Meeting the moment
The early December snowfall in Central Oregon near Three Creeks: Caitlyn Burford
Dear Reader,
Perspective is everything. What brought each of us to Central Oregon, and how long ago, influences how we feel about our expanding communities. How connected or disconnected we are from the efforts to guide and manage that growth affects how we view the change.
Thank you for taking a moment for yourself and our community. Hopefully, you’re feeling settled and contemplative because there is much here to consider.
As you explore the contents of this newsletter, check in with yourself about concerns you may have for the future. How does it feel knowing there is an organization working to solve these defining challenges? Depending on how they are addressed now, we can solidify Central Oregon as a place that got it right as it grew.
Take a peek into LandWatch’s urban innovation lab, where community advocacy translates into real solutions that tackle climate change, create more affordable housing options, invest in viable car-free alternatives, and ensure nature remains close to our neighborhoods in Bend, Sisters, and beyond.
Revel in, much as the elk do, the many acres along creeks and rivers in the Ochoco National Forest that remain protected for wildlife habitat. These areas were spared from logging as a result of the legal challenge LandWatch brought against a proposed timber sale on public lands.
Envision the droughts of the future having less dire consequences as we work to improve water management systems to eliminate waste. We can protect water for higher and better uses like the fish and farmers who bore the brunt of the impacts this year.
Take comfort in knowing that LandWatch’s legal team reviewed over 2,000 proposed development applications this year, checking for compliance with environmental and land use laws to keep our farms and forests from being overwhelmed by development.
LandWatch is showing up to meet this moment. I hope you come to the same conclusion that I have; for all of the change a growing population brings to this region, there has never been a more exciting time to envision and work toward Central Oregon’s livable future.
Together for Central Oregon,
Ben Gordon
Executive Director
WINTER 2021
LandWatch’s End-of-year Newsletter
Three Days to 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!