Water Watch Of Oregon

Streamflow: Since 1987, WaterWatch has tirelessly advocated for the establishment of new instream rights, which now number over 1,700 across Oregon. The first of its kind in the West, the Instream Water Rights Act of 1987 established a means for three state agencies to apply for water rights to protect water instream for fish and wildlife water quality, and recreation. In 2024, Oregon saw significant prog- gress 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, Mollala, Santiam and many more.

Willamette: WaterWatch is involved in a US Army Corps of Engineers process to reallocate 1.6 million acre-feet of water stored behind Willamette Basin. Our work also supported Oregons application for 269 new instream water rights in the Willamette Basin to provide climate resilience for salmonoids and cold water habitat across the basin.