2017 Oregon Legislative Roundup The 2017 legislative session ended in early July. It was busy, with 2,829 bills introduced and over 800 passed. Thanks to the help of WaterWatch members we were able to protect funding for critical agency programs, highlight long-term water management reform, defeat a number of misguided water policy bills, and finally pass suction dredge mining reform. …
Vanport Flood’s legacy in Columbia River dams: Guest opinion
Vanport Flood’s legacy in Columbia River dams: Guest opinion Updated May 30, 1:36 PM; Posted May 30, 1:15 PM Vanport Flood (LC- Oregon Historical Society) The Oregonian/OregonLive By John DeVoe A building on Second Avenue in Portland has two small markers: One says “High Water Mark – 1894.” That marker is about at my shoulder level. The second marker says “High Water Mark …
Last Chance – Please help Oregon’s rivers now and in the future by showing your support for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Program!
Last Chance – Please help Oregon’s rivers now and in the future by showing your support for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Program! Just a friendly reminder that ODFW is currently in the process of developing its 2019-2021 budget request. Today, May 1, is the last chance to submit written comments. Please send in comments asking ODFW to add …
Columbia River Treaty watchers hope to right 50 years of wrongs
Columbia River Treaty watchers hope to right 50 years of wrongs By: ROB CHANEY rchaney@missoulian.com April 13, 2018 Fire up half a dozen bulldozers over a summer and Canada could turn the Kootenai River away from Libby Dam and pour its water into the Columbia River.
Please help Oregon’s rivers now and in the future by showing your support for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Program!
Please help Oregon’s rivers now and in the future by showing your support for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Program! Hi Supporter, The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) Water Quality and Quantity Program plays a vital role in protecting water in our state’s iconic rivers. Whether it’s reviewing new water right applications to ensure that they …
Ask Governor Brown to Close the “Stockwatering” Loophole in Oregon’s Water Laws
Ask Governor Brown to Close the “Stockwatering” Loophole in Oregon’s Water Laws Lost Valley Farm, Photo credit: Brian Posewitz Oregon’s water laws allow for certain “exempt” uses of water that do not require a permit. These exempt uses are typically smaller in nature – for example, for rural residences or gardens (15,000 gallons of water per day and ½ acre) …
Urgent Salmon Alert – Stop HR 3144!
Urgent Salmon Alert – Stop HR 3144! Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers and her allies in Congress are pushing anti-salmon legislation to roll back protections and overturn court decisions that will push salmon and orca closer to extinction. ACT NOW – ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVES to stop HR 3144 and protect wild salmon and steelhead from extinction. Sign the Petition here
Conservation groups to file lawsuit over Klamath River water flow
Conservation groups to file lawsuit over Klamath River water flow By The Associated Press April 4, 2013 GRANTS PASS — Two conservation groups warned federal agencies Thursday they plan to sue to get more water devoted to protected salmon in the Klamath River. Oregon Wild and WaterWatch of Oregon filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue. They object to …
Please help Oregon’s rivers now and in the future by showing your support for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Program!
Please help Oregon’s rivers now and in the future by showing your support for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Program! Hi Supporter, The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) Water Quality and Quantity Program plays a vital role in protecting water in our state’s iconic rivers. Whether it’s reviewing new water right applications to ensure that they …
Klamath Advocates Condemn Destruction of the “Everglades of the West”
Klamath Advocates Condemn Bureau of Reclamation’s Willful Destruction of the “Everglades of the West” Conservationists Call on Gov. Kate Brown, Senators Wyden and Merkley to Stop Likely Catastrophic Waterfowl Die-Off, Hold Bureau Accountable for Longstanding Waste and Abuse Contacts: Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, (541) 708-0731 Bob Sallinger, Audubon Society of Portland, (503) 380-9728 Steve Pedery, Oregon Wild, (503) 283-6342 March …
State should slam shut loophole that allowed dairy to tap aquifer
State should slam shut loophole that allowed dairy to tap aquifer Statesman Journal Editorial Board March 24, 2018 Water is a finite natural resource. So Oregon taxpayers should never have to read that state officials have no idea how much water a commercial operation is taking out of an endangered aquifer.
Help Stop the Water Grab Endangering Klamath Waterfowl!
Help Stop the Water Grab Endangering Klamath Waterfowl! We need your help to avoid another catastrophic die-off of migratory birds in the Klamath Basin. As millions of migrating birds bear down on the Klamath Basin this spring, the wetlands of Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge may be utterly dry. Lower Klamath, the first federally-designated waterfowl refuge in the nation and one …
State officials let mega-dairy use loophole to tap endangered Oregon aquifer
State officials let mega-dairy use loophole to tap endangered Oregon aquifer By: Tracy Loew, Statesman Journal March 22, 2018 A year after it opened, Oregon’s second-largest dairy has not secured rights to the nearly 1 million gallons of water per day it needs for its thousands of cows and to process milk. Instead, Lost Valley Farm near Boardman moved ahead without the necessary permits, using …
New treaty must address ecosystem concerns
GUEST VIEWPOINT New treaty must address ecosystem concerns By John DeVoe The Register-Guard January 28, 2018
Winter 2017 Newsletter
WaterWatch finished the year strong! Check out our latest accomplishments in our newsletter Click here to read newsletter!
