Invitations for WaterWatch's 24th Annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers are in mailboxes now. Join us Sat., Nov. 7th, as we welcome our community of supporters and river advocates for an evening of appreciation and celebratory support — plus you won't want to miss this year's live and silent auctions!

Join WaterWatch and the Lower Columbia Canoe Club at 6:30 p.m. at Hopworks Brewery in Southeast Portland as we welcome Arctic explorer and canoeist Lee Sessions for "Paddling Across Time," the story of Lee and his crew's expedition down Canada's remote Hayes River. Visit WaterWatch.org for more.

WaterWatch has several events this month we'd love for you to join us at, including two this Saturday — we'll give a presentation on HR 655 at the Forest Over Profits conference Saturday at 11:30 a.m., followed by an appearance at the Friends of Wallace Park Fall Festival at 3 p.m. Details are here!

Join Us for These Four WaterWatch Events This Month

As we wrap up a long, hot summer and head toward autumn, WaterWatch has several events this month we’d love for you to join us at — including two this Saturday!

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In conjunction with the Lower Columbia Canoe Club, WaterWatch is thrilled to present Portland adventurer Lee Sessions as he presents "Paddling Across Time," about his and his crew's 2025 canoe expedition down Nunavut's remote Hayes River at Hopworks Brewery on Wednesday, Sept. 16th. RSVP here!

Paddling Across Time — A Hayes River Journey with Lee Sessions

In conjunction with the Lower Columbia Canoe Club, WaterWatch is thrilled to present Portland adventurer Lee Sessions as he presents "Paddling Across Time" on his and his crew's 2025 canoe expedition ...

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There are only a few spaces left for our upcoming Shifting Tides Workshop, so reserve your spot to join us Sat., Aug. 22nd, in Wheeler as marine biologist and Shifting Tides founder Alanna Kieffer facilitates this special workshop using dried seaweeds to make original, frame-worthy cyanotype prints.

Create Original Cyanotype Prints at Our Shifting Tides Workshop Aug. 22nd

Join marine biologist and Shifting Tides founder Alanna Kieffer as she facilitates this special coastal workshop in Wheeler on Saturday, Aug. 22nd.

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Oregonians are opposed to HR 655 and the transfer of 150 acres of public land from Mt. Hood Nat'l. Forest to The Dalles to fuel that city's skyrocketing water needs — no doubt driven by a large data center complex there. Join us at Sen. Wyden's Portland office Thursday at 4 p.m. to say NO to HR 655.

Take Action — NO on HR 655 Rally at Sen. Wyden's Office Thursday!

The proposed transfer of 150 acres of public land from Mt. Hood to The Dalles threatens rivers and wildlife. Help us stop it.

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The latest Currents is online with the state's denial of a temporary water right application for Knife River following WaterWatch's opposition earlier this year, a new era of "water scarcity" amidst this year's drought, increasing numbers of dry wells, a No on HR 655 rally Aug. 13th, and much more!

WaterWatch Currents — Temporary Water Right Denied for Mining Firm

A new era of "water scarcity?" Plus our Feather & FLOW birding walk is next Saturday, Aug. 15th, and Shifting Tides arrives Aug. 22nd.

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Join WaterWatch on Sat., Aug. 22nd, as marine biologist Alanna Kieffer facilitates a Shifting Tides workshop as we make seaweed cyanotype prints from a reaction between UV light and chemically coated paper. A suggested donation covers entry and supplies, but any donation to WaterWatch is valuable!

Create Original Prints at Our Shifting Tides Workshop Aug. 22nd

Join marine biologist Alanna Kieffer with Shifting Tides as she facilitates a special coastal workshop in Wheeler on Sat., Aug. 22nd.

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Join WaterWatch for Feather and FLOW, a birding walk at Whitaker Ponds in Northeast Portland on Saturday, Aug. 15th, at 9 a.m. Led by guide Eric Carlson, Feather and FLOW is a welcoming, unhurried environment offering time to stop, listen, and share the joy of birding. All experience levels welcome!

Join WaterWatch for Feather & FLOW on Saturday, Aug. 15th

Register now to join WaterWatch of Oregon with guide Eric Carlson at Whitaker Ponds in Northeast Portland on Saturday, Aug. 15th, at 9 a.m.

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With over two-thirds of Oregon under a drought emergency, WaterWatch's 2026 Drought Updates and Resource Page serves as a go-to resource for WaterWatch members and supporters, as well as press and media, for the latest on the drought with links to streamflow monitoring, climatic forecasts, and more.

New WaterWatch Drought Updates and Resource Webpage

Our 2026 drought page is a resource for streamflow details, climate and weather updates, and steps the state can take to protect rivers.

