Last week's freezing temperatures and higher flows from tributaries contributed to flooding in the Deschutes River in Bend. Property was affected between Colorado and Galveston Avenue's. Staff from Bend's streets department filled at least 350 sandbags for residents in that area. Bend Communications Director Justin Finestone says in addition to rising water levels, many people are walking out onto parts of the river that are frozen over.
Finestone: "We've had to ask them politely not to do that. It's very, very dangerous. We have no idea how thick the ice is and, if somebody falls through, it's going to be a human tragedy rather than just a property damage event at that point. We we're asking people to keep their pets off the ice, because if their pet falls through, then they are going to have the inclination to try to save their pet and then more people are going to get in trouble."
Finestone says water levels began receding Thursday and slowly warmer temperatures should bring the Deschutes back to normal by the end of the weekend.