Summary
In 2019, the group Lane County Community Rights drafted an ordinance declaring the rights of watersheds to naturally exist, flourish, regenerate, and evolve due to “the ever-increasing contamination and demands” of the watersheds of Lane County. The ordinance also says that the citizens of Lane County declare their responsibility as defenders of these ecosystems and asserts residents’ right to water free from contamination. The group planned on gathering signatures for the petition but decided to postpone the initiative due to the pandemic.
In September 2025, the Lane County Watersheds Bill of Rights officially qualified for the May 19, 2026 ballot as Measure 20-373, after organizers submitted over 14,000 signatures from Lane County residents. The measure will now go before voters, giving the community the opportunity to decide on stronger legal protections for local watersheds and clean water.
Lane County’s watersheds provide drinking water, irrigation for farms, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Yet these waterways face increasing threats from pollution, overuse, and climate change. The Watersheds Bill of Rights (Measure 20-373) seeks to address these challenges by:
– Recognizing and protecting the rights of rivers, streams, and aquifers to exist, flourish, and regenerate.
– Ensuring that community members have stronger legal standing to defend clean water when it is threatened.
– Creating local authority to set higher protections for water quality than state or federal minimums when needed.
Involved Organizations
Related Initiatives
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/lane-county-watershed-bill-of-rights/.
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