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Our latest Currents is online as WaterWatch's new drought updates and resource page goes live, tickets for our annual auction are on sale, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is still accepting testimony opposing HR 655, and Final Switchback is supporting WaterWatch through July 31st.

WaterWatch Currents — WaterWatch Drought Resources Page, Auction Tickets on Sale

A Senate committee is considering HR 655, "stockwatering" limits for CAFOs are due to sundown, and several new WaterWatch events are on the calendar.

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We need your help this weekend to stop HR 655! Submit testimony opposing HR 655 to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by 2 p.m. this Monday the 20th to ensure your remarks are considered. We only have a small window of opportunity to let the committee know Oregonians OPPOSE HR 655.

River Action Alert — Immediate, Urgent Action Needed to Stop HR 655!

The proposed transfer of 150 acres of federal public land from Mt. Hood to The Dalles threatens rivers and wildlife. Help us stop it!

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Tickets are on sale now for WaterWatch's 24th Annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers, coming up on Saturday, Nov. 7th, at Castaway Portland. Join our community of water and river advocates, anglers, and conservationists for a special evening to celebrate and support WaterWatch. Save your seat today!

Tickets On Sale NOW for WaterWatch's 24th Annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers

Join WaterWatch Saturday, Nov. 7th, at Castaway Portland to celebrate another year of Oregon river successes!

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WaterWatch was part of a coalition that helped pass SB 85 that reformed permitting for confined CAFOs and "stockwatering" without a permit. Join WaterWatch staff attorney Brian Posewitz as he details the need to make SB 85 limits permanent at the Albina Library in Portland Wed., July 22nd, at 6 p.m.

Learn More About Water Use by CAFOs on July 22nd

The event is free of charge, and will be held at the Albina Library in Portland at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22nd.

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The latest Currents features updated drought impacts, a presentation by one of our staff attorneys on making changes to Oregon water law as part of SB 85 permanent, a spring-run Chinook milestone in the Klamath Basin, and the North Fork John Day River threatened by a new Forest Service proposal.

WaterWatch Currents — Drought Declarations Grow, Stockwatering Limits to Expire

Antiquated water laws put rivers in the Deschutes Basin at risk, another Upper Klamath salmon milestone, and the summer Instream is arriving now.

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The 16-page summer issue of WaterWatch's Instream newsletter is arriving in mailboxes now, featuring stories you won't find anywhere else on our ongoing legal work, water policy, legislative advocacy, recent event photos, Water Briefs, and the latest on data centers, HR 655, Winchester Dam and more.

Summer Issue of Instream Arriving Now

The summer issue of our Instream newsletter features the latest in our campaign to remove Winchester Dam, drought concerns, legislative successes, data centers, and more.

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Former WaterWatch staff attorney Karen Russell, now an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark, is featured in this @opb.org article that highlights how the current administration of Oregon water laws can give priority to highly inefficient water use, often at the expense of Oregon rivers and streams.

An Oregon law lets one wealthy region turn the desert green. When drought hits, farmers pay the price

During a historic drought, half of Central Oregon’s lifeblood river was diverted to a wealthy agricultural region that got a lot more water than its plants could drink. These water-rich landowners gre...

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Join WaterWatch at the Portland Oakshire Brewing location on Tuesday for an Oakshire Inspires benefit as Oakshire donates $1 from each core pint sold throughout the day and 10 percent of the day's food sales to WaterWatch. We'll be onsite from 4 to 7 p.m. to catch up with friends and neighbors!

Support WaterWatch Tuesday at Oakshire's Portland Beer Hall

Join us Tuesday the 30th for a daylong Oakshire Inspires event benefitting WaterWatch at Oakshire Brewing's Portland Beer Hall.

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The 9th Circuit has affirmed a lower court's ruling that the Bureau of Reclamation must comply with the ESA to protect salmon in the Klamath Basin. Also, a deal between the U.S. and Canada has temporarily increased cold water flows into the Columbia River. All this and more in the latest Currents!

WaterWatch Currents — Court Sides with Klamath Salmon, Oakshire Inspires Tuesday

Additional cold water for the Columbia River, keep the pressure on opposing HR 655 and water for data centers, summer Instream preview.

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Join WaterWatch on Tuesday, June 30th, at the Oakshire Beer Hall at 5013 NE 42nd Ave. for a daylong Oakshire Inspires benefit in support of our work at WaterWatch. The brewery will donate $1 from each core pint sold throughout the day to WaterWatch, along with 10 percent of the day's food sales!

Join WaterWatch Tuesday, June 30th, for a Special Oakshire Inspires Event

Support WaterWatch of Oregon throughout the day on Tuesday, June 30th, during a daylong Oakshire Inspires event at the brewery’s Portland Beer Hall benefitting our work.

