Transportation access is also a big piece of the puzzle in creating more equitable communities. We need to create a city where access to a car is not a requirement for holding a job or getting to a grocery store. Take action by February 28!

Did you know that Oregon has the highest likelihood of wildlife crashes among west coast states? There’s a bill that would change that. Help us get the Wildlife Crossings Investment Act over the finish line!

There’s a chance to take action for improvements to Bend’s Midtown Crossings. Sign on to this letter of support by Monday, February 14th.

Developments don’t pop up overnight, even though it can sometimes feel that way. What’s happening around Bend, and what’s coming next?

Respecting seasonal road closures protects important habitat that helps Central Oregon’s mule deer population survive the winter.

Taken from GIS mapping software, this short video shows the growth of single-family houses on rural areas in Deschutes County between 1980 - 2017.

We’re committed to protecting Central Oregon’s farmland. So, last month, we filed a legal challenge at the Land Use Board of Appeals to do just that.

It is no exaggeration to say we couldn’t do this work without you and as more challenges lay just over the horizon, we are ready to defend and plan for Central Oregon’s livable future. Onward and upward to 2022!

Groundwater in Central Oregon is declining. But it should be an infinite resource. What’s really going on?

The public continues to voice its worry over water use in the high desert. A destination resort authorized for a water use rate of up to 6 million gallons a day continues to generate widespread concern.

In 2021, we reviewed over 2,000 proposed development applications, checking for compliance with environmental and land use laws. This past spring, LandWatch took on one particular case at the Land Use Board of Appeals that stood to set a dangerous precedent for Central Oregon’s rural lands.

Have you ever noticed that, in Oregon, you can immediately tell when you’ve left the city and are in the country? You can picture the edge of town. It’s that invisible boundary where the forest begins, the sagebrush surfaces, or the landscape transforms into rolling farmland. Having nature nearby is one of the very best things about living here.

In 2021, our monitoring and commenting on Forest Service projects got results. The LandWatch legal team succeeded on a lawsuit to keep excessive and illegal logging and roads out of delicate ecosystems in the Ochoco National Forest.

Drought has been the big story resonating throughout Central Oregon this year. The record-breaking heat and dry conditions were devastating for farming families in Jefferson County, many of whom now face a shaky financial future.

Perspective is everything. What brought each of us to Central Oregon, and how long ago, influences how we feel about our expanding communities. How connected or disconnected we are from the efforts to guide and manage that growth affects how we view the change.

Together, we met challenges head-on and stood up for what we love about this place and the people that live here.

There are times when taking action truly helps bring about the future we want to see. Right now, there are two opportunities to do just that for Bend.

Voter-approved transportation projects are starting to happen in Bend’s neighborhoods! Open Houses are great opportunities to help ensure these projects set the bar high on improving safe ways to walk, bike and roll around our city.

Two recently released forest service project plans have caught our eye. The Green Ridge Project and the Klone Management Project both seek to weaken protections for mule deer habitat by reducing deer hiding coverage below 30%.

Mule deer populations in Deschutes County declined an alarming 56% since 2004. This iconic species needs our help before it's too late.