By Sean Patrick Cooper | Nov. 24, 2025 | Rolling Stone Amazon has come to Oregon’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages. In the spring of 2022, Jim Doherty kept having the same conversation with folks at the only grocery store in Boardman, his eastern Eastern Oregon […]
How Oregon’s Data Center Boom is Supercharging a Water Crisis Read More »
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
Support Our Work to Defend Instream Water Rights Read More »
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 23, 2025 For information, please contact:Tommy Hough, tommy@waterwatch.orgKimberley Priestley, kjp@waterwatch.org WaterWatch Applauds Governor Kotek’s Directive to Accelerate Climate Protections for State Lands and WatersCiting rivers, lakes, and wetlands, an executive order issued by the governor directs state agencies to prioritize application of climate resilient strategies into existing programs. Salem, Oregon —
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
If You Love Fishing, You Won’t Want to Miss This Year’s Live or Silent Auctions Read More »
By Chrissy Ewald | Oct. 12, 2025 | Grants Pass Daily Courier One year after a concrete irrigation dam that spanned the Illinois River was demolished and removed, it’s hard to tell the dam was ever there. It was too early in the season on Thursday to see fall chinook salmon, but small juvenile fish
A petition filed by Representative Mark Owens would undermine proposed rules to stabilize groundwater in the Harney Basin. The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) is moving to designate the Harney Basin in the high desert of southeast Oregon a “critical groundwater area” to ensure more sustainable groundwater levels. Proposed rules developed over the course of a lengthy and exhaustive public
Take Action! Help Stop a Bad Groundwater Deal for the Harney Basin! Read More »
By Alejandro Figueroa | Sept. 29, 2025 | OPB A coalition of irrigators, tribes and local governments organized under state Rep. Mark Owens — a Republican from Harney County and a farmer — recently filed a petition asking the Oregon Water Resources Commission to consider a different set of rules that diverges from regulators own
By Mateusz Perkowski | Sept. 18, 2025 | Capital Press WaterWatch continues to express skepticism over a proposed regulatory scheme to boost groundwater in the Harney basin. Irrigators and other water users are advocating for alternative groundwater restrictions to be adopted in Oregon’s Harney basin rather than those proposed by state regulators. The coalition, which
Alternative Proposed to Harney Basin Groundwater Restrictions Read More »
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
Early Bird Pricing for Our 40th Anniversary Celebration Has Closed Read More »
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
And the Winner of Our August Fishing Trip Raffle Is…. Read More »
By Kendra Chamberlain | Aug. 27, 2025 | Columbia Insight A court decision has upheld existing instream water rights held by the state on Drift Creek, a tributary of the Pudding River. A decision by the Oregon Supreme Court is being lauded as a win for fish, but could throw a wrench into future water
Proposal Denied for Dam Near Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park Read More »
By Monique Merrill | Aug. 21, 2025 | Courthouse News While a controversial southern Oregon dam may delay the migration of a threatened species of salmon, the impact isn’t significant enough to violate federal environmental laws, a federal judge in Portland ruled on Thursday. “This court concludes that plaintiffs have not proven by a preponderance of
WaterWatch Continues its Efforts to Remove Winchester Dam Read More »
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
Rogue Dam Removals and This Saturday’s Rogue Spey Clave Read More »
Aug. 13, 2025 In a win for WaterWatch of Oregon and instream water rights, the Oregon Supreme Court last week upheld most of a 2023 Court of Appeals decision that affirmed a 2019 Oregon Water Resources Commission decision to deny a permit to construct a 70-foot high dam and 384-acre reservoir on Drift Creek, an 11-mile tributary of the Pudding River in Marion
Oregon Supreme Court Protects Instream Water Rights Read More »
By Bill Poehler | Aug. 12, 2025 | Salem Statesman Journal The Oregon Supreme Court remanded the Oregon Water Resources Commission’s denial of water rights by the East Valley Water District. The Oregon Water Resources Commission must reconsider its denial of a proposed dam in farmland south of Silverton, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled on
Oregon Supreme Court Rules Water Rights for Proposed Dam Were Improperly Denied Read More »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 8, 2025 For information, please contact:Tommy Hough, WaterWatch of Oregon, tommy@waterwatch.orgBrian Posewitz, WaterWatch of Oregon, brian@waterwatch.org Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Key Ruling for Drift Creek Instream Water RightThe state’s highest court affirmed most of a lower court’s ruling protecting a tributary of the Pudding River from a proposed 70-foot dam and
Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Key Ruling for Drift Creek Instream Water Right Read More »
By Mateusz Perkowski | Aug. 8, 2025 | Capital Press Read WaterWatch of Oregon’s corresponding press release on the Oregon Supreme Court decision. An irrigation district must get another chance to persuade Oregon water regulators to approve a new Willamette Valley reservoir, according to a recent state Supreme Court ruling. The East Valley Water District’s
Oregon Supreme Court Orders Reconsideration of Irrigation Reservoir Denial Read More »
Join WaterWatch of Oregon and a giant cast of anglers, Spey casters, fly fishing guides, casting instructors, and exhibitors from across the Pacific Northwest at the inaugural Rogue Spey Clave on Saturday, Aug. 23rd, at Griffin Park on the Rogue River. Organized by longtime Oregon fly fishing guides and Spey casting instructors Jon Hazlett and Dax Messett, the Rogue Spey Clave takes inspiration from events
Join WaterWatch at the Inaugural Rogue Spey Clave Aug. 23rd Read More »
By Nathaniel Perales | Aug. 1, 2025 | High Country News “My vision was to build a healthy ecosystem for all who live in it.” Mary Lou Soscia is a Columbia River advocate and a 38-year employee of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “When I came to work at the EPA, it was still
WaterWatch’s Mary Lou Soscia Profiled in High Country News Read More »
