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.

More than 100 of the iconic, old-growth ponderosa pine trees which greet us when we arrive back into Central Oregon from the Santiam Pass or the Metolius River Basin are dying because they were sprayed with a deadly herbicide by the Forest Service and ODOT over the course of three consecutive years. 

Last night, LandWatch advocated for wildlife habitat and protection from wildfire risk adjacent to Shevlin Park by supporting an application for a new zone in Deschutes County. The proposal to create a Westside Transect zone will extend to the county the 2016 UGB concept of tapering density as the city boundary nears the forest where there is higher risk of wildfire.

A victory in Central Oregon LandWatch’s fight to protect elk habitat and quiet recreation opportunities in the Ochoco National Forest came out Monday, August 27th, 2018.

Last year when Deschutes County proposed amending the code to weaken winter range protections, LandWatch's members and allies, including the friends of the Tumalo Wildlife Corridor, voiced their strong support for protection of winter range habitat and the species that depend on it.

Many dying trees along Highway 20 between Sisters and Black Butte are planned to be cut down because they were sprayed with a deadly herbicide over the course of three consecutive years. These aren’t just any trees, but trees that the public had earlier saved, and the killing of the trees was easily avoidable. 

LUBA ruled that Crook County did not adequately consider the effects of their plan on significant wildlife, and in doing so, failed to comply with the law.

Tonight, the Deschutes County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on whether to weaken critical wildlife habitat protections in the Metolius Deer Winter Range. This is an opportunity for you to make your voice heard!
 

The Oregon Hunters Association filed suit in federal district court to oppose the Forest Service's plan to build a 137-mile off-road vehicle trail system through the heart of elk and deer habitat in the Ochocos. 

Today, Central Oregon LandWatch filed a detailed challenge to a Forest Service decision to carve up the Ochoco National Forest by creating a 137-miles off-road vehicle (ORV) route system.

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.

Ever wonder why it's so easy to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city to explore the peaceful mountains, high desert, and farm and range land around Central Oregon?
 

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! 

As Ochoco National Forest officials prepare to finalize a decision setting up an off-highway vehicle trail system, some participants in the process consider suing and complain that a recent meeting did not allow a full discussion of their concerns