2017 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Thanks to our supporters, WaterWatch had an outstanding 2017! Click here to see some of this year’s accomplishments, as well as projects going in to 2018.
Victory for North Fork Smith River
For Immediate Release December 7, 2017 Contact: Lisa Brown, WaterWatch of Oregon Staff Attorney, 503-295-4039 Ext 4, lisa@waterwatch.org Grant Werschkull, Smith River Alliance, 916-715-9898, grant@smithriveralliance.org Click here for more information on this decision Click here for a map of the area Victory for North Fork Smith River Today, WaterWatch of Oregon, American Rivers, Smith River Alliance, and American Whitewater applauded …
15TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF OREGON RIVERS- THANK YOU!
Thanks to everyone who came out and made our 15th Annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers such a success! Check out photos of the event taken by Nina Johnson on Facebook!
Oregon Court of Appeals Upholds Order Against McKenzie River Water Speculators
Oregon Court of Appeals Upholds Order Against McKenzie River Water Speculators Another Victory for McKenzie River and WaterWatch November 15, 2017 Order available here. Mckenzie River by Doug Heiken Today, the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a final order denying the Willamette Water Company’s controversial application for a permit to withdraw 34 cubic feet per second (22 million gallons per day) …
Judge Denies Irrigators Special Treatment, Millions in Drought Payments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2017 CONTACTS Glen Spain | Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations | 541.521.8655 | fish1ifr@aol.com Jim McCarthy |WaterWatch of Oregon | 541.708.0731 | jim@waterwatch.org Stephanie Tsosie | Earthjustice | 505.270.5098 | stsosie@earthjustice.org Judge Denies Irrigators Special Treatment, Millions in Drought Payments Read the Decision Here Washington, D.C. – Judge Marian Blank Horn of the U.S. Court …
Fall 17 Newsletter!
Stream of Consciousness: Demanding Environmental Justice in Water Policy; Help Shape the Fate of the Deschutes Basin for the Next Generation; Groundwater Management Reform Still Lacking Despite Ongoing Harm; Water Briefs from Around the State Click here for More!
Impact of Management Practices on the Klamath Wildlife Refuge
“Birds Take Backseat to Fish, Farms in the Klamath Basin,” July 24, 2017
The Columbia River Basin Holds Immense Natural Capital Value
For Immediate Release July 6, 2017 The Columbia River Basin Holds Immense Natural Capital Value New study shows Columbia River Basin’s natural capital worth $198 billion annually Contact: D.R. Michel, Upper Columbia United Tribes, 509.209.2412, dr@ucut-nsn.org Sara Thompson, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, 503. 238.3567, thos@critfc.org Greg Haller, Pacific Rivers, 503.228.3555 ext. 205, greg@pacificrivers.org Joseph Bogaard, Save Our Wild Salmon …
Summer 17 Newsletter!
Stream of Consciousness: The Wet and the Dry; WaterWatch in the Community; Public Funds Advance Private Grab on Klamath Refuge Waters; 2017 Oregon Legislative Roundup; Suction Dredge Mining Reform; Water Briefs from Around the State; WaterWatch Welcomes Read more here!
Brown signs bill protecting salmon habitat from river mining
Brown signs bill protecting salmon habitat from river mining BY ANDREW THEEN The Oregonian/OregonLive June 14, 2017 Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill Wednesday that protects thousands of miles of critical salmon habitat across much of western Oregon from suction dredge mining.
Draining Oregon: Lawmaker strips specific dollar amounts out of water fee bill, Oregonian,
Draining Oregon: Lawmaker strips specific dollar amounts out of water fee bill By Andrew Theen The Oregonian/OregonLive Apr 19, 2017 A House committee gave its blessing this week to a bill that would charge an annual fee to tens of thousands of Oregon water rights holders — but not without a last second twist.
Draining Oregon: Bill to fund $8.2 million in groundwater studies passes key hurdle
Draining Oregon: Bill to fund $8.2 million in groundwater studies passes key hurdle by Andrew Theen The Oregonian/OregonLive April 14, 2017 A proposal to fund $8.2 million in new groundwater studies for as many as five drainage basins across Oregon passed a key legislative hurdle this week.
