The Horizon
All the latest updates on our work defending rural lands, creating livable cities and towns and preserving wild lands and water throughout Central Oregon
Healthy habitats save wildlife
Our regional identity is connected to our wildlife. They are a hallowed part of what makes this place exceptional and distinct. Now is the time to speak up for Central Oregon’s wild creatures.
Mapping Sisters Toolkit
Maps, as promised! Thanks for joining Central Oregon LandWatch on Tuesday for Mapping Sisters’ Future.
Welcoming Kavi Chokshi to LandWatch
Kavi Chokshi joined LandWatch in March as our new Membership and Engagement Coordinator. Welcome, Kavi!
City & Towns Update: City Council adopts new goals!
On Wednesday, March 17th, the Bend City Council adopted six goals with promising strategies to achieve them.
Peculiar River: A Photo Story of the Deschutes
This river holds the soul of Central Oregon. Photos still take our breath away. But, if you look closely towards the banks, you can see a river in dire want of restoration. The Deschutes still needs our help.
Oregon’s Big Trees Still Need Your Voice
After 25 years of protection from logging, big trees on our public lands are once again threatened. The biggest trees make up only 3% of our forests. We should be protecting them, not cutting them down.
Deschutes County Town Hall
This Saturday, March 6 at 11 a.m. Register here. A chance to raise important issues with Representative Jason Kropf and Commissioner Phil Chang.
Guest Column: We can have healthy communities and affordable housing
Guest Column at The Bulletin. Whether it’s the Zoom Effect or the curse of being a region known for its unsurpassed livability, Central Oregon is feeling a housing crunch. Affordable housing is almost nonexistent and available inventory is at all-time lows.
Protect farmland for farm use!
Industrial use doesn’t belong on farmland. LandWatch is challenging Deschutes County's decision to convert farmland into industrial use.
Legislative Update
LandWatch’s 2021 Legislative Advocacy Kickoff event was a thundering success! On February 4, we “zoomed” in together, with our Executive Director, Ben Gordon, leading off as our emcee and outlining the importance of our legislative work. Read more…
4,700 Miles of Oregon Rivers
On February 3, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the River Democracy Act to Congress. This bill, the most extensive Wild and Scenic Rivers effort in U.S. history, would add 4,702 miles of Oregon rivers and streams to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system.
Your Voice, Your Impact
Your voice was heard loud and clear! Last month, we asked you to help us weigh in on the Bend City Council’s goals for the next two years.
A River in Peril
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…
A pivotal moment for the City of Sisters
How will this beloved town choose to grow? The City of Sisters recently launched its Comprehensive Plan Update, which will shape how the beloved town develops through 2040 and beyond.
Wildlife habitat in Deschutes Canyon saved! Again
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.
A Note from our Lobbyist in Salem
A letter from Jonathan Manton, our lobbyist in Salem. Read more to get to know Jonathan and our priorities for the 2021 Oregon State legislative session.
New City Councilors, New Goals for Bend
Put plans into action! Tonight, four new Bend City Councilors will be sworn into office. In the November 2020 election, Bend residents voted in Melanie Kebler, Rita Schenkelberg, Anthony Broadman, and Megan Perkins to the council.
The Tug-of-War for the Crooked River's water
Part 5 as we dive into U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s conservation plan for the Deschutes River Basin. What’s going on in the Crooked River? Uncontracted water.