The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has filed applications to establish 44 new instream water rights in Oregon’s North Coast and Mid-Coast regions, and with the public comment period closing this Thursday, Dec. 18th, we need your help NOW to ensure legal protections are secured for these beloved coastal rivers and streams — from the Nehalem River in the north to the many tributaries of the ecologically important Siletz River in the south.
Establishing protections for instream flows via the Instream Water Rights Act is critical for maintaining healthy rivers and fish in the face of climate change. Instream Water Rights don’t harm existing water rights, but do they do protect flows from new withdrawals going forward.
With the public comment period coming to a close on Dec. 18th at 5 p.m., please weigh in TODAY in support of these applications to protect flows in some of our most beloved coastal rivers and streams. There’s more information at this ODFW StoryMap Overview page on the current round of North Coast and Mid-Coast instream applications, and at this ODFW Frequently Asked Questions page on instream water rights.
You can either comment on the full slate of applications or an individual application.
To Comment on All 44 Applications
To comment in support of ODFW’s full slate of applications, please send an email to Nick Reece with the Oregon Water Resources Department at nick.a.reece@water.oregon.gov. Feel free to copy and paste the suggested subject line and email content below, and modify it as you see it. Consider adding personal comments on specific rivers or streams of interest to you and your family.
Please also make sure you clearly state that you support the full slate of applications, from IS-89941 through IS-89984:
Subject line:
Comments in Support of North Coast and Mid-Coast Instream Water Rights IS-89941 through IS-89984
Email body:
Dear Water Resources Department,
I strongly support the issuance of all 44 of the instream water right applications for the North Coast and Mid-Coast basins that were noticed in the OWRD’s November 18, 2025, public notice (applications IS-89941 through IS-89984).
It is imperative to protect these flows for fish against new water withdrawals, particularly in the face of mounting impacts from climate change. Establishing protection for instream flows for fish is absolutely critical to maintaining healthy rivers in Oregon.
Please issue the instream water rights in the amounts applied for by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. For many of the applications, OWRD is proposing to issue the water rights in amounts lower than the ODFW applications. That is not acceptable. The original ODFW applications reflect the flows needed for fish, and so should be protected in full.
Thank you for your kind consideration of my comments.
Sincerely,
[ your name ]
To Comment on Individual Applications
If you would rather comment on individual applications, please go to this PDF of the instream water right applications. The instream applications begin on page four.
Once you find the streams you wish to comment on, click the live application hyperlink at the top of each application to open a new page for the individual instream application. From there, find the hyperlinked “submit a public comment” option in the Processing History section of the page. Click on “submit a public comment” to go to a page to submit your comments.
Suggested Talking Points for Individual Comments
- Please issue the instream water right (i.e., your specific stream of interest) in the full amount requested by ODFW.
- For many of these applications, the Oregon Water Resources Department is proposing to issue the water rights in amounts lower than ODFW has requested. The ODFW applications reflect the flows needed for fish and should be protected in full.
Please also make your comments personal to your experience, like the value of healthy rivers to you and your family for activities like fishing, boating, hiking, wildlife viewing, cultural values, economic vitality, or whatever you may enjoy.
PLEASE ACT NOW! Comments are due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18th.
Banner photo of the Nehalem River courtesy of Jesse Robbins.