A letter from Ben Gordon, Executive Director

This past year, Central Oregon saw the launch of the Deschutes Water Bank Pilot Program. This program is an innovative, voluntary, and market-based solution to addressing water shortages in the Deschutes Basin.

Central Oregon recently made national headlines when The Washington Post hailed local water infrastructure projects as “the future of the American West.” Indeed, improving the efficiency of our century-old water infrastructure is key to ushering in a modern era of water management–but it’s far from a panacea.

Last year, Oregon legislators passed a comprehensive bill (SB 762) to address wildfire preparedness and resiliency across the state. Share what changes you want to see locally to minimize wildfire risk for Central Oregonians.

Environmental groups, including LandWatch, delivered more than 122,000 public comments urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to protect mature and old-growth forests and trees on federal public lands from logging as a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy.

On August 17, Deschutes County Commissioners will determine the fate of 710 acres in the Lower Bridge Valley near Terrebonne.

Worthy Brewing Company takes trees seriously. They have been advocates for healthy and resilient forests in Central Oregon and beyond. Worthy is a Pinnacle Partner of Central Oregon Landwatch, helping to fund our programs and initiatives that support Oregon’s big trees and mature forests.

Right now, Oregon has the chance to designate the Metolius River as an Outstanding Resource Water.

Forests pull carbon out of the atmosphere, and it accumulates in living trees and soil. In this way, mature forests act as carbon sinks, where the world’s forests absorb a net 7.6 billion metric tonnes of CO2 per year. Let the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management know large trees are worth more standing.

On Wednesday, August 10, the developer of a proposed destination resort called Crossing Trails withdrew their application, shutting a door on this 750-dwelling resort application on farmland near Powell Butte.

On August 17, Deschutes County Commissioners will determine the fate of 710 acres in the Lower Bridge Valley near Terrebonne.

Last week, a private developer withdrew an application to purchase 400 acres of state-owned land at Cline Buttes near Redmond, Oregon. What does this mean for the controversial resort development?

On July 29, a private developer withdrew an application to purchase 400 acres of state-owned land at Cline Buttes near Redmond, Oregon. After months of widespread opposition to the proposed public land sale, this withdrawal is a resounding win for Central Oregon communities.

Will 400 acres of public land go to Thornburgh Resort? We finally have the long-awaited answer to that question: No. This is a huge win for Central Oregon’s livable future!

Oregon has the most miles of “impaired” waterways nationwide according to a recent report from The Environmental Integrity Project.

Crossing Trails, a proposed destination resort in Crook County near Powell Butte, has begun making waves in the local community.

Will the 400-acre tract go to the developers of Thornburgh Resort? The State Land Board is expected to make a decision on the sale during a meeting on Tuesday, August 9, at 9:30 a.m.

LCDC unanimously adopts new rules that will guide future development in Oregon’s largest urban areas.

More climate-friendly and equitable communities are ahead for Oregon’s eight largest metropolitan areas, including Bend.

After nearly five years of ongoing appeals, we are happy to announce a victory for farmland in Jefferson County! Last month, the Jefferson County Planning Commission denied an application for development on agricultural land just south of Madras.