Place-Based Water Planning

Place-Based Water Planning (PBP) is a voluntary, locally led, and collaborative process that brings together an area’s water interests to develop a holistic understanding of the area’s water resources and plan for a water future that promotes and sustains a healthy economy, environment, and society. Upon completion, state-recognized Place-Based Water Plans: identify actions that help meet current and future instream and out-of-stream water quantity, quality, and ecosystem needs; aid state agencies in identifying and considering regional priorities; and provide a platform for continued collaboration to solve complex regional water issues.

Place-Based Water Planning is Action 9.A in Oregon’s 2025 Integrated Water Resources Strategy. The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and other state agencies provide guidance, funding, and technical assistance to place-based initiatives to bring interested parties together, develop and update plans, and coordinate plan implementation.

Upcoming Events

Learn about the Place-Based Water Planning program and the Handbook at a virtual webinar on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The webinar will focus on the updated Place-Based Water Planning program and state agency support. The presentation will be recorded and available on the PBWP website for those unable to attend.

Webinar Details: Introduction to Place-Based Water Planning

When: March 25, 2026, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Where: online only, register in advance for this meeting

Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Plans

Since 2015, four Planning Collaboratives across Oregon have developed and adopted state-recognized Place-Based Water Plans and are currently implementing those plans. For more information about state-recognized plans and their implementation, visit the links below. PBP Area.jpg

Harney Community Based Water Planning Collaborative: Webpage | Plan
Lower John Day Place-Based Partnership: Webpage | Plan
Mid-Coast Water Planning Partnership: Webpage | Plan
Upper Grande Ronde River Water Resources Partnership: Webpage | Plan

Place-Based Water Planning Handbook

The Place-Based Water Planning Handbook offers guidance for future Place-Based Water Planning efforts and information about maintaining state recognition of current Place-Based Water Plans. It reflects the evolution of Oregon’s Place-Based Water Planning program and incorporates lessons learned from past planning efforts, agency collaboration, and public engagement. The Handbook is grounded in Oregon Revised Statutes 537.872–537.873 and Oregon Administrative Rules 690-602. It was developed with input from state natural resource agencies, Tribes, and the public.

Placed-Based Water Planning Grants

Place-Based Water Planning Grants support place-based initiatives to bring interested parties together, develop and update place-based water plans, and coordinate implementation of state-recognized plans. More information on available grants can be found here.

Place-Based Water Planning Document Archive

Independent Evaluation of the Place-Based Water Planning Program

Approach
Oregon’s Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Planning Program: A Participatory Evaluation (McClain et al., 2022)

State-Supported Regional Water Planning and Management Workgroup

Webpage
Report of the Work Group on State-Supported Regional Water Planning & Management: House Bill 5006 (2021) (Oregon Consensus, 2022)

OWRD provided updates every six months during the pilot phase to track programmatic and place-based accomplishments.

For more information contact:

Lili Prahl 503-871-5868

Authority:

Other Resources:

Place-Based Water Planning

2015-2025 Draft Guidance

2022 Independent Evaluation and Workgroup Recommendations

History of Planning Updates

Other