Press Releases

Oregon Water Resources Department Denies Water Permit to Willamette Water Company

March 10, 2014 Oregon Water Resources Department Denies Water Permit to Willamette Water Company Victory for McKenzie River and WaterWatch On March 7, 2014, the Oregon Water Resources Department issued 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) from the […]

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WaterWatch of Oregon Statement Regarding Announcement of a Klamath Basin Water Agreement

For Immediate Release March 5, 2014 WaterWatch of Oregon Statement Regarding Announcement of a Klamath Basin Water Agreement While reducing upper basin irrigation water demand by 30,000 acre-feet is a welcome step in the right direction, it is nowhere near enough to solve the profound water imbalance impacting the entire Klamath Basin. Joining this positive

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Conservationists, Fishing Interests Respond to U.S. Treaty Recommendation for Columbia River

Center for Environmental Law & Policy * WaterWatch of Oregon * Pacific Rivers Council   Save Our Wild Salmon * Sierra Club * Columbia Institute for Water Policy For Immediate Release Conservationists, Fishing Interests Respond to U.S. Treaty Recommendation for Columbia River December 13, 2013 Contacts: Pat Ford (SOS) 208.345-9067 pford@wildidaho.org (Boise) Rachael Paschal Osborn (Columbia

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Victory for Oregon’s Rivers in Court of Appeals Ruling on Cottage Grove Water Right

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2013 Contact: Jim McCarthy, jmac@waterwatch.org, 541-708-0731 Lisa Brown, lisa@waterwatch.org, 503-295-4039 x4 Victory for Oregon’s Rivers in Court of Appeals Ruling on Cottage Grove Water Right Precedent-setting decision closes harmful loophole, affirms protections for fish. Today, the Court of Appeals of the State of Oregon handed down a victory for the

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Rep. Hastings’ Treaty Hearing: Conservationists and Fishing Community Support Inclusion of Ecosystem Function in Modernized Columbia River Treaty

For Immediate Release Center for Environmental Law & Policy – WaterWatch of Oregon – Pacific Rivers Council – Save Our Wild Salmon – Sierra Club December 9, 2013 Contacts: Greg Haller (Pacific Rivers) 503.228.3555 greg@pacificrivers.org (Portland) Suzanne Skinner (CELP) 206.829-8366 sskinner@celp.org (Seattle) Pat Ford (SOS) 208.345-9067 pford@wildidaho.org (Boise) John DeVoe (WaterWatch) 503.295-4039 x1 john@waterwatch.org (Portland)

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Senators Merkley and Wyden Introduce Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act of 2013

Statement by Kimberley Priestley, WaterWatch of Oregon’s Senior Policy Analyst, on the November 21, 2013 introduction of the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act: “This collaborative bill is a blueprint for a healthier Crooked River and secure water supply for local communities, backed by a broad coalition of irrigation, municipal, tribal and conservation interests. It

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LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST FOREST SERVICE PERMIT FOR CITY OF BEND WATER PROJECT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, NOVEMBER 14, 2013 LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST FOREST SERVICE PERMIT FOR CITY OF BEND WATER PROJECT BEND — Central Oregon LandWatch and WaterWatch of Oregon filed a lawsuit today in the Oregon Federal District Court seeking an injunction to prevent the U.S. Forest Service from authorizing the City of Bend to begin construction of a

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Governor Signs Bill to Protect Salmon Habitat

For Immediate Release August 15, 2013 Contact Forrest English, Rogue Riverkeeper, 541-261-2030 Josh Laughlin, Cascadia Wildlands, 541-844-8182 Erik Fernandez, Oregon Wild, 503-283-6343 x202 Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, 541-708-0731 Governor Signs Bill to Protect Salmon Habitat Bill to Reduce Impacts of Suction Dredge Gold Mining on Oregon Rivers Salem, OR — Anglers, landowners, outdoor recreation

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Conservationists Seek Solution to Critical Salmon Barrier on Rogue Basin’s Evans Creek