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We need your help as the Oregon Water Resources Dept. seeks public input on a rulemaking initiative to modernize and improve the state's water management tools. Let OWRD know you support updating and improving Oregon's water management virtually on Monday, or via a short series of online surveys.

TAKE ACTION — Weigh in Now to Strengthen Water Management

Let the state know you support updating and improving Oregon's water management toolbox to better curb wasteful use of water.

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Another WaterWatch Currents is online with Jim McCarthy's feature on Winchester Dam in The Osprey, a nitrate contamination lawsuit moves forward in the Umatilla Basin, new drought declarations, the likelihood of more data centers, and a surprise attack on the Roadless Rule — all in this Currents.

WaterWatch Currents — New Drought Declarations, Nitrate Pollution Lawsuit

Winchester Dam featured in The Osprey, Grave Creek threatened by ill-advised water use right transfer, more water-chugging data centers expected.

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Join WaterWatch Tues., June 30th, at the Oakshire Portland Beer Hall at 5013 NE 42nd Ave. for a daylong Oakshire Inspires event benefitting WaterWatch of Oregon with $1 from each core pint sold throughout the day going to WaterWatch, plus 10 percent of the day's food sales. Staff onsite 4 to 7 p.m.

Join WaterWatch June 30th in Portland for Oakshire Inspires!

We'll see you Tuesday, June 30th, at Oakshire Brewing's Portland Beer Hall for a daylong Oakshire Inspires event benefitting WaterWatch of Oregon.

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WaterWatch was along the Clackamas River in mid-May for the 40th annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival, better known as ClackFest. Thanks to the ClackFest organizers for hosting us and we look forward to coming back next year! Check out our recap video here via our WaterWatch YouTube page.

WaterWatch Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival Recap

YouTube video by WaterWatch of Oregon

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In this Currents we've included our opposition to OWRD's approval of a water right transfer that could enable large-scale open pit mining along Grave Creek, plus the latest on Winchester Dam, Jim McCarthy's trip down the Klamath River with Oregon State University's engineering program, and more!

WaterWatch Currents — Rogue River Tributary Threatened by Mining, Latest on Winchester Dam

Drought impacts expected this summer, pressure needed to force no vote on HR 655, Oakshire Inspires benefit for WaterWatch June 30th.

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WaterWatch is along the banks of the Clackamas River this weekend at the 40th annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival, one the nation's longest-running competitive whitewater events. We're looking forward to catching up with kayakers, rafters, paddle boarders, and packrafters from around the U.S.

Join WaterWatch This Weekend for ClackFest

WaterWatch will be along the banks of the Clackamas River east of Estacada this weekend as part of 40th annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival.

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A coalition of Oregon conservation and community groups fighting to protect Grave Creek in Josephine County from a mining operation sent a letter to Gov. Kotek this week warning a proposed open-pit gravel mine along Grave Creek, a tributary of the Rogue River, threatens wild salmon and steelhead.

Residents and Environmental Organizations Unite Against Proposed Deep Pit Mining in Josephine County

A coalition of conservation and community groups fighting to protect Grave Creek from a mining operation in Sunny Valley sent a letter to Governor Kotek warning the proposed open-pit gravel mine along...

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We're at ClackFest all weekend for plenty of whitewater fun, but there are serious stories to share, including the need for Gov. Kotek to protect rivers and fish as the drought worsens, a letter from Grave Creek open-pit mine opponents to the governor, and much more. Get caught up in this Currents.

WaterWatch Currents — Protect Rivers and Fish During Drought, Grave Creek Coalition Letter

WaterWatch at ClackFest this weekend, Willamette thermal trading briefs filed, disturbing recommendations for cuts to environmental safeguards.

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The latest edition of Currents is out now as we welcome April and Earth month, and there's a lot to report as WaterWatch welcomes its new development director, Winchester Dam legal woes add up, opposition to HR 655 grows, and Chinook salmon are hatching in Upper Klamath Lake. All in this Currents.

WaterWatch Currents — New Development Director, Winchester Dam Legal Woes

Growing opposition to HR 655, WaterWatch allies host Roadless Rule townhall this Wednesday, spring issue of Instream arriving now.

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The spring issue of Instream is arriving in mailboxes now, featuring good news for North Umpqua River fish in our campaign to remove Winchester Dam, a major milestone on Harney Basin groundwater protection, how our work in Salem stopped a bad Columbia River bill, the latest on HR 655 and much more.

Spring Issue of Instream Arriving in Mailboxes Now

Look for good news on Winchester Dam in the spring issue of Instream, the latest on HR 655, plus drought concerns following Oregon's record low snowpack this winter.

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