Waterwatch Of Oregon

Waterwatch Of Oregon is a non-profit organization registered in SAM.gov since 2010, focused on river and aquatic ecosystem restoration, particularly in Oregon's river systems. The organization specializes in collaborative environmental conservation efforts that enhance fish habitats and improve river ecosystems through strategic infrastructure removal and restoration projects. Based in Portland, Oregon, Waterwatch operates as a corporate entity with tax-exempt status, working closely with multiple federal and state agencies to implement comprehensive river and stream restoration initiatives.

Through federal grant awards, primarily from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 under the National Fish Passage Program, Waterwatch has consistently executed complex dam removal and fish habitat restoration projects across Oregon. Recent grant awards totaling approximately $2.25 million have supported projects including the removal of Murphy Dam, Pomeroy Dam, and Takelma Dam, which collectively aim to restore access to over 200 miles of spawning and rearing habitat for native fish species such as Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, Pacific lamprey, and cutthroat trout. These projects involve intricate technical work like installing fish-friendly water diversions, decommissioning irrigation canals, remeandering creek channels, and replacing fish-blocking road culverts. Waterwatch collaborates extensively with project partners including Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Water Resources Department, and local entities like the Rogue Basin Partnership and River Design Group.