CURRENTS
Currents (Nov. 15, 2024)
WaterWatch oral arguments at the Oregon Supreme Court, executive director remarks on the presidential election, instream water right applications for the Upper Willamette, the passing of Oregon environmental giant Bob Sallinger, WaterWatch returns to the Portland Patagonia store, and an Instream article on the Columbia River Treaty update.
Currents (Nov. 1, 2024)
Vote the environment on Tuesday! Daniel Coe image featured on fall Instream cover, Takelma Dam one-year removal celebratory appeal, support for Willamette basin instream applications, calls for EPA enforcement on groundwater contamination and nitrate pollution, dozens of salmon in Yurok Tribe Klamath video, fall and winter trout fishing.
Currents (Oct. 18, 2024)
Salmon spotted along tributary of the upper Klamath River, help support new instream water right applications along the mid-Willamette, big success for annual WaterWatch auction event, fall issue of Instream arrives next week, worst-ever outbreak of avian botulism in the Klamath Basin, rivers drying at alarming rate worldwide.
Currents (Oct. 4, 2024)
On the eve of WaterWatch’s 22nd Annual Celebration of Oregon’s Rivers, fall Instream preview, WaterWatch presentation on Winchester Dam to Umpqua Valley Fly Fishers, drop in Pacific lamprey numbers in the Columbia River, anniversary of 1968 National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, final silent auction preview ahead of Oct. 5th event.
Currents (Sept. 20, 2024)
Monumental win for groundwater sustainability, Willamette River instream water right applications, second Jim McCarthy appearance on Jefferson Exchange in two months, strong turnout for author Steve Duda appearance in Bend, silent auction package features fly fishing instruction from WaterWatch’s Jesse Robbins with new Sage gear.
Currents (Sept. 6, 2024)
Demolition concludes on four lower Klamath River dams, thanks to groundwater advocates, author Steve Duda to make second Oregon stop in Bend, glass blowing artist Andy Nichols to donate new piece for this year’s auction, BLM wins award for Takelma Creek removal project, Ashland getaway package preview, 60th anniversary of Wilderness Act.
Currents (Aug. 23, 2024)
Juvenile coho salmon and steelhead return to Takelma Creek, big turnout for author Steve Duda at Powell’s in Beaverton, WaterWatch’s Jesse Robbins and Steve Duda appear on Portland’s KOIN-TV, tabling at annual PDX Soapbox Derby at Mt. Tabor, Loreto-area getaway auction package spotlight, opportunities to secure Oregon’s sustainable water future.
Currents (Aug. 9, 2024)
Declarations filed in Winchester Dam lawsuit, Oregon Water Partnership Rogue Basin tour, tabling at Mt. Tabor for annual PDX Soapbox Derby, second Steve Duda event scheduled for Bend at Roundabout Books, Bob Hunter to lead Klamath Basin birding tour available as auction package, Boyer Family Foundation Instream article spotlight.
Currents (July 26, 2024)
Welcoming author Steve Duda To Powell’s Aug. 22nd, Neil Brandt quoted in PBS story on Columbia River Treaty update, comment period closes as state weighs CAFOs enforcement, Jim McCarthy returns to River Rambler podcast, San Juan Islands auction package, Instream article on Klamath Dam removals offers content found nowhere else.
Currents (July 12, 2024)
Support for salmon absent in Columbia River Treaty update, Jim McCarthy appears on JPR’s Jefferson Exchange, additional press coverage on Williams-Whelan Dam removal, big turnout at Oakshire Inspires event in Northeast Portland, list of auction sponsors continues to grow, correction to South Fork Walla Walla Instream hike entry.
Currents (June 28, 2024)
Demolition completed on abandoned Williams-Whalen Dam on Evans Creek, auction tickets on sale, federal government acknowledges devastating impact of Columbia and Snake river dams, Oakshire Brewing to welcome WaterWatch for third-straight Oakshire Inspires event July 9th, summer issue of Instream to arrive in mailboxes July 4th weekend.
Currents (June 14, 2024)
Public comments on groundwater allocation rules due by 5 p.m. June 14th, welcoming Jesse Robbins to WaterWatch of Oregon as development officer, Powder River TMDL approved by Department of Environmental Quality, Bend Source editorial board endorses groundwater rules following conversation with Neil Brandt, auction tickets go on sale in June.
Currents (May 31, 2024)
Neil Brandt featured in Bend Source article on proposed groundwater allocation rule updates, groundwater remarks due to OWRD by June 14th, ODFW biologists find fish in habitat above uppermost former dam sites on Welter Creek near Wilderville, state agencies survey Upper Rogue River jet boat use, auction tickets to go on sale in June.
