Join Vámonos Outside, Protect Our Winters, and Central Oregon LandWatch for a night of short films and a Q&A with filmmakers and athletes Jr Rodriguez and Vanessa Chavarriaga. 

Either voluntarily or by enforcement, we call on Deschutes County to honor that covenant by ending its practice of spot zoning.

Originally published as a Guest Column in the Bend Bulletin on 08/27/2025.

Ryder Redfield is a Central Oregon original. Born and between among the mountains, rivers, and wide-open skies, he carries the spirit of this place in everything he does.

LandWatch’s Rural Lands team recently won a case challenging Deschutes County’s decision to rezone 65 acres of irrigated farmland before Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

Before LandWatch’s summer legal intern Zoe Morton headed back to Lewis & Clark Law School, we had one more assignment for her: reflect back on her time with us and answer a few curveball questions. 

Recently, we saw a fiery online debate about farm stands, agritourism, and DLCD Farm Stand rulemaking process. If you witnessed or participated in the recent dialogue but had a nagging feeling that you weren’t being told the whole story, this blog post is for you.

Six months of nonstop bill tracking, analysis, advocacy, and collaboration kept the entire LandWatch team busier than ever and on our toes every step of the way. It was well worth the effort, though, and now, it’s time to take a look back at everything that transpired.

The Trump administration has announced its plans to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Check out our primer to come up to speed on the importance of the Roadless Rule, learn what can be expected next, and find out how you can plug in to defend public lands in Central Oregon and beyond from this new threat.

With strong community support, LandWatch and Advocates for the West team up to defend Central Oregon’s waters, wildlife, and public lands.

The USFS’ final decision on the Green Ridge project may represent incremental progress toward more meaningfully prioritizing wildlife habitat on the Deschutes National Forest.

Celebrate Juneteenth by screening Farming While Black for free on June 19 or attending the Juneteenth Celebration at Open Space Event Studios in the Bend Central District on June 20.

LandWatch members are leaning into local advocacy during uncertain times. Our community continues to show that local action is a steadying force—and a source of hope.

Oregon’s 2025 legislative session is heading into its final weeks, and LandWatch is proud to report that it’s shaping up to be a good year for us in Salem.

The combined effects of a warmer and drier climate, more people living in fire-prone areas and vegetation and debris built up over years of fire suppression are leading to more severe fires that spread faster and put people, wild lands and economies at risk. Prescribed burns are a solution, but the U.S. Forest Service need the staffing, data and research to carry them out.

Wildfire is essential in our landscape, and an expected element of living, working, and playing in Central Oregon. As we plan for the future, we must learn to coexist with fire.

Cascade East Transit is offering free rides, expanded service, and fantastic prizes from June 2—8 during Try Transit Week! We checked in with Derek Hofbauer from CET to learn more about Central Oregon’s many transportation options.

The 2025 fire season is projected to be more intense than the 2024 season fire leaders said, but emergency response agencies have begun preparing early

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.