body parts on the bottom and get all bruised up," he said.

The low level and poor clarity are because Wickiup Reservoir is basically dry.

Deschutes Basin Watermaster Jeremy Giffin said, "This is the first time we've truly drained the Wickiup Reservoir all the way down to nothing."

That means lower river flows than normal.

"The water coming out of the reservoir right now is what we call ‘run of the river,’" Giffin said.

The river's flow, normally over 1,000 cubic feet per second, is now around 550 cfs.

It's also carrying the silt from the bottom of the reservoir, clouding the water.

But for surfers like Wescott, they adapt.

"I bring a different board down, Just so I don't mess up the nice one I use when the water is higher," he said.

NewsChannel 21 also spoke to an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality spokesman, who said there are no issues in the water for swimmers.

Giffin added that he hopes the greenish color will dissipate in a few days.