Program Areas
Six interconnected program areas addressing water challenges across the region.
Farms & Ranches
Helping agricultural operations improve water efficiency and reduce impacts on streams and aquifers while maintaining productive farms and ranches.
Klamath Basin Dam Removal
Supporting the largest dam removal project in U.S. history. When complete, dam removal will restore over 400 miles of salmon habitat, return 2,000 acres of reservoir land to natural conditions, and plant 17 billion native seeds to stabilize the restored landscape.
Forest Management
Connecting forest health to water quality. Healthy forests filter water, moderate stream temperatures, reduce erosion, and maintain the snowpack that feeds rivers throughout the dry season.
Community Forests
Supporting community-owned forests that protect municipal watersheds, provide clean drinking water, and give communities a direct stake in the health of their local forests.
Water Supply & Demand
Working with communities to plan for a future where water demand increasingly exceeds supply. We help develop water management strategies that balance agricultural, municipal, and ecological needs.
Education & Policy
Advancing water policies and building public understanding of the connections between land management, water quality, and community resilience.
Where We Work
Our water work is concentrated in two critical basins in Oregon.
Klamath Basin
The Klamath Basin spans southern Oregon and northern California, encompassing one of the most complex water management challenges in the West. We support dam removal, habitat restoration, and collaborative water solutions among irrigators, Tribes, and conservation partners.
John Day Basin
The John Day River is one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the continental United States. We work with 38 partners in the basin to improve water quality, restore fish habitat, and support ranching communities that depend on reliable water supplies.
Water by the Numbers
“Sustainable Northwest has been a valued partner in the Klamath Basin, helping bring together the diverse voices needed to make dam removal a reality and restore this extraordinary river system.”
Support Clean Water
Help us protect and restore the rivers, streams, and watersheds that communities and ecosystems depend on.
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