Thank you to WaterWatch members, supporters, and friends for your responses in letting the Oregon Water Resources Department know you support the adoption of strong rules to sustain groundwater, habitat, and species in the Harney Basin over the last month. After an extensive, multi-year, multi-stakeholder process and in-depth scientific study, the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) issued
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
Instream: In Conversation with Karen Russell, a WaterWatch Original Watchdog Read More »
By Jim McCarthy The Rogue River has historically supported the largest runs of wild salmon and steelhead in Oregon outside of the Columbia Basin. In turn, this abundance has supported commercial and recreational fishing jobs throughout our region, seafood production, and world class recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, Rogue Coho salmon are now listed as threatened under
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
Instream: Fighting for Rivers During the 2025 Legislative Session Read More »
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
Join WaterWatch on Aug. 2nd for a Daylong Blueberry Benefit Event in Hillsboro Read More »
After months of preparation — atop a highly challenging year advocating for our world-class rivers — WaterWatch of Oregon’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Auction arrives at Castaway Portland this Saturday evening, Nov. 1st. We’re looking forward to catching up with you along with WaterWatch’s diverse community of anglers, birders, boaters, conservationists, and river fanatics to
WaterWatch of Oregon’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Auction Read More »
By Tim Palmer | July 12, 2025 | New York Times Floods are inevitable. Catastrophe is not. Images and stories of the devastation wrought by the July 4th flood of the Guadalupe River in Texas will stay with many of us for a long time. There has been an outpouring of compassion and sorrow for
If you’re in the Portland area today — Tuesday, July 15th — stop by and join us at the Oakshire Brewing Portland location for a daylong Oakshire Inspires event benefitting WaterWatch of Oregon! WaterWatch staff and board members will be on-site at the Portland Beer Hall from 4 to 7 p.m. at 5013 NE 42nd
Join WaterWatch at Oakshire’s Portland Beer Hall July 15th Read More »
By Mateusz Perkowski | June 30, 2025 | Capital Press Oregon’s legislative session ended with lawmakers not taking action on bills that would impose new environmental review regulations on certain water rights transfers. The debate over stricter rules for water rights transfers persisted throughout the session, but even the proposal with the most momentum, Senate
Stricter Oregon Water Transfer Rules Die with End of Legislative Session Read More »
As you’ve seen in our recent action alerts, the legislative session in Salem is about to end for the year, and a number of important environmental bills are still jockeying for votes. One bill that would make major improvements to Oregon’s fish and wildlife conservation funding is close to passing, but we need your help to give
Take Action Now to Support HB 2977 for Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Read More »
Across Oregon, compromised streamflows and fish passage barriers are threatening native salmon and steelhead, birds, amphibians, and wildlife — as well as disrupting the ecosystems and communities that depend on healthy rivers. That’s why, for over 40 years, WaterWatch has worked to protect and restore natural streamflows and groundwater to ensure our rivers have enough water
Keep Oregon’s Rivers Flowing with a Gift from a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Read More »
Clean water, strong rivers, and healthy fish and wildlife are part of Oregon’s identity, yet many of our state’s outdated water laws are at odds with those values. Right now we have a chance to protect the public benefits our rivers provide by tightening a dangerous loophole that currently allows the Oregon Water Resources Department
We Need Your Support for Oregon Senate Bill 1153 NOW Read More »
Please speak up NOW to help us stop three bad rules bills targeting state rulemakings, agency discretion, and executive functions. The three bills — HB 3569, HB 2692, and HB 2454 — follow the ongoing federal trend of blurring the lines between the three branches of government, and gives the regulated industry a leg up
Please Weigh in NOW Against Three Bad Rules Bills Read More »
By Marcy Cottrell Houle | May 14, 2025 | Los Angeles Times We are on the cusp of losing the integrity of one of the most significant environmental acts ever enacted in the United States. Why should this matter? As the Pulitzer Prize-winning evolutionary biologist E.O. Wilson put it: “We should preserve every scrap of
The Endangered Species Act Faces Its Own Existential Threat Read More »
The White House is threatening the integrity of the federal Endangered Species Act by proposing to remove the regulatory definition of “harm.” As part of its ongoing campaign attacking long-standing U.S. environmental laws and policies, the White House is threatening a critical underpinning of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) by proposing to remove the regulatory definition of “harm,” which is
At no other moment since the first Earth Day 55 years ago has our nation’s conservation legacy been so threatened. Earth Day is a special day for everyone who loves and appreciates life on our planet as we celebrate habitat, species, vast landscapes, clean air, and the water that renews and recharges our rivers, streams,
Critical Support Needed for Rivers This Earth Day Read More »
By Brian Posewitz WaterWatch recently completed a contested case hearing seeking to prevent a water right transfer from exacerbating low streamflows in Bridge Creek, a tributary to the John Day River with important habitat for threatened steelhead. Bridge Creek Ranch, an affiliate of Papé Machinery that owns and operates Painted Hills Reservoir, wants to move
By Jim McCarthy This past fall, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists found fall chinook salmon spawning in a stretch of the Illinois River previously submerged under the Pomeroy Dam reservoir pool. This development came just a few months after WaterWatch removed the 10-foot high, 270-foot wide concrete structure from this Rogue Basin tributary,
Instream: Chinook Spawn in Former Pomeroy Dam Reservoir Site Read More »
