By Neil Brandt | WaterWatch of Oregon Executive Director
As we reflect on the past year at WaterWatch, we have much to be proud of and much to be thankful for. We are especially grateful for supporters like you who continue to make it possible to protect and restore Oregon's rivers, streams, lakes, and aquifers for the fish, wildlife, and people that depend upon them.
What follows is a summary of WaterWatch’s 2024 accomplishments. A direct result of your generous support, these successes represent the culmination of major campaigns and updates on our efforts. We know our community of members, supporters, volunteers, and conservationists have been alongside us every step of the way. All of you make this work possible!
Groundwater Reform
In a major victory for long-term water sustainability, Oregon adopted amended rules in September for the issuance of new groundwater permits. These rules will better protect hydraulically connected waterways to groundwater throughout the state, ensure future groundwater right allocations are guided by a science-based process focused on long-term water sustainability and reliability, and end the “default to yes” approach the Oregon Water Resources Department had previously used when issuing new groundwater rights. The rules also establish standards for data needed to determine whether groundwater levels are reasonably stable, and (with narrow exception) require the denial of permit applications if data isn’t available. WaterWatch has long advocated for reform in this area and was a member of the Rules Advisory Committee. A big win for Oregon!
Freeing the Rogue River
With the removal of Williams-Whalen Dam this June, WaterWatch achieved our third fish barrier removal in just nine years on Evans Creek, an important salmon and steelhead spawning tributary of the Rogue River near Grants Pass. Demolition of the derelict five-foot tall, 150-foot wide concrete former diversion dam improved access to 37 miles of upstream spawning and rearing habitat for native fish. Thanks to your support for WaterWatch, Evans Creek is now entirely free-flowing at the former Williams-Whalen Dam site for the first time in 128 years. In August, WaterWatch concluded the removal of Pomeroy Dam on the Illinois River, the highest priority fish passage barrier in the Rogue Basin and among the highest priority barriers in Oregon. Removal of this outdated 10-foot tall, 160-foot wide irrigation diversion dam that lacked a fish ladder restored unimpeded access
to over 100 miles of habitat for native migratory fish. The project also improved streamflows and the landowner’s irrigation system by moving the water diversion two miles downstream to two new screened and metered pumps. Thanks to your support WaterWatch is delivering on our promise to work faster than ever to improve fish passage to high elevation cold water habitat, and bolster native Rogue fish populations against the growing impacts of climate change.
Freeing the North Umpqua River
WaterWatch and our allies successfully intervened in a state water quality enforcement proceeding in August to ensure accountability for those responsible for the environmentally catastrophic repairs in 2023 at Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River. WaterWatch testified before the Oregon Senate Interim Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire in September to demand accountability for dam owner Winchester Water Control District for violations of state fish and wildlife, water quality, water use, and dam safety requirements. We also reiterated our standing offer to work cooperatively with dam owners to accomplish removal and site restoration at little to no direct cost to them. WaterWatch continues to lead a coalition of local and statewide conservation, fishing, and whitewater advocates to bring the rule of law to this derelict dam and support its removal.
Willamette River Basin Instream Water Rights
One of WaterWatch of Oregon’s earliest accomplishments was the drafting and passage of the Instream Water Rights Act of 1987. The first of its kind in the West, this trailblazing law established a means for three state agencies to apply for water rights to protect water instream for fish and wildlife, water quality, and recreation. Since 1987, WaterWatch has tirelessly advocated for
the establishment of new instream rights, which now number over 1,700. In 2024, Oregon saw progress with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife applying for 269 new instream water rights in Willamette River Basin. When approved, these rights will help safeguard flows in beloved rivers such as the McKenzie, Tualatin, Molalla, Santiam and many more.
Collaboratives
In 2024, WaterWatchstaff worked hard in collaborative water planning processes around the state to provide a voice at the table for instream flows, fish, wildlife, ecological viability, and accountable water management. Our 2024 efforts focused on the Lower John Day, Deschutes, Harney, and Lake Abert/ChewaucanRiver basins, where we are striving to provide a brighter future for Oregon's rivers, wetlands, lakes, and all that rely upon them.
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