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WaterWatch of Oregon

Protecting and restoring natural streamflows in Oregon rivers since 1985.

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Patagonia In-Store Today

Join us this afternoon at Patagonia Portland at 1106 W. Burnside for a special Happy Hour gift wrapping in-store appearance. We’ll be at Patagonia from 3 to 6 p.m. Stop by!

WaterWatch at 40

As sampled in the fall 2025 issue of our Instream newsletter, we’ve shared an expanded online edition of WaterWatch milestones from our first 40 years.

Get the Latest Currents

Click here for the latest edition of Currents, WaterWatch of Oregon’s biweekly digest of news, media, and events, and visit our dedicated Currents page for more.

Our Work

Sound Water Policy
Healthy Rivers
Native Fish
Responsible Growth
River Recreation

Rivers Need Water

Without WaterWatch, many of Oregon’s rivers and streams would run dry. In almost every river basin in the state, there are simply too many water rights and not enough water to go around — especially during the driest months of the year in the late summer and early fall. Even now, in the 21st century, it can be perfectly legal in Oregon to drain our rivers until they are bone dry.

That’s what WaterWatch of Oregon works to prevent. For 40 years, WaterWatch has protected and restored water to Oregon’s rivers, streams, and lakes for fish, wildlife, and people. Our work isn’t glamorous. It can be difficult. We keep regulators accountable. We speak for the public interest. We pass balanced water legislation, and when necessary — we go to court. Our goal is to ensure a legacy of healthy rivers in Oregon.

Dozens of interests are working to take more and more water from Oregon’s rivers and streams, so if clean, abundant water is important to you, join WaterWatch of Oregon today to ensure there is enough water in our rivers for the fish, wildlife, and people who depend on them. Our Oregon quality of life depends on it.

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