Pacific Northwest Drought Continues to Grow
Nearly 80 percent of the Pacific Northwest is experiencing drought conditions this summer, with more than half of the region in severe or extreme drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With Oregon's September drought report showing streamflows below normal in most of western and northeastern Oregon and dry conditions expanding, WaterWatch is monitoring flows throughout the state to ensure water right conditions to protect fish continue to be enforced.

ODFW to Pursue New Coastal Instream Water Right Filings
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will file for at least 44 new instream water rights this fall in the Mid-Coast and North Coast regions of the state, including dozens of tributaries to the Alsea and Siuslaw rivers, and the lower 13 miles of the Nehalem River from the west slope of the Coast Range to Nehalem Bay. According to an email blast from the agency earlier this week, ODFW will host a public presentation on the new instream water right applications Wednesday, Sept. 24th, at 4 p.m. at the agency's coastal office in Newport.

Jim McCarthy Shares Winchester Dam Update in Roseburg
The League of Women Voters of Umpqua Valley welcomed WaterWatch Southern Oregon program director Jim McCarthy to their monthly meeting at the Roseburg Public Library last night for a presentation on the status of the WaterWatch-led coalition effort to remove the 135-year old Winchester Dam, a privately-owned former hydropower structure commonly known as the biggest fish killer on the North Umpqua River. Jim discussed legal ramifications, next steps, and thanked board president Robin Wisdom.

Roadless Rule Comment Deadline is Sept. 19th
Since 2001 the Roadless Area Conservation Rule has served as an effective and critical protection for wildlife and drinking water, and prevented new roads from being built in inventoried roadless areas on nearly 59 million acres of the National Forest lands around the U.S., including some 94,000 miles of rivers and streams. The deadline to submit comments to the Department of Agriculture, which manages the Forest Service, in opposition to the Trump administration's proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule is next Friday, Sept. 19th.

Monday Marks Deadline for "Early Bird" Ticket Pricing
Time is running out to take advantage of our early bird pricing for WaterWatch's 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Auction on Satuday, Nov. 1st, at Castaway Portland, so if you haven't already purchased your tickets or tables for the biggest river event of the year, do so by the end of the day this Monday, Sept. 15th, as prices go from the $125 "early bird" rate to the regular rate of $150 at 12 midnight. Silent auction bidding begins as doors open at 5 p.m. on Nov. 1st. Get the growing list of auction packages here.

Sponsorship Opportunities Remain for 40th Anniversary
Speaking of our 40th Anniversary Event and Annual Auction on Nov. 1st, sponsorship opportunities remain available for our celebration of four decades of advocacy for Oregon's rivers. If your organization or business would like to come aboard as a sponsor for our 40th Anniversary Event, you're invited to connect with WaterWatch development director Jesse Robbins about what kind of package we can create for you to ensure your brand, service, or products are seen by our over 3,000 members and subscribers.

Global Impacts of Groundwater Overpumping
As we observe today's one-year anniversary of Oregon's adoption of updated groundwater allocation rules following a decade-long effort led by WaterWatch of Oregon, the Los Angeles Times reported last week that scientists are continuing to find, with the help of abundant satellite data, that persistent overpumping of groundwater throughout the world is one of the key contributors to the "mega-drying" of vast swaths of the Earth's surface, including a region stretching from the western U.S. through Central America.