There is probably no species of wildlife more iconic of Central Oregon than mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Their elegant adaptations to the arid ecoregions east of the Cascades and their seeming ubiquity across both rural landscapes and urban areas give us the impression of an abundant population. But long-term studies show significant declines in regional mule deer herds. Protecting their winter range is one of the most effective measures we can take to slow and reverse this decline.

The Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is an enforceable agreement between irrigation districts and federal agencies meant to reduce the harmful effects of irrigation, but the plan currently put forth is woefully inadequate to address the health of the River, the needs of our farmers and the welfare of fish and wildlife.

Part 2 of our new series, as we dive into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s conservation plan for the Deschutes Basin.

Not only do the biggest trees in our National Forests provide enormous value to local ecosystems, but they also play an outsized role in fighting global climate change. Recently published research shows that the largest 3% of trees on our Central and Eastern Oregon National Forests store 42% of all carbon stored throughout the forest.

How does the HCP affect the Deschutes and how do our recommendations compare to what has been proposed in the final plan?

With the plans, resources, and community support finally in place to revitalize the heart of Bend, we enter an exciting phase for the BCD. LandWatch will continue working to ensure the underutilized core transforms into a vibrant, healthy, and inclusive mixed-use neighborhood with safe connections between east and west Bend.

This year’s harrowing wildfire season left thousands of our fellow Oregonians without homes – and some without their lives. These massive losses are a wake-up call.

It is time to change the rules of the game and set new streamflow goals for the Upper Deschutes River. We can restore the River to its proper functioning condition while providing irrigation water to the efficient farmers who need it. The time to act is now!

Real investments in transportation options will make neighborhoods like the Bend Central District possible. Making these improvements to our transportation system now will shape future growth throughout Central Oregon and contribute to a better future.

Had the requesting Crook County stakeholders offered more mitigation measures, including streamflow restoration in the Crooked River below Bowman Dam, the waiver application might have been approved.

The irrigation districts have a water distribution problem – too much water available to properties that engage little in farming and not enough water to our large agricultural producers or the river.

Wildfire has always had a place in the fire-adapted ecosystems of Central Oregon’s arid forest, scrub steppe, and grassland.

It is time to stop the wasteful business-as-usual practices that generate these tragic outcomes. There is too much at stake for our rivers, farmers, and communities. We advocate for sensible, incentive-based strategies that can work today.

While it won’t solve our housing crisis, the proposed development code updates will provide more options for housing that makes efficient use of land, which ultimately allows us to protect the landscapes we love while making housing available for people across the income spectrum.

LandWatch repeatedly spoke up for riparian areas during project planning, but the Forest Service moved forward anyway. We think not logging in riparian areas isn’t too much to ask for, and now we’re hoping a federal court will agree.