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2017 Oregon Legislative Round Up

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 […]

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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

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!  Read More »

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

Please help Oregon’s rivers now and in the future by showing your support for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Program!  Read More »

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

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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

Please help Oregon’s rivers now and in the future by showing your support for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Program!  Read More »

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,

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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!

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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: Lawmaker strips specific dollar amounts out of water fee bill, Oregonian, Read More »

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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