Tag: Columbia River

Instream: Bob Hunter Reflects on the Early Years of WaterWatch of Oregon

By Tommy Hough One of WaterWatch of Oregon’s founding board members and long-time staff attorney, Bob Hunter participated with WaterWatch’s founders, Tom and Audrey Simmons, in the early discussions leading up to the organization’s establishment. As part of our 40th anniversary archival project, Instream recently spoke with Bob about the early years of WaterWatch, and the […]

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WaterWatch Auction Winners Sauvie Island Birding Trip

Jan. 11, 2025 WaterWatch supporters and several staff and board members donned binoculars on Jan. 11th for a special birdwatching trip to Sauvie Island in the Columbia River, led by Mike Houck, executive director of the Urban Greenspaces Institute. One of dozens of auction packages from our annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers auction event in

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Instream: Missed Opportunities in the Columbia River Treaty Update

Oct. 24, 2024 By John DeVoe For thousands of years, cultures and economies and ways of life have been tied to the Columbia River and its fish. The Columbia River is, by volume, the fourth-largest river in the United States. While 40 percent of the river’s mileage is in Canada, for some, the international border

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Casting a Line: Fall and Winter Fishing in Oregon

Oct. 24, 2024 By Jesse Robbins For trout anglers in Oregon, fall and winter are especially intriguing times of year. Across the state are numerous trout fisheries available to anglers willing to put on some extra layers. Three are discussed here, and there’s enough water between them to keep any angler busy for both seasons.

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Virtual Columbia River Treaty Presentation This Monday at 12 Noon

As WaterWatch recently detailed, along with fellow environmental organizations in a Columbia River Treaty Conservation Caucus press release, and as reported by the Associated Press and PBS, the U.S. and Canada have reached an agreement in principle on some items that were the subject of negotiations in the ongoing update to the Columbia River Treaty. Unfortunately, that update remains focused on utility revenue and flood control at the

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U.S. and Canada Agree to Update 60 Year Old Columbia River Treaty

By Nicholas K. Geranios | July 24, 2024 | Cascade PBS Politicians are celebrating the tentative agreement, while activists and tribal leaders say it doesn’t do enough to protect endangered salmon runs. The United States and Canada have reached a new deal to manage the mighty Columbia River, an economic and environmental powerhouse that starts

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U.S. Would Keep More Hydropower Under Agreement with Canada on Treaty Governing Columbia River

By Gene Johnson | July 11, 2024 | Associated Press The U.S. and Canada said Thursday they have agreed to update a six-decade-old treaty that governs the use of one of North America’s largest rivers, the Columbia, with provisions that officials said would provide for effective flood control, irrigation, and hydropower generation and sharing between

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Disappointing Columbia River Treaty “Agreement in Principle” Prioritizes Hydropower, Flood Control Over Needs of Imperiled Salmon and River Health

July 11, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact:Bill Arthur, Sierra Club, billwarthur@gmail.comJoseph Bogaard, Save Our wild Salmon Coalition, joseph@wildsalmon.orgRev. A.C. Churchill, Earth Ministry / Washington Interfaith Power and Light, ac@earthministry.orgJohn DeVoe, WaterWatch of Oregon, john@waterwatch.org Columbia River Treaty “Agreement in Principle” Prioritizes Hydropower andFlood Control Over the Needs of Imperiled Salmon and

Disappointing Columbia River Treaty “Agreement in Principle” Prioritizes Hydropower, Flood Control Over Needs of Imperiled Salmon and River Health Read More »

Google’s Water Use Soaring in the Dalles, Records Show, with Two More Data Centers to Come

By Mike Rogoway | Dec. 18, 2022 | The Oregonian Google’s water use in The Dalles has nearly tripled in the past five years, and the company’s data centers now consume more than a quarter of all the water used in the city. That’s according to records released this week after the city settled a

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The Dalles Drops Fight to Keep Google Water Use Private

Andrew Selsky | Dec. 15, 2022 | Associated Press Residents of The Dalles, Oregon, are learning how much of their water Google’s data centers have been using to cool the computers inside the cavernous buildings — information that previously was deemed a trade secret. Google says its data centers in the Oregon town consumed 274.5

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Groundwater Over-Allocation in Oregon — the Deschutes, Umatilla, Klamath and Harney Basins

By WaterWatch Staff | April 6, 2022 | Instream While groundwater permitting standards require Oregon to determine whether water is available before issuing a new groundwater permit, in practice, the state all too often lacks enough data to make that determination. As a result, and a habit, the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) often operates

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Vanport Flood’s legacy in Columbia River dams: Guest opinion

Vanport Flood’s legacy in Columbia River dams: Guest opinion Updated May 30, 1:36 PM; Posted May 30, 1:15 PM Vanport Flood (LC- Oregon Historical Society) The Oregonian/OregonLive By John DeVoe A building on Second Avenue in Portland has two small markers: One says “High Water Mark – 1894.” That marker is about at my shoulder level. The second

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Columbia River Treaty Watchers Hope to Right 50 Years of Wrongs

By Rob Chaney | April 13, 2018 | The Missoulian Fire up half a dozen bulldozers over a summer and Canada could turn the Kootenai River away from Libby Dam and pour its water into the Columbia River. Nobody’s planning to do that. But somebody thought it was significant enough to include in the 1964

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New treaty must address ecosystem concerns

GUEST VIEWPOINT New treaty must address ecosystem concerns By John DeVoe The Register-Guard January 28, 2018

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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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Draining Oregon: State Pours Million Into Fifteenmile Creek but Fails to Help Steelhead for Lack of Water

By Kelly House | Aug. 26, 2016 | The Oregonian: Draining Oregon Government agencies have spent more than $2.8 million in taxpayer money on this tiny Columbia River tributary since 2004. Workers have planted shade willows on the banks, lined its rocky bottom with logpile hiding places, and fenced off cattle from the sensitive habitat.

