The Rogue Basin Partnership’s Conservation Policy Working Group seeks to address the long-term conservation and restoration needs of the Rogue Basin by identifying and addressing key limiting factors affecting native fish and wildlife, water quality, and flows.  We were formed in 2016 to develop, prioritize, and implement strategies to achieve policy outcomes identified in the RBP Action Plan. Our group is led by Rogue Riverkeeper and includes members WaterWatch of Oregon, Native Fish Society, and Trout Unlimited, and we welcome interested partners to join our group!

The goals of the Conservation Policy Working Group are to collaborate on critical policy issues affecting for the Rogue basin, identify opportunities to take action on key water and land conservation issues, and share strategic opportunities for RBP members, partners, and residents throughout the basin to take action on behalf of the Rogue’s land, water, and fish.

One of our current priorities involves addressing the region’s weak stream buffer standards.  The Rogue watershed includes 1 million acres of private forest lands that are currently left with smaller stream buffers than the rest of Western Oregon.  Stream buffers help keep streams cool, which is important for the health of native fish and mitigating the impacts of a changing climate. Our group is working to fulfill an identified goal in the Action Plan to, “Protect high value resource lands and waters by identifying inadequate land designations.” Our group meets at least quarterly, and we welcome RBP partners to attend and share ideas around potential policy issues and opportunities in the Rogue Basin.