Water Watch of Oregon
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WaterWatch is a water conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring streamflows in Oregon rivers for fish, wildlife and the people who depend on healthy rivers.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 61%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $84,460, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $2.7 million spent. Free Flowing Rivers: 2024 saw major advances in protecting and restor- ing free flowing rivers in Oregon. WaterWatch completed demolition of Williams-Walen Dam in the Rogue Basin and Pomeroy Dam in the Illinois River subbasin after raising the necessary private, state, and federal funds to pay for the skilled engineering and construction workers required to complete these projects. Pomeroy Dam was the highest priority fish passage barrier in the Rogue Basin and among the highest priority barriers in Oregon. Combined, these projects opened or improved access to over 100 miles of habitat for salmon and steelhead.
- $751,233 spent. Streamflow: Since 1987, WaterWatch has tirelessly advocated for the establishment of new instream rights, which now number over 1,700 across Oregon. The first of its kind in the West, the Instream Water Rights Act of 1987 established a means for three state agencies to apply for water rights to protect water instream for fish and wildlife water quality, and recreation. In 2024, Oregon saw significant prog- gress with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife applying for 269 new instream water rights in Willamette River Basin. When approved, these rights will help safeguard flows in beloved rivers such as the McKenzie, Tualatin, Mollala, Santiam and many more.
- $55,647 spent. Willamette: WaterWatch is involved in a US Army Corps of Engineers process to reallocate 1.6 million acre-feet of water stored behind Willamette Basin. Our work also supported Oregons application for 269 new instream water rights in the Willamette Basin to provide climate resilience for salmonoids and cold water habitat across the basin.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1986.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.