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Draining Oregon: Harney County Becomes the Latest Casualty of Lax State Oversight of Water and Irrigation

By Kelly House | Aug. 26, 2016 | The Oregonian: Draining Oregon Rancher Harold Knieriem thought his days of worrying about water would end with retirement. No more angst when the skies dry up or a mild winter dollops too little snow on the mountains, leaving his cattle to dine on withered grass. Then the

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Oregon, feds to map cold water fish refuges in Columbia, Willamette rivers

Oregon, feds to map cold water fish refuges in Columbia, Willamette rivers By Kelly House The Oregonian/OregonLive November 3, 2015 Yakama fishermen Rex Zack and Doug Lamere prepare hoop nets on a fishing platform suspended over the Columbia River. Salmon have been central to the economy and culture of Pacific Northwest tribes for centuries. Photo

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Stream of Consciousness: Drought, Deconstructed

By John DeVoe | June 15, 2015 | Instream For many Oregonians, drought once existed as an abstraction, something that happened elsewhere, far away. No longer. This summer, Oregon’s rivers are suffering some of the lowest streamflows and highest water temperatures in our recorded history. These conditions are triggering tragic kills of salmon, steelhead, trout,

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Columbia River Treaty: State Department to Include Ecosystem Function in Negotiating Position

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 Thursday, June 4, 2015 Contacts – * Pat Ford (Save Our wild Salmon) 208-345-9067 pford@wildidaho.org (Boise) * Greg Haller (Pacific Rivers Council) 503-228-3555 greg@pacificrivers.org (Portland)

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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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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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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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Our View: Water bill looms as accomplishment for ’09 Legislature

Our View: Water bill looms as accomplishment for ’09 Legislature By Editorial East Oregonian July 14, 2009 Gov. Ted Kulongoski has yet to sign House Bill 3369, but it looks like he will in the next week or two. That should be like the sound of running water to a parched pilgrim. It means

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Aquifer recharge bill advances to Ways and Means Committee

Aquifer recharge bill advances to Ways and Means Committee By Mitch Lies Capital Press June 23, 2009 SALEM – A legislative committee on Monday, June 22, moved a multi-part bill that could improve groundwater supplies in the Umatilla Basin and help the state develop a statewide water management plan. “This is a piece of work

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Demolition Commences on Rogue River’s Savage Rapids Dam

May 28, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information, please contact: Bob Hunter, WaterWatch of Oregon, (541) 826-4399 Demolition Commences on Rogue River’s Savage Rapids Dam Work Crews Move Closer to Historic Restoration Grants Pass, Oregon — June 1st will mark another milestone in the ongoing restoration of the Rogue River when dam demolition commences on

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Rough debut for Columbia water bill

Rough debut for Columbia water bill By Mitch Lies Capital Press February 19, 2009 SALEM – It was, as John DeVoe of WaterWatch said, deja vu all over again in a House committee hearing Tuesday, Feb. 17, on a bill calling for summer water withdrawals from the Columbia River. Many of the same players

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Salmon runs on Rogue expected to revive once dams come down

Salmon runs on Rogue expected to revive once dams come down By Matthew Preusch Oregonian June 09, 2008 One of Oregon’s storied rivers is on the cusp of a major makeover. What’s happening on the Rogue River isn’t so much transformation as reversion. Dams built during the previous century will come down. Reservoirs will

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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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The Trouble With Salmon

The Trouble With Salmon New York Times editorial about the decision of the federal government to shut down commercial salmon fishing along the California coast to north-central Oregon. New York Times April 15, 2008 The federal government’s decision to shut down commercial salmon fishing from the California coast to north-central Oregon is a blow

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Legislature’s Feb. session to seek more water for rural Oregon

Legislature’s Feb. session to seek more water for rural Oregon Associated Press article on the Oregon Legislature’s proposal to establish aquifer storage areas in eastern Oregon. By Brad Cain Associated Press January 12, 2008 It was touted by backers as the “Oasis Project,” a plan to draw an additional 500,000 acre-feet of water from

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Governor Stresses need to store more water

Governor Stresses need to store more water Article on Gov. Kulongoski exploring water storage options in the Umatilla Basin. By Harry Esteve Oregonian November 09, 2007 WARM SPRINGS — At a meeting with Oregon tribal leaders Thursday, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said he wants to look at building massive water storage areas in eastern Oregon

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The Fight for Water

The Fight for Water Oregon Business Magazine looks at current water issues and water politics in the Oregon Legislature By Robin Doussard Oregon Business Magazine August 01, 2007 AUGUST 2007: COVER STORY Can Oregon meet the demands of its farms, fish and people? The battle lines over a controversial effort during this year’s Legislature to

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Bill would give away more Columbia River water

Bill would give away more Columbia River water By Janie Har Oregonian February 05, 2007 Senators introduced a bill on Monday that would allow the private sector to take 500,000 acre-feet of Columbia River water each year for irrigation and other purposes. Supporters say they need Senate Bill 483 — also called the Oregon Oasis

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