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WaterWatch of Oregon

Protecting and restoring natural streamflows in Oregon rivers since 1985.

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Protecting Oregon’s rivers for future generations.

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Oregon Adopts New Groundwater Rules

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At the Oregon Supreme Court

WaterWatch of Oregon was at the Oregon Supreme Court this month for oral arguments to defend our 2023 win at the Court of Appeals on an instream water right on Drift Creek.

Willamette Instream Applications

Your response in support of new ODFW instream water right applications in the north and middle basins of the Willamette River has been fantastic, and there’s more to come.

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Our biweekly email digest of news, media, and events, you can always get the latest Currents here and find all of our “back issues” of Currents at our dedicated Currents page.

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 in key dry months during the late summer into fall. And 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 nearly 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.

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

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