Central Oregon LandWatch is the only group on the front lines in defense of Deschutes County’s wildlife habitat code protections. Last week, we filed an appeal of an alarming change to the county’s Flood Plain Zone to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

The City of Bend has applied to continue using its archaic and imprecise method of diverting water from the source spring. With climate change, receding snow packs and glaciers will impact the springs meaning less and less water will flow over Tumalo Falls in the future.

Local angler and blogger, Yancy Lind weighs the costs and benefits of asking the public to fund piping of Tumalo Irrigation District's canals in this Guest Column that was published in The Bulletin on May 15, 2018.

The Metolius Basin was once threatened by clearcuts and destination resorts, but thanks in large part to our Executive Director Paul Dewey's unwavering defense of the area, it is now protected as an Area of Critical State Concern (ACSC). 
 

City Club of Central Oregon has nominated four finalists for its newly minted “Conversation of the Year” award. Central Oregon LandWatch, a land use advocacy non-profit, played a key role in two of four of the nominations – for the UGB agreement that led to the Westside Transect and for the restoration of Whychus Creek.

A recent bombastic opinion column by Victor Chudowsky muddies the water on Tumalo Creek and needs correction.

Tumalo Creek provides a peaceful refuge, outdoor recreation opportunities and crystal-clear cold water to the Middle Deschutes River. Although it is known as one of Central Oregon’s iconic gems, the Bend City Council voted to build a $60+ million water project to take more water from the creek.
 

A vast majority of LandWatch's work centers around Oregon's state wide land use planning system, but the importance of preserving public lands on a national level is not lost on us.

A new study, released May 10, 2017, finds that when it comes to allocating water from the Upper Deschutes River for irrigation purposes, less is more.  

The "kid from Kansas" continues his tireless quest to preserve the local environment

We're hosting a Student Mixer for OSU Cascades students, COCC students, and other young professionals to learn more about our work to protect farm and forest land, wildlife habitat, recreation areas and keep quality urban areas from inappropriate development.

Now through April, when you shop at Whole Foods you can donate your bag credit to LandWatch! 

LandWatch argued against the County’s proposal at the Land Use Board of Appeals because it is a one-size-fits-all solution that may make any problem worse. 

Enjoy a sunset dinner, drinks, and a raffle to benefit Central Oregon's forests and high desert, rivers and springs, wildlife habitat, and well-designed communities.

Are we running out of groundwater? The Oregonian/Oregon Live found that permits to pump groundwater are given out despite the fact that the state doesn't know how much water is actually available.

Walk down into the scenic lower Whychus Creek Canyon to Alder Springs and then on to the confluence of the creek with the thundering Deschutes River below a towering wedge of rimrock on this premier Central Oregon hike.