For Immediate Release Contacts: Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch, 541-708-0731 Janette Brimmer, Earthjustice, 206-343-7340 x1029   Conservationists Seek Solution to Critical Salmon Barrier on Rogue Basin’s Evans Creek Fielder Dam Ranks in Oregon’s Top Ten List of Barriers Harmful to Salmon, Steelhead For a pdf copy of the legal complaint click here. For additional background on this issue click

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Conservation Groups File 60-Day Notice of ESA Challenge on Klamath Salmon

For Immediate Release WaterWatch of Oregon * Oregon Wild * Hoopa Valley Tribe Contacts: Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch, 541-941-9450 Steve Pedery, Oregon Wild, 503-283-6343 x212 Regina Chichizola, Hoopa Valley Tribe, 541-951-0126 Conservation Groups File 60-Day Notice of ESA Challenge on Klamath Salmon Coalition says Bureau of Reclamation continues to endanger Klamath River fish, wildlife by implementing

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Legislation Introduced to Protect Water Quality and Wild Salmon

For Immediate Release February 19, 2013 Contact: John Ward, Rogue Flyfishers (Medford), 541-482-2859 Frank Armendariz, River Trail Outfitters (Eugene), 541-228-4084 Legislation Introduced to Protect Water Quality and Wild Salmon SB 401 would curb destructive suction dredge mining in Oregon’s iconic waterways Salem, OR — Local businesses, outdoor enthusiasts, and conservation organizations applaud the recent introduction

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Columbia River-Umatilla Solutions Taskforce announcement

Statement by Kimberley Priestley, WaterWatch of Oregon’s Senior Policy Analyst, on the February 15, 2013 Columbia River-Umatilla Solutions Taskforce (CRUST) announcement: “Today’s agreement offers a menu of balanced potential solutions that will provide additional water to Umatilla farmers without harming flows needed for struggling salmon and steelhead runs or – importantly – without undermining river

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Diverse Coalition Celebrates Landmark Upper Rogue Valley Water Plan

For Immediate Release September 26, 2012 Contact: State Rep. Peter Buckley, 541-488-9180 Bryan Baumgartner, Rogue River Valley Irrigation District, 541-261-2465 Bob Hunter, WaterWatch of Oregon, 541-778-3310 Leigh Johnson, Medford Water Commission, 541-944-2222 Steve Mason, WISE Project Coordinator, 541-951-0854 Diverse Coalition Celebrates Landmark Upper Rogue Valley Water Plan Rep. Buckley presides over ceremony kicking off comprehensive

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35 Conservation Organizations Sound Alarm on Klamath Water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2012 Contact: Steve Pedery Oregon Wild 503-283-6343 ext. 212 Bob Sallinger Audubon Society of Portland 503-380-9728 Jim McCarthy WaterWatch of Oregon 541-708-0731 Noah Greenwald Center for Biological Diversity 503-484-7495 35 Conservation Organizations Sound Alarm on Klamath Water Wildlife advocates urge Obama administration not to allow National Wildlife Refuges to go

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Senators Merkley and Wyden and Governor Kitzhaber Announce Crooked River Water Agreement

“This legislation provides significant improvements for fish and river habitat in the beloved Crooked River, and we are very happy that our Senators provided the leadership to strike a balance between many interests,” said Kimberley Priestley, Senior Policy Analyst for WaterWatch of Oregon. “We look forward to working with all those involved to ensure that

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WaterWatch of Oregon Press Release

WaterWatch of Oregon Press Release April 30, 2012 Contact: John DeVoe, WaterWatch Executive Director, 503-295-4039 x1 Lisa Brown, WaterWatch Staff Attorney, 503-295-4039 x4 Victory for McKenzie River as Judge Rules Against Water Speculators Proposal Awaits Final Decision by Oregon Water Resources Department Eugene, OR – An Administrative Law Judge has proposed that the state deny a water right

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26 Organizations Sound Alarm on Klamath Water

