State-Supported Regional Water Planning and Management Work Group

The Oregon State Legislature passed House Bill 5006 in June 2021, directing the Oregon Water Resources Department and Oregon Consensus to convene a workgroup that would “develop a framework and path for state-supported water planning and management at the water region and/or basin level". The bill directed the workgroup to:

• Consider regional water planning and management opportunities that build on the 100 Year Water Vision and further the goals of the state's Integrated Water Resources Strategy.
• Be comprised of a balanced membership including, but not limited to, conservation groups, agricultural water users, municipal water users, environmental justice organizations, tribal interests and state agencies.
  

Oregon Consensus completed an initial assessment in Fall 2021 to help inform the workgroup's process design, protocols and scope of work. They interviewed 55 entities and 96 individuals about the state's water resources planning, management, and investments and collected input on how to build a collaborative process. Details of the assessment and its findings can be found in the January meeting materials.

The workgroup first convened on January 31, 2022, with members representing the balance of organizations, tribal interests, and state agencies described in HB 5006 and further refined by the Process Leadership (a list of workgroup members is available below). The workgroup drafted a set of Operating Protocols, which define the workgroup purpose as follows:
 
The Work Group will use a consensus-based process to develop recommendations for a framework and path for state-supported regional water planning.

The workgroup objectives are to: 

• Build upon past efforts including the 100 Year Water Vision and other Oregon regional planning processes.
• Further the goals of the IWRS.
• Gather information from the field, experts, and each other to build shared learning. Document information gathering and co-learning efforts.
• Create and strengthen relationships across groups with diverse interests and needs.
• Develop and deliberate shared ideas for a State-Supported Regional Planning and Management Framework.
   

Workgroup Meetings

Workgroup meetings will occur monthly in 2022 and will be available to watch live (registration links provided below). Meeting recordings and written summaries will be available following each meeting. Meeting materials, including agendas, summaries, and draft documents, can be found here.

Meeting Schedule for 2022:

• January 31: 12:30 - 3 p.m. (Not recorded)
  
• March 8: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Meeting Recording
• April 5: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Meeting Recording
  
• May 3: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Meeting Recording
  
• June 7: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Meeting Recording
  
• July 5: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cancelled
  
• August 2: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Meeting Recording
  
• September 6: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Meeting Recording
  
• October 4: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Register in advance for this virtual meeting
  
• November 1: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• December 6: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  
  

Public Engagement Opportunities

Workgroup meetings are open to the public. A forthcoming engagement plan, developed by the workgroup, OWRD and Oregon Consensus, will identify opportunities for broader stakeholder and public information sharing, as well as input to the process. 

More Information