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Written By CO LandWatch
There’s more work than ever for your favorite environmental watchdog.
From guiding sustainable growth for our communities to preserving irreplaceable agricultural land and critical resources on our wild lands and in our waterways, LandWatch’s ever-growing docket of cases, campaigns, and initiatives keeps our team busy, day in and day out.
To keep pace with the rapid change in our region, expand our impact, and achieve our ambitious vision for the future, LandWatch recently welcomed new staff and added to our board of directors!
New Staff Faces
Robin Hayakawa joined the LandWatch team as our Rural Lands Advocate. His day-to-day work includes vital legal research, technical writing, and advocacy for Oregon's land use system within agricultural lands and forests. The son of land use planners, Robin has always been fascinated with the ways urban and regional planning shape the lived environment.
“Oregon's unique land use planning system allows our community of diverse stakeholders to participate in the processes that shape this special part of the world. The future of Central Oregon's rural lands depends on sound land use planning under this system, which protects farmland from conversion to other uses, ensures wildlife has an essential habitat to thrive, and provides an unparalleled opportunity for outdoor recreation and access.”
- Robin
Fiona Noonan is our new Wild Lands and Water Program Manager. A landscape ecologist by training, Fiona will develop public land and water management approaches that meet the needs of both human and wild communities.
“Right now, I'm most excited about tracking the implementation of the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan. There's a huge opportunity to continue advocating for instream flow restoration and healthy wildlife habitat while also supporting local farmers' and ranchers' sustainable use of water for productive agriculture.”
- Fiona
Our new Development Coordinator, Kelsie Greer, will be building and maintaining strong relationships with LandWatch supporters and local business members.
“It's thrilling to join a community that takes such a holistic approach to conservation in Central Oregon by working to protect our wildlife, water, and natural areas while simultaneously addressing the needs of our developing cities and towns. I am excited to meet, learn from, and support the dedicated community members who are diligently working to create a sustainable future for all in our region.”
- Kelsie
Kristin Reidelberger is excited to join LandWatch as our new Cities & Towns Associate Program Manager. In this role, she will meld policy, planning, and research with grassroots organizing and community engagement to deliver Complete Communities to Central Oregon. Kristin has always loved observing how cities are shaped by their unique cultures and histories. She is excited to play a role in guiding the growth of Central Oregon's communities in an equitable, sustainable, and authentic way.
“I am thrilled to help guide Central Oregon’s growth toward a more equitable and sustainable future while preserving the culture, history, and values of our diverse communities. Creating more Complete Communities within our cities and towns will improve everyone’s quality of life and is instrumental for the preservation of the rural lands, wild lands, and waters that we love.”
- Kristin
Adding Board Expertise
We’re delighted to add the expertise of two seasoned professionals and community changemakers to our board of directors and look forward to seeing how their insights steer LandWatch’s work.
Mark Kelley is a fourth-generation Oregonian and lawyer whose 40-year law career focused primarily on advising and representing public entities statewide on construction and environmental issues on large-scale building programs. Mark is an active community member and enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, and cycling throughout Central Oregon.
“I became increasingly aware of and concerned with the recent trend of development approvals throughout Central Oregon that give little weight to impacts on habitat, water, and quality of life. LandWatch came to my attention as a strong defender and effective advocate for things that mattered to me. As a lawyer myself, I wanted to support that effort as directly as I could.”
- Mark
Chris Cheng has called Central Oregon home for 14 years. He works to create Complete Communities as Active Transportation Liaison for Oregon’s Department of Transportation. His passion for transportation infrastructure that brings people together has guided a career spent working to create more livable cities across Central Oregon by embedding balanced, sustainable, and equitable practices into transportation planning and engineering.
Essential and timely growth spurts like this are only possible thanks to the crucial support of community members like you. The addition of this determined cohort of team members and board advisors will allow LandWatch to take on more, increase our impact, and secure the positive outcomes that our community of supporters expects to see from LandWatch.
A Watchdog for Central Oregon
Oregon stands out as a national model for its visionary land use planning system, but it takes a dedicated watchdog to ensure its laws are enforced and its intended outcomes are achieved.
Thanks to your support, LandWatch can guide development where it belongs and protect the land and water that sustains our communities and ecosystems.
Take part in our Spring Challenge Match to help ensure LandWatch can continue preserving open countryside, protecting vast wild lands, conserving flowing waterways, and steering Oregon’s land use planning toward a greener future for all.
Double or triple your impact!
CO LandWatch
