The Horizon
The latest updates on our work defending rural lands, creating livable cities and towns and preserving wild lands and water throughout Central Oregon
A river ecosystem on the brink
What’s in the Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Plan? We need more from the draft plan. Take action by May 1 and ask U.S. Fish and Wildlife for specific and tangible conservation actions.
Our water distribution system is based on fiction
It doesn’t take an expert to see the growing conflict over the scarcity of water supplies in Central Oregon, intensified by drought and the impacts of climate change. But the Oregon spotted frog is not to blame for our water woes, nor are the farmers whose livelihood depends on water for crops.
A New River Democracy Act introduced to Congress
Earlier this month, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced an updated version of the River Democracy Act.
Groundwater survey: How should we use groundwater?
OWRD recognizes there is an issue with over-allocation of groundwater resources. Right now, they are seeking our input on how to move forward and shape a groundwater permitting system that supports the quality of our aquifers while also serving the senior water rights holders and current domestic well uses in each basin.
Water bank pilot project renewed for a second year
This past year, Central Oregon saw the launch of the Deschutes Water Bank Pilot Program. This program is an innovative, voluntary, and market-based solution to addressing water shortages in the Deschutes Basin.
Guest column: Is Central Oregon the West's water future?
Central Oregon recently made national headlines when The Washington Post hailed local water infrastructure projects as “the future of the American West.” Indeed, improving the efficiency of our century-old water infrastructure is key to ushering in a modern era of water management–but it’s far from a panacea.
Defending the cold, clear water of the Metolius River Basin
Right now, Oregon has the chance to designate the Metolius River as an Outstanding Resource Water.
Oregon is leading the nation in impaired waterways
Oregon has the most miles of “impaired” waterways nationwide according to a recent report from The Environmental Integrity Project.
Drought exposes a broken water system. Here’s what we can do.
This needs to be our last season of water scarcity. It’s time for reform. First, Oregon needs to modify how “beneficial use” of water is defined, monitored, and regulated to realign water priorities to meet 21st-century needs.
Where is the groundwater going?
Groundwater in Central Oregon is declining. But it should be an infinite resource. What’s really going on?
Who protects the headwaters?
At the places where rivers begin and end, we find the ephemeral streams and tributaries that connect a diverse network of waterways.
Water waste runs rampant even during extreme drought
The ongoing drought remains at the forefront of our minds as summer draws to a close. Isn’t it time to work together to change our water policies and eliminate wasteful practices? We all stand to benefit.
The Precarious River Rages: The Illusion of the Deschutes during Drought
The Deschutes was once a very stable river. Before Wickiup Dam was completed in 1949, the Deschutes River exhibited very consistent seasonal flows. It’s common for most rivers to experience high flows with the onset of spring rains and melting snow and very low flows by the end of the summer.
Drought and the Deschutes: Looking at the same river twice
During this time of year, you can visit the Deschutes twice on the same day and see two very different rivers. On Saturday, May 1, we took a trip to Benham Falls and caught the river just south of Bend.
Peculiar River: A Photo Story of the Deschutes
This river holds the soul of Central Oregon. Photos still take our breath away. But, if you look closely towards the banks, you can see a river in dire want of restoration. The Deschutes still needs our help.
4,700 Miles of Oregon Rivers
On February 3, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the River Democracy Act to Congress. This bill, the most extensive Wild and Scenic Rivers effort in U.S. history, would add 4,702 miles of Oregon rivers and streams to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system.
A River in Peril
The Oregon spotted frog highlights where the Habitat Conservation Plan falls short.
The Northern spotted owl may be the most controversial animal in the Pacific Northwest. The owl was pushed into the national spotlight in the early 1990s…
The Tug-of-War for the Crooked River's water
Part 5 as we dive into U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s conservation plan for the Deschutes River Basin. What’s going on in the Crooked River? Uncontracted water.