Rapid growth presents us with a challenge and an opportunity: to grow well and with intention so that our communities are more vibrant, affordable, inclusive, and climate-resilient. So let’s take a look at what we can do to act locally for our climate and community.

Join us on Oct. 23 to gaze out over Central Oregon agriculture horizon with local farmers and ranchers Megan Kellner-Rode, Cate Havstad-Casad, and Sky Sharp.

We guarantee you will leave fired up about local agriculture!

Central Oregon LandWatch recently added our name to the long and growing list of supporters of Ballot Measure 9-173. The measure will appear on the November ballot for consideration by all Deschutes County voters, and asks whether the size of the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners should be expanded from three to five commissioners.

LandWatch feels strongly that the answer is “yes,” and here is why.

In less than a century, the impacts of irrigation, hydropower projects, and other human activities throughout the Deschutes Basin have disrupted the natural water systems and environmental conditions that sustained abundant steelhead populations for millennia.

In order to take steps toward habitat recovery, it is important to understand how we’ve fundamentally changed these waterways.

LandWatch’s new Livable Future Forum will provide a place for discussion and dialogue about the key environmental issues of our time and the solutions that we can put into place locally. On Oct 3, 2024, we will talk about the factors leading to local mule deer population decline and the critically-needed solutions available to help them.

To meet existing and future water needs, the Basin’s senior irrigation districts need to ramp up financial incentive programs to conserve more water, in concert with the piping of private laterals.

The City of Bend’s new tree code took effect in August, with the aim to balance protecting more trees — especially large, mature trees — during development, without hindering the production of much-needed housing. That’s a tight needle to thread, to be sure. Striking that balance was a long, tough process - and the road ahead isn’t looking any easier. Local developers have challenged the newly adopted code.

In August, the U.S. Forest Service issued its final decision regarding an important timber sale on the Ochoco National Forest — and we’re pleased to report that the Forest Service ultimately made significant improvements to the Mill Creek project, providing meaningful safeguards for forest ecosystems and the wildlife that depend upon them.

The future of Bend is happening now.

The City of Bend is beginning work that will guide our community’s growth now and for the next 20 to 50 years. LandWatch’s Cities & Towns team is and will be deeply involved with these efforts on the path ahead—and we’ll make sure our community knows the best times to make their voices heard along the way. 

How do you get around? Be a voice for transportation choices that help Central Oregon thrive.

Central Oregon LandWatch is committed to protecting the livability of our region. When you make a legacy gift to Central Oregon LandWatch, you are helping to protect this unique region from threats like overdevelopment and habitat destruction.

LandWatch and partners across the country are calling on the Forest Service to strengthen protections for the United States’ remaining old-growth and mature forests.

Join us by adding your name to our petition today!

Creating wildlife crossings is a practical, cost-effective move that is also an act of empathy that insists that animals have a right to safety, just as we humans do.

Central Oregon’s rural lands offer iconic scenic vistas, sustain complex high desert ecosystems, and enable a thriving regional agricultural economy.

When you stock up on local food, you’ll enjoy fresher, seasonal food with greater nutritional value.

Bonus: You get shorter transportation distances and a stronger local economy, too!

The revitalization of the Bend Central District — affectionately known as the BCD — into a Complete Community is one of the most promising, broadly supported, and exciting efforts in the entire city. In 2024, the BCD will really start to look, feel, and function differently and we’re so here for it!

The steelhead trout is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic species of fish.

In this series, we’re exploring the history of steelhead in the Deschutes Basin, the impacts irrigation and development have had on this species and their habitat, the actions water managers and regulators are proposing to address threats to this species, and whether they go far enough to restore the critical habitat this iconic species needs and deserves.

Addressing water shortages in the Deschutes Basin requires a comprehensive Water Management Plan that integrates infrastructure improvements and market-based incentives to efficiently allocate water for both agricultural and environmental needs.

The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, through the state’s Place-Based Planning process, is developing this plan to ensure balanced water distribution and overcome existing systemic issues, emphasizing the need for immediate and coordinated action.

To keep pace with the rapid change in our region, expand our impact, and achieve our ambitious vision for the future, LandWatch recently welcomed new staff and added to our board of directors!

Five cyclists with extensive experience with “practical cycling” — the kind of riding that takes us to and from schools, shops, and workplaces — share their advice for people who are curious about bike commuting in Bend.

You will find a number of low-stress routes in Bend to enjoy already, and options will improve in coming years.