Posted inOpinion

Covered Wagons and Historical Water Rights: Both Out of Date

It’s time to agree that irrigation systems put in place during the covered-wagon days need to go

Here’s a thing that’s just as antiquated as a covered wagon: The way Central Oregon treats its relationship with one of its most coveted resources, its water. The system that allocates water resources from the precious Deschutes River has largely been in place since those covered wagon daysโ€”and if the local irrigation districts get their […]

Posted inNews

Oregon Spotted Frog

Respecting the Endangered Species Act

A group that has worked to restore upper basin flows in the Deschutes River says short-term steps must be taken immediately to improve habitat for the endangered spotted frog. The Coalition for the Deschutes was formed in 1985 as a not-for-profit corporation to protect the economic, recreational and environmental future of the Deschutes River basin. […]

Posted inNews

A River Used To Run Through It

WaterWatch sues irrigation districts over Oregon spotted frog habitat damage

“In Oregon, rivers and streams belong to the public, but no law stops private water users from completely draining a stream. It is often perfectly legal to take the last drops from a river, and our state agencies do little to correct, or even document the problem,” according to WaterWatch’s Rivers Without Water, Oregon’s Unnatural […]

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