The Horizon
Welcome to LandWatch’s blog. We’re excited to share the latest on livability and land use in Central Oregon.
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.
Oregon’s land use planning system is hailed as a model for preserving its unique agricultural and forest landscapes while fostering sustainable growth.
Despite this, a troubling trend has emerged in recent years: spot zoning of farm and forest lands.
Today, the National Marine Fisheries Service’s “non-essential experimental population” (NEP) designation for Upper Deschutes Basin steelhead expires — meaning all steelhead above the Pelton Round Butte dams are now officially listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
So much happened throughout 2024. The LandWatch team is proud to have realized some big accomplishments in the name of regional livability on behalf of Central Oregonians like you. Here is a brief retrospective of some of the things we got up to in the field, in the courtroom, and alongside our amazing community of supporters!
Over the past year, LandWatch added staff and board capacity to keep pace with the rapid change in our region, expand our impact, and achieve our ambitious vision for the future.
Now, we’re excited to introduce four inspiring community members who will be joining the LandWatch Board of Directors in 2025. Get to know Jackie Dingfelder, Nancy Hinnen, Erin Rifkin, and Peter Shepherd!
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