This needs to be our last season of water scarcity. It’s time for reform. First, Oregon needs to modify how “beneficial use” of water is defined, monitored, and regulated to realign water priorities to meet 21st-century needs.

An application to rezone 710-acres from farmland to rural residential is scheduled for a hearing next Tuesday.

What happened along Phil’s trail should never happen again in Oregon’s national forests. Despite the public outcry and demands to leave these big trees standing, the marked trees were logged last week. Like you, we are devastated by this news.

Why are the biggest, oldest trees marked for removal in the Deschutes National Forest?

Central Oregon community rallies together to oppose possible land sale to resort developers. On March 10, 2022, over 200 people attended a virtual public hearing over a proposed land sale from the Department of State Lands to a private resort developer. Thornburgh

Oregon’s legislative session comes to a close. For the last 32 days, LandWatch has been actively engaged in the fast-paced, high-stakes game in Salem. We’re happy to report back with good news from the Capitol.

Right now, 400-acres of public land at Cline Buttes might get fenced off, sold to a private luxury resort development.
Luckily, the Department of State Lands is asking for public input. Have something to say? So do we.

Skyline Forest and Bend share a border within the wildland-urban interface (WUI) that is essential for managing wildfire risk to our communities.

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.