The Oregon Statewide Water Roundtables, which I described earlier, have been completed and the synthesis report posted.
Along with the report and its appendices, there are several pdfs of PowerPoint presentations we have made to various groups. The one I recently gave in Hillsboro to the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission is the most comprehensive:
Recall that the Roundtables were five meetings held across the state during Fall 2008 to receive input and advice from Oregonians to develop information to inform efforts to identify and communicate a vision describing where Oregon is, where it is going, and where it wants to be with respect to adpative, integrated, equitable, and sustainable water management. In brief: we listened to and reported Oregonians’ water concerns.
Our purpose was not to develop a plan or strategy - that will be the job of others - the Legislature, Governor's Office, Oregon Water Resources Commission, etc.
Some representative issues identified by the stakeholders:
*Funding for water and wastewater infrastructure and management
*Regional integrated water planning with state framework
*Protection of existing water rights and uses
*Water quality, especially non-point, micro-contaminants, impacts of urbanization
*Water - land use planning integration
*Climate change impacts
*Wetland, floodplain, and instream flow restoration
*Interstate water allocation/management
Key messages:
Some solutions offered:
- Maximize available funds through agency coordination and streamlining of funding sources
- Water conservation tax credits, like energy tax credits
- Water reuse and recycling
- Water markets, pricing, and incentives
- Water storage and conservation
- Measuring water flows and uses systematically
- Local integrated water planning
- Interstate compacts(s)
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The spreadsheet appendices contain a treasure trove of information from each of the five Roundtables. The lists above are just some samples.
My impressions? Try these:
- Locals: ahead of state government and want more community- or regionally-based solutions, with support, not interference, from government
- Water rights, exempt wells [domestic/stock wells without water rights] are concerns
- Despite disagreements, stakeholders with disparate views generally got along very well
- I have reason to be optimistic about Oregon's water future
All in all, the Roundtables were very useful exercises.
It is now up to those in Salem to devise a process to develop a water plan/strategy/vision that will utilize the enthusiasm, interest, and expertise of the various and sundry stakeholders.
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“If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people." -- Chinese proverb
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