Your advocacy made a difference
LandWatch staff from left to right: Kavi Chokshi, Rory Isbell, Caitlyn Burford, Carol Macbeth, Corie Harlan, Ben Gordon, Kristen Sabo, Tod Heisler, Paul Dewey. Not pictured: Kori Sparks, Nathan Hovekamp.
As we round the corner of another year, we have much for which to be grateful. This year, we called on you to take action for Central Oregon. And you did!
In nearly twenty instances this year, we reached out to you to speak up for livable communities and protect what we love most about this place. This advocacy made a difference.
Ponderosa pines along the Metolius River: Caitlyn Burford
Wild Lands
This year, we asked you to stand up for Oregon’s forests.
As we continue to fight a federal rollback of protections for Oregon’s old-growth forests, many of you wrote to Washington in support of protecting our biggest and oldest trees. When we saw a Forest Service logging project along the Metolius that threatened sensitive wildlife habitat, we called on you to comment.
In the new year, we will keep an eye on this proposal and monitor proposals across all of our region’s wild lands. We will continue in our watchdog role to review, comment, and litigate when needed, against harmful encroachment into wild spaces.
Cline Buttes: Caitlyn Burford
Rural Lands
We will continue to hold the line on Oregon’s land use laws to prevent sprawl into agricultural lands and wildlife habitat.
We asked you to submit a public comment regarding the outrageous water usage by a proposed destination resort near Cline Buttes. 256 of you wrote in to the public record and asked that the County consider the health and wellbeing of our watershed and wildlife.
Tumalo Falls: Jeff Finley
Water
Throughout the year, we’ve asked you to support the River Democracy Act, which is on its way to increasing protections for 25 miles along Tumalo Creek and 36 additional miles of tributaries to the Metolius River.
At LandWatch, we will continue to defend our region’s headwaters and ephemeral streams and advocate for the instream needs of the Deschutes River.
Clint McKoy
Cities and Towns
We will continue to advocate for complete communities and ensure Central Oregon has livable cities for future generations. Last January, we asked you to reach out to a new Bend City Council and ask them to implement the Core Area Plan with clear direction and leadership. Last week, the City announced members for the Core Area Advisory Board to help guide the next chapter of Bend Central District and Bend’s Core Area.
We asked you to weigh in on safe and sustainable transportation improvements for Bend throughout this year. Last Wednesday, the Bend City Council adopted recommendations from the Transportation Bond Oversight Committee to establish priorities for the next five years. The recommendations received unanimous approval with no objections!
As the watchdog for Oregon’s land use system, LandWatch will continue to hold firm to its values to defend and protect rural landscapes, wildlife habitat, clean water, and the continued livability of this region for generations to come.
Double your impact
In support of our year-end giving campaign, three generous donors have come together to offer a dollar-for-dollar match for every contribution made.
From now until December 31, each donation to support LandWatch will be doubled until we reach our goal of $60,000. Help us make the most of this match!
With your support, we’ve been able to defend our region’s beauty and unique character for more than three decades and will continue to build healthy, sustainable, and livable communities in the new year and beyond. Central Oregon thanks you!