The Horizon
Welcome to LandWatch’s blog. We’re excited to share the latest on livability and land use in Central Oregon.
Urban sprawl doesn’t solve the underlying problem of America’s housing shortage—it is the underlying problem.
Shared Post from the smart growth minds at strongtowns.org
On May 7, 2025, Thornburgh’s troubled attempt to revise its Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan will come before the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners again.
LandWatch is advocating for a data-driven approach that ensures Bend’s new tree code continues to support both streamlined housing development and the health of our urban forest.
With the recent award of $688,800 from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative has reached a critical fundraising milestone and secured the money needed to apply for federal matching funds for phase two of the project — engineering and design of four crossing structures.
Jeremy Orr, Director of Litigation and Advocacy Partnerships at Earthjustice from Earthjustice, and attorneys from Crag Law Center and Advocates for the West will join Central Oregon LandWatch to examine the Trump administration’s motivations with regard to national forest management and explain how the environmental justice community is pushing back against questionable, dangerous or illegal moves.
We’re kicking off Earth Month by sharing a selection of resources designed to inspire practical climate action — personalized for you. We hope these tools help you feel empowered to see yourself and your community as a tangible driver of climate solutions.
Bend has advanced to the Final Four in the national Strongest Town Contest—an exciting recognition of the work being done to create a more sustainable, resilient, and livable city.
Your vote can help propel Bend to the championship!
When a data center came knocking, Christmas Valley farmers weren’t interested. Read on for the backstory on a significant win for Christmas Valley and Lake County, and an update on an ongoing challenge to preserve agricultural land in Jefferson County.
In the first month of the new administration, environmental advocates have faced a maelstrom of threats to the foundations of environmental protection and community well-being.
At LandWatch, we are determined to stay focused on the positive changes we can affect. We are here to defend the land and water of Central Oregon and ensure a livable future for all its residents — and we won’t settle for anything less.
Our Cities & Towns team is focused on two key priorities during Oregon’s 2025 legislative session: affordable housing and transportation.
We’ve detailed some of the key opportunities on our radar in Salem this year that will move Complete Communities forward in our cities and towns east of the Cascades.
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