Take action today! Healthy habitats are homes for wildlife. As Deschutes County grows, a growing population, increased recreation activity, and development are putting wildlife under pressure.

Growth in Deschutes County continues to outpace the rest of the state. But as places like Bend continue to boom, how can the county grow responsibly? We hear details from Ben Gordon, the executive director of Central Oregon LandWatch, and Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang.

The ongoing drought remains at the forefront of our minds as summer draws to a close. Isn’t it time to work together to change our water policies and eliminate wasteful practices? We all stand to benefit.

There is a housing shortage across the country, driving up costs and limiting available housing options for residents in cities and towns nationwide. Bend is no exception. HB 2001 requires most cities in Oregon, including Bend, to allow more middle housing options within city limits.

In September of 2020, we watched wildfires ignite across Oregon in one of the most devastating fire seasons on record. How can we plan for a safer future in our fire-adapted landscape?

No more excuses. It’s time for the County to require Thornburgh Resort to make good on its promises to mitigate for its effects on fish and wildlife.

We’ve got a community vision for Hawthorne Avenue and connecting the Bend Central District to downtown. Together, we can make this vision come to life. Learn more about the Hawthorne Bridge and find out how you can support the project.

The City has released its completed draft of its “Update.” This document is the result of the City’s process over the past year – including public comment from the various Open Houses, committee feedback, and other forms of public input.

“I support organizations that protect beautiful spaces from overdevelopment, urban sprawl and resource/access inequalities. Thank you for your work!” - Amanda P.

We’ve been taught to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but to grow sustainably, we also need to reimagine to grow sustainably. Getting a new plastic bag every time you go to the grocery store wastes plastic, so we try to reduce waste by reusing sturdy bags we already have. The same principle applies to the land beneath us.

We defend & plan for Central Oregon’s livable future. Check out our Summer 2021 print newsletter for a midyear update.

The Deschutes was once a very stable river. Before Wickiup Dam was completed in 1949, the Deschutes River exhibited very consistent seasonal flows. It’s common for most rivers to experience high flows with the onset of spring rains and melting snow and very low flows by the end of the summer.

While we can celebrate some big victories for wildlife and conservation efforts, it’s clear we’ve got more work to do.

This past January, just days before the inauguration of President Biden, a President Trump political appointee in Washington D.C. signed a last-minute decision to roll back protections for big trees on six National Forests in Central and Eastern Oregon.

If you’re a Central Oregonian, chances are you are well-acquainted with Skyline Forest. But did you know that it’s not federally protected public land?

On Friday, June 18, the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals issued a remand of Deschutes County’s previous decision to approve industrial development near Deschutes Junction.

For 50 years, Oregon’s statewide land use system, envied and emulated nationally and internationally, has provided for planned and relatively sustainable patterns of development balanced by prudent restraint.

Today, we say farewell to Moey Newbold, our Director of Urban Planning. After a decade of fierce advocacy work with Central Oregon LandWatch, Moey is stepping down from her position to embark on new adventures.

On Monday, June 14, a settlement was reached between Central Oregon LandWatch, Oregon Wild, and the U.S. Forest Service to exclude sensitive riparian habitat from a proposed logging project in the Ochoco National Forest.