Water Bill Passes a Milestone
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2017 Contacts: Stacey Malstrom, Oregon Environmental Council, (503) 508-7233 Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, (541) 708-0731 Water Bill Passes a Milestone Oregon’s House Committee on Energy and Environment Makes Progress Toward Smart Water Management SALEM — Tuesday evening, the Oregon House Committee on Energy and Environment voted to move HB 2705 out of committee, a …
Oregon Senate passes permanent dredging-ban bill
Oregon Senate passes permanent dredging-ban bill By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune April 10, 2017 A permanent ban on suction dredging in Western Oregon’s wild salmon habitat championed by the late Democratic Sen. Alan Bates passed out of the Oregon Senate on Monday
Proposed Oregon mega-dairy wins key permit
Proposed Oregon mega-dairy wins key permit by Tracy Loew Statesman Journal March 31, 2017 A dairy with 30,000 animals proposed for Eastern Oregon has won state approval of its plan to manage the 187 million gallons of manure it will produce each year. Lost Valley Farm would be the second-largest confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) in the state, after neighboring …
Draining Oregon: Lawmakers plan hearings on 3 water bills
Draining Oregon: Lawmakers plan hearings on 3 water bills by Andrew Theen The Oregonian/OregonLive March 21, 2017 Oregon lawmakers will hold a first hearing Wednesday on three bills designed to address the state’s long-standing inability to measure and study its groundwater supply, and how to pay for it. Rep. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, introduced the bills on the heels of a …
Judge Orders More Water Releases From Klamath River Dams
Judge Orders More Water Releases From Klamath River Dams by Cassandra Profita OPB/EarthFix February 8, 2017 In a ruling Wednesday, U.S. District Judge William Orrick ordered more water releases from dams on the Klamath River to flush out parasites causing deadly disease outbreaks in salmon. In recent drought years, scientists have found extremely high rates of a disease caused by …
Conservation Groups Sue To Get More Water To Klamath Wildlife Refuges
Conservation Groups Sue To Get More Water To Klamath Wildlife Refuges by Jes Burns OPB/EarthFix January 18, 2017 Three Oregon conservation groups say a new plan to manage National Wildlife Refuges in the Klamath Basin doesn’t do enough to protect habitat. The groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Medford to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife …
Klamath Advocates Go To Court Over Wildlife Mismanagement
For Immediate Release January 18, 2017 Contacts: Bob Sallinger, Audubon Society of Portland, (503) 380-9728 Steve Pedery, Oregon Wild, (503) 283-6342 Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, (541) 708-0731 Klamath Advocates Go To Court Over Wildlife Mismanagement Conservation Groups Challenge Improper Management Plan for “Everglades of the West” Click here to view the court filing. Workers in protection suits spraying pesticides …
Klamath dam removals heavily supported by community
Klamath dam removals heavily supported by community by Natalya Estrada The Eureka Times-Standard January 12, 2017 Close to 100 people showed up to speak for the removal of the four dams on the Klamath River at a public meeting put on by the California State Water Resource Control Board in Arcata on Thursday evening. The board set out to gather …
2016 Oregon Legislative Roundup
2016 Oregon Legislative Roundup The short session of the 2016 Oregon State Legislature was not for the faint of heart. With over 250 bills to consider, and Republicans’ dramatic stalling tactics causing disarray, the session quickly became tense – and stayed that way. The results for rivers were mixed. A handful of non- controversial bills and budget adjustments which benefitted …
Audit: Oregon’s water watchdog agency is understaffed, overworked, has no plan for future
Audit: Oregon’s water watchdog agency is understaffed, overworked, has no plan for future by Andrew Theen The Oregonian/OregonLive December 15, 2016 Oregon’s Water Resources Department doesn’t have enough inspectors to enforce the state’s water laws, has no “clear understanding” of how much water is being used statewide and has no plan for the future, according to an audit released Thursday. …
Agreement Reached to Protect Upper Deschutes River
For Immediate Release October 28, 2016 Contact: Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, 541-708-0731, jim@waterwatch.org Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity, 503-484-7495, ngreenwald@biologicaldiversity.org Janette Brimmer, Earthjustice, 206-343-7340 x 1029, jbrimmer@earthjustice.org Laurie Rule, Advocates for the West, 503-914-6388, lrule@advocateswest.org Agreement Reached to Protect Upper Deschutes River Deal Provides Modest Near-term Flow Boost, Sets Timeline for Science-Based Improvements to Benefit Water Quality, Threatened …
Rescue effort aims to save stranded Deschutes River fish
Rescue effort aims to save stranded Deschutes River fish Annual die-off occurs at small channel when river flows are reduced By Hilary Corrigan The Bulletin October 14, 2016 Volunteers and contractors spent part of this week shocking, netting and moving stranded fish from a dry river channel near Bend in what’s become an annual fish rescue. Fish get stranded along …
Klamath Irrigators Should Not Have Gotten $32M From Federal Agency: Report
Klamath Irrigators Should Not Have Gotten $32M From Federal Agency: Report by Jes Burns OPB/EarthFix October 13, 2016 A new audit finds that Klamath irrigators should not have received millions of dollars in taxpayer money. The money was used to pay farmers not to use scarce water supplies from streams and rivers in the Klamath Basin straddling Oregon and California. …