Currents (May 17, 2024)
Oregon pauses flawed IWRS update, Salem groundwater meeting offers virtual option, WaterWatch supports appointment of new OWRD director, defending secondary water right on Crooked River, new Willamette River Instream Water Right applications, passing of Klamath River advocate, Endangered Species Day wraps up week of Oregon wildlife.
Currents (May 3, 2024)
Lengthy Walker Creek effort comes to successful conclusion, John DeVoe joins Earth Day panel on Portland’s KBOO Radio, OWRD to host two final public meetings on proposed groundwater allocation rules in May, Instream article on revised groundwater rule proposals, WaterWatch Earth Day greeting and staff video.
Currents (April 19, 2024)
Light turnout for La Grande OWRD public meeting on proposed groundwater allocation rules, new video posted of WaterWatch’s Lovelace Dam removal last summer, Bend Bulletin details state’s growing groundwater crisis, fishing-themed Writers On the Fly tour to make stops in Ashland and Eugene, spring issue of Instream in mailboxes now.
Currents (April 5, 2024)
Public comments on IWRS update due by 5 p.m. on April 5th, opportunities to speak up for improved groundwater management, OPB quotes WaterWatch’s Kimberley Priestly on need for greater transparency in direct appropriations processes, WaterWatch is hiring a development officer, expanded Instream spring hiking and cycling article online.
Currents (March 22, 2024)
OPB speaks with WaterWatch on groundwater allocation rules story, WaterWatch posts development officer opening, annual WaterWatch auction event to return to World Forestry Center at Portland’s Washington Park Oct. 5th, spring edition of Instream to arrive in early April, new spring river hiking guide from WaterWatch’s John Devoe.
Currents (March 8, 2024)
Columbia Insight deconstructs thermal trading, state unveils updated groundwater allocation rules, OPB notes high levels of fecal bacteria in Powder River, water bills largely absent from short legislative session, full house for Amy Gulick event at Clackamas REI, Tommy Hough represents WaterWatch on pre-PILEC environmental communicators panel.
Currents (Feb. 23, 2024)
Amy Gulick event at Clackamas REI March 5th, WaterWatch prevents damaging new groundwater permit, dismissal looms over Winchester Dam owners’ lawsuit, IWRS comment period opens, Oregon Water Partnership aims to bring water policy into 21st century, WaterWatch’s Tommy Hough to speak on environmental communicators panel.
Currents (Feb. 9, 2024)
WaterWatch welcomes conservation photographer Amy Gulick, Roseburg News-Review calls removal of Winchester Dam a “noble deed,” John DeVoe on data center water use in Oregon, deadline for Powder River comments to DEQ extended, over-allocation of Klamath Water prompts first-ever cancellation of annual Winter Wings gathering.
Currents (Jan. 26, 2024)
Klamath River dam removals resume with blasts at John C. Boyle and Copco dams, state board remands and then ignores Thornburgh Resort water impacts near Redmond, short legislative session to gets underway in February, Oregon State Scenic Waterways System first prompted by the persistent damming of free-flowing rivers.
Currents (Jan. 12, 2024)
Going to trial over Willamette River water temperatures, Roseburg News-Review names last summer’s environmental catastrophe at Winchester Dam paper’s second-biggest story of 2023, weekend snowfall should return state to seasonal levels, Trout Unlimited calls out auto advertisers for years of increasingly irresponsible thrillcraft ads.
Currents (Dec. 29, 2023)
WaterWatch went to trial earlier this month to preserve water right transfer along Grave Creek in Rogue Basin, Sauvie Island birding tour with Mike Houck, historic removal of lower Klamath dams to continue in 2024, 50th anniversary of federal Endangered Species Act, last chance to make a gift to WaterWatch ahead of the new year.
Currents (Dec. 15, 2023)
Holiday wishes from our executive director, WaterWatch attends Lake Abert cooperative gathering, Brian Posewitz argues current level of regulatory scrutiny for water storage right transfers is “insufficient,” Neil Brandt makes presentation at Clackamas Chapter of Trout Unlimited, expanded 2023 End of the Year Accomplishments online.
Currents (Dec. 1, 2023)
Annual WaterWatch End of the Year Accomplishments pamphlet arriving in mailboxes this week, bonus victory to celebrate on Crooked River, another successful Giving Tuesday for WaterWatch, big Drift Creek victory lands press in Salem Statesman Journal, as well as KLCC Radio in Eugene and KOIN-6 TV in Portland.
Currents (Nov. 17, 2023)
Fall Instream in mailboxes now, photo gallery from annual auction online, OWRD developing updated groundwater allocation rules, Neil Brandt quoted in Redmond Spokesman groundwater story, Oregon Court of Appeals upholds decision denying construction of dam on Drift Creek, Jim McCarthy authors report on Winchester Dam in The Osprey.