April 8, 2025 The spring issue of our Instream newsletter is arriving in mailboxes now, featuring a striking aerial cover photo of the McKenzie River by photographer Nicholas J. Klein. One of Oregon’s great groundwater-fed rivers, the McKenzie drains about 1,300 square miles on its route from the Cascades to the Willamette River, with 12 miles of its length protected as […]
The Caddis Fly | Jan. 12, 2025 | Oregon Fly Fishing Blog Last spring the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced it applied for over 260 new instream water rights in the Willamette River system to protect instream flows for native fish and wildlife in the North Willamette, Mid-Willamette, and South Willamette basins.
The Caddis Fly: Support New Instream Water Rights in the South Willamette Basin Read More »
Jan. 7, 2025 As mentioned in Currents and elsewhere on the WaterWatch of Oregon website, the final package of new Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) instream water right applications to legally protect natural flows in the basins of the Willamette River includes 98 streams and tributaries now being considered in the South Willamette,
Support New Instream Water Rights in the South Willamette Basin by Jan. 16th Read More »
Dec. 6, 2024 With 2025 less than a month away, we’re happy to report WaterWatch of Oregon had another big year with several key accomplishments and landmark wins in our mission to protect and restore Oregon’s rivers, streams, lakes, and aquifers. From a major victory for long-term water sustainability with the state’s adoption of new
Sharing Our End of the Year Accomplishments Report Read More »
As we reflect on the past year at WaterWatch, we have much to be proud of and much to be thankful for. We are especially grateful for supporters like you who continue to make it possible to protect and restore Oregon’s rivers, streams, lakes, and aquifers for the fish, wildlife, and people that depend upon
WaterWatch of Oregon 2024 End of the Year Accomplishments Read More »
With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season has arrived. And with it, the arrival of GivingTuesday today through 9 p.m. this evening! Since its inception in 2012, GivingTuesday has grown into a global generosity movement that inspires people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity in efforts to transform their communities and the world. You can
Nov. 2, 2024 Staff and board at WaterWatch of Oregon are heartbroken to learn of the death of long-time Oregon conservationist Bob Sallinger, who served as the executive director of Willamette Riverkeeper and Bird Conservation Oregon, in addition to his 30 years as conservation director at the Bird Alliance of Oregon in its previous incarnation
WaterWatch Statement on the Passing of Bob Sallinger Read More »
Last spring the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced it had applied for over 260 new instream water rights in the Willamette River system to protect instream flows for native fish and wildlife, including applications in the North Willamette, Mid-Willamette, and South Willamette basins. Public comment for streams and tributaries in the North
Your Support for New Willamette Instream Water Right Applications is Invaluable Read More »
Oct. 22, 2024 We need your help generating support for new legal protections for instream flows for fish along the middle basin of the Willamette River, including segments of the North, Middle, and South forks of the Santiam River, Calapooia River, Luckiamute River, Long Tom River, West Fork Marys River, and many more. As we
Sept. 26, 2024 We need your help TODAY to support new legal protections for instream flows for fish in Oregon’s beloved Willamette River system! Comments are due today at 5 p.m., so please TAKE ACTION NOW. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has applied for 269 new instream water rights, including 102 in the
Deadline to Support for Flow Protections for North Willamette is Today at 5 p.m. Read More »
June 13, 2024 After an exhaustive hiring process, WaterWatch is happy to announce the hiring of Jesse Robbins, who started work this week in WaterWatch of Oregon’s newly-created development officer position. A graduate of Bates College in Maine, Jesse received a B.A. in economics with studies that culminated in a thesis that examined the economic benefits
Welcome WaterWatch Development Officer Jesse Robbins Read More »
By Kendra Chamberlain | Feb. 29, 2024 | Columbia Insight In 2012, President Barack Obama praised a deal the city of Medford had made with the state to pay for shade trees to be planted along the Rogue River in order to offset the impacts of warm water discharges from the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
Oregon’s Thermal Trading Program is Popular — It’s Also Expensive and Unproven Read More »
Nov. 3, 2023 WaterWatch of Oregon has won the latest round in its fight to stop construction of a 70-foot-high dam on Drift Creek, a tributary of the Pudding River in Marion County. On Wednesday, the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the state Water Resource Commission’s denial of a permit for the proposed project, which
By WaterWatch Staff | Oct. 10, 2021 | Instream Watch of Oregon is challenging state approval of a plan to dampen the water-temperature impact of a $1.3 billion municipal water withdrawal project on the Willamette River. WaterWatch is asking the Multnomah County Circuit Court to overturn or re-evaluate a decision by the Oregon Department of
WaterWatch Challenges Willamette Water Temperature Plan Read More »
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,