For Immediate Release March 27, 2012 Contact: Steve Pedery, Oregon Wild, 503-283-6343 ext212 Bob Sallinger, Audubon Society of Portland, 503-380-9728 Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity, 503-484-7495 Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, 541-941-9450 26 Organizations Sound Alarm on Klamath Water Wildlife advocates urge Obama administration not to allow National Wildlife Refuges to go dry, halt

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Merkley Legislation on Klamath Falls Short

For Immediate Release Oregon Wild * WaterWatch of Oregon November 10, 2011 CONTACT: Steve Pedery, Oregon Wild – 503.283.6343 ext. 212 Lisa Brown, WaterWatch of Oregon – 503.295.4039 ext. 4 Merkley Legislation on Klamath Falls Short Oregon conservationists frustrated by anti-wildlife provisions, lack of water for salmon Portland — Oregon conservation groups today expressed disappointment

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Rogue River Runs Free at Savage Rapids

Oct. 8, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information please contact: Bob Hunter, WaterWatch Staff Attorney, (541) 778-3310 John DeVoe, WaterWatch Executive Director, (971) 322-5635 Rogue River Runs Free at Savage Rapids Storied Salmon Stream Undergoes Historic Restoration Tomorrow, the Rogue River will move freely for the first time in nearly a century on a stretch

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Latest Klamath Dam Removal Proposal Delays Decision to Remove Dams

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Latest Klamath Dam Removal Proposal Delays Decision to Remove Dams Joined Agreements Protect Dam Owner and Agribusiness, Leave Fish and Wildlife at Risk PORTLAND, OR Sep 30, 2009 Portland, OR –WaterWatch of Oregon, an ardent advocate for the removal of four salmon-killing dams on the Klamath River, joined other conservationists in criticizing a

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New Level of Protection Achieved for Rogue River Flows, Fish, and Recreation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New Level of Protection Achieved for Rogue River Flows, Fish, and Recreation Substantial New Instream Water Right Provides Certainty for Rogue’s Future The Rogue River Watershed (click image to enlarge) MEDFORD, OR Aug 14, 2009 Bob Hunter (541)826-4399 Continuing an unprecedented series of recent restoration achievements for the Free the Rogue Campaign, this

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$5 million of Federal Stimulus Awarded to Remove Rogue River’s Gold Ray Dam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE $5 million of Federal Stimulus Awarded to Remove Rogue River’s Gold Ray Dam Project will mark fourth significant dam removal on Rogue River in three years MEDFORD, OR Jun 30, 2009   Media Contact: John DeVoe (971) 322-5635 Continuing an unprecedented wave of dam removals on the internationally famous Rogue River, today federal

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Removal Commences on Rogue River’s Savage Rapids Dam

April 1, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information please contact: Bob Hunter, WaterWatch of Oregon, (541) 826-4399 Carolyn Devine, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, (503) 986-0195 Dan Shepard, Grants Pass Irrigation District, (541) 476-2582 Darren Funk, Slayden Construction Group, (503) 769-1969 Removal Commences on Rogue River Savage Rapids Dam U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Announces Work Crews

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Coastal Cutthroat Trout to Be Considered for Endangered Species Protection

April 21, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information please contact: Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity, (503) 484-7495 Steve Mashuda, Earthjustice, (206) 343-7340, ext. 27 Dr. Chris Frissell, Pacific Rivers Council, (406) 883-1503 Coastal Cutthroat Trout to Be Considered for Endangered Species Protection Court Overturns Decision to Deny Trout Protection in Lower Columbia River and

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No Dam Deal In Klamath Settlement Talks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No Dam Deal In Klamath Settlement Talks Proposed Settlement Deal Lacks Guaranteed Dam Removal, Guaranteed Water For Fish PORTLAND, OREGON Jan 15, 2008   Portland, Ore—The Bush administration is expected to release today one piece of a  “Klamath Dam Settlement Agreement,” the product of three years of secret negotiations over the future of

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