Invaluable Support for Willamette Instream Water Rights
Thank you to everyone who made time the last couple of days to submit public comments for the final batch of 98 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) instream water right applications in the South Willamette basin, the last of over 260 instream protections the agency applied for last year for streams and tributaries along the river's length. Establishing legal protections for instream flows for fish is critical to maintaining healthy rivers in the face of climate change, and your support, as always, is invaluable — thank you!

Register for Our Daniel Coe Presentation at Filson Feb. 25th
We've mentioned cartographer Daniel Coe and his use of LiDAR imagery in mapping river systems as part of showcasing his Rogue River photo on the cover of the fall issue of Instream, and you're invited to join us for an evening with Daniel at the Portland Filson store at 526 NW 13th Ave. on Tuesday, Feb. 25th. Daniel will present additional river graphics from Oregon and around the world, and share stories about some of his most distinctive maps. Register now at our Eventbrite page. The event gets underway at Filson at 6 p.m.

Oregon Fly Fishing Blog Shares Instream Rights Alert 
Thanks to The Caddis Fly Shop in Eugene and the Oregon Fly Fishing Blog for sharing our action alert last week that encouraged the public to submit comments in support of South Willamette instream water right applications, including segments of the McKenzie River, Middle Fork and Coast Fork Willamette, Mohawk River, South Fork McKenzie, Blue River, Salt Creek, Row River, North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River, and dozens more. The comment period closed yesterday, and we appreciate The Caddis Fly for helping get the word out!

Auction Winners Enjoy Sauvie Island Birding Trip
WaterWatch supporters and several staff and board members donned binoculars last Saturday for a special birdwatching trip to Sauvie Island led by Mike Houck, executive director of the Urban Greenspaces Institute, and Ethan Stelzer. One of dozens of auction packages from our annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers auction event in October, attendees enjoyed up-close views of a variety of area wildlife, including sandhill cranes, eagles, and other migratory and local birds. Thanks to Mike and Ethan for organizing this fun event!

Monday Marks Official Observance of MLK Day
WaterWatch of Oregon offices will be closed Monday as part of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service and federal holiday. Last year, events were being canceled around the state due to freezing weather, but milder weather will prevail this weekend with plenty of opportunities to get out in your community to volunteer in memory of the famous civil rights leader, who was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39. Here is Oregon offers a statewide sampling of MLK Day events, while Hands On offers this list of Portland-area events.