 As part of the 2000 Steens Mountain Protection Act, congress and President Clinton signed-off on the creation of the Donner und Blitzen Red Band Trout Reserve.The Reserve was designated “to conserve, protect, and enhance the Donner und Blitzen population of redband trout and the unique ecosystem of plants, fish, and wildlife of a river system.” 

In 1988, of rivers in its basin were designated Wild and Scenic, and another were added in 2000.The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) lists seven temperature impairments on the river system.