The Oregon spotted frog highlights where the Habitat Conservation Plan falls short.

The Northern spotted owl may be the most controversial animal in the Pacific Northwest. The owl was pushed into the national spotlight in the early 1990s…

Here’s a little good news for 2021. Defending the environment through land use advocacy is often a long and arduous endeavor. Sit back and let us spin you a tale of how steadfast advocacy and a community passionate about wildlife can achieve success.

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.