Water News

Senator Ron Wyden911 NE 11th Ave.Suite 630Portland, OR 97232 Senator Jeff Merkely121 SW Salmon St.Suite 1400Portland, OR 97204 February 18, 2026 Dear Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley, On behalf of our tens of thousands of members and supporters across Oregon, we write to object to the giveaway of public lands in the Mount Hood National […]

Download a PDF of this job description here. Jan. 9, 2026 DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WaterWatch of Oregon is seeking a Development Director to help develop and implement strategic fundraising for the organization to meet its annual budget and fund expansion set forth in WaterWatch’s Strategic Plan. WaterWatch is an environmental non‐profit organization founded in 1985 with

Dec. 31, 2025 In these final hours of 2025, the WaterWatch of Oregon team is taking stock of a challenging, but also busy and successful year for Oregon’s rivers and water — plus we celebrated our 40th anniversary with you throughout the year! As we look toward 2026 we’re reminded again of our collective commitment to

As the print edition of our 2025 Accomplishments Report begins to arrive in mailboxes, a PDF of our report is online now. With the holiday season in full swing and the end of the year fast approaching, we’re thrilled to announce our 2025 Accomplishments Report will arrive shortly in mailboxes. While there’s no doubt 2025

As we prepare to go to court to help defend several challenges to ODFW instream water right applications in the Umpqua Basin, we need your help to support our efforts. Signed into Oregon state law in 1987, the landmark Instream Water Rights Act remains one of WaterWatch’s earliest successes and lasting accomplishments, and allows three

In September, the Oregon Water Resources Commission adopted the 2025 update to the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS), Oregon’s blueprint for meeting instream and out-of-stream water needs into the future. In 2009 WaterWatch helped shape the law that sets the framework for the IWRS. Working closely with then-state Senator Jackie Dingfeler, WaterWatch convinced the Oregon

What a fantastic time we had on Nov. 1st! Thank you for being a part of it! Thank you to everyone — our attendees, our volunteers from Lewis and Clark College, the caterers at Elephant’s Deli, the audio-visual team at David Efaw Productions, the staff at Castaway Portland, photographer Nina Johnson, our Golden Ticket holders, and everyone who provided auction packages for

By WaterWatch of Oregon Staff Oct. 30, 2025 Western water law is full of strange contradictions and paradoxical constructs. Water is extremely valuable, yet water itself is absolutely free. Water is valuable, yet we do not measure the majority of society’s use of water. When a pioneering group of Rogue River anglers came together in

As we inch closer to WaterWatch of Oregon’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Auction on Saturday, Nov. 1st, at Castaway Portland, we can’t believe the volume of auction packages we still want to share with you ahead of doors opening. One thing we do know is if you love to fish, you’ll be right at

Our discounted early bird ticket pricing for WaterWatch’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Auction has now closed. Don’t worry — you still have up to a day before our 40th Anniversary Event on Saturday, Nov. 1st, to purchase tickets at our regular rate of $150 per ticket. Purchase your tickets here. Plan now to join us Nov. 1st

We hope you enjoyed your Labor Day holiday weekend with family and friends, and we’re thrilled to announce the winner of our guided fishing raffle with Nick Rowell of Anadromous Anglers are Steve and Debra L., a couple whose names were drawn earlier with the close of our August Matching Campaign. Steve and Debra will

WaterWatch will be on the Rogue this Saturday, Aug. 23rd, along with anglers, Spey casters, fly fishing guides, casting instructors, and exhibitors from across the Pacific Northwest at the inaugural Rogue Spey Clave. We hope you’ll join us at Griffin Park on the Rogue River and learn more about WaterWatch’s laser focus on ending the

By John DeVoe with Tommy Hough The Deschutes, Rogue, and Klamath rivers. The Willamette and the McKenzie. Much of WaterWatch’s work protects and restores cold water habitat on these iconic Oregon rivers. But that’s not all WaterWatch does. WaterWatch has a 40-year tradition of protecting and restoring smaller, more intimate and remote streams no less

As part of WaterWatch’s 40th anniversary, we’re featuring articles in Instream and at WaterWatch.org that highlight our work and success over the last four decades, and profiling some of the people who played key roles in building WaterWatch’s legacy. By Tommy Hough WaterWatch staff, board, and alumni often offer unprompted credit to Karen Russell for

A recap of the 2025 long Oregon legislative session in Salem. By Kimberley Priestley, WaterWatch Senior Policy Advisor WaterWatch has been a dogged voice for rivers in the Oregon legislature for the past 40 years, and 2025 was no different as we tirelessly advocated for rivers in deliberations on over 120 water bills, a dozen

It may be the middle of summer, but no matter the season or time of year blueberries are always a welcome treat. And you and your family are invited to join us this Saturday, Aug. 2nd, for a special blueberry picking benefit for WaterWatch at Muir Blueberry Farm in Hillsboro as Muir Farm donates all