During AOC’s Legislative Committee on October 10, 2022, the AOC Natural Resources Steering Committee principles were unanimously approved. Among the approved principles were a series related to water – a portion of which focused on place-based planning. The purpose of place-based planning is to foster cooperative relationships between local individuals or groups and the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD).  

In 2015, the Legislature provided OWRD with the authority and financial allocation to pilot a place-based approach to water planning. Sixteen letters of interest were submitted to the department, and after internal review, four were selected as pilot areas in different parts of the state. Those selected were the Lower John Day Sub-Basin, the Upper Grande Ronde Sub-Basin, the Harney-Malheur Lake Basin, and the Mid-Coast Region.

In order to conduct this pilot process, OWRD laid out five steps for a region or basin to follow: 

  1. Build a collaborative and inclusive process.
  2. Gather information to understand water resources and identify gaps in knowledge.
  3. Examine current and future water needs for people, the economy, and the environment.
  4. Identify and prioritize strategic, integrated solutions to meet the water needs.
  5. Develop a place-based integrated water resources plan.  

After many months of gathering the right people and information necessary to conduct this work, the four pilots got to work. Based on the work conducted by these four pilots, the state now has models for how to successfully conduct place-based planning efforts – what worked and what didn’t, and what financial resources are needed to carry out this work.  

ORS 536.220, the pilot project statute, is set to sunset in 2023 if the Legislature does not renew the program or lift the sunset. The natural resources principles for 2023 will work toward regionally specific planning efforts that are unique to local, regional, and basin issues. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) will also work to ensure counties play a role in the planning conversations. 

Place-based planning, found not only in the department’s administrative rules (OAR 690-410) but also statute (ORS 536.220), provides communities with a set path forward for addressing water needs and water scarcity now and in the future. With more counties experiencing drought conditions, many areas of the state have begun discussing the potential of place-based water planning in their areas and await the department’s greenlight of their efforts. 

Over the past ten months, OWRD has convened a group of 30 individuals, representing users, conservationists, local governments, and state agency staff for conversations regarding what should be done with the place-based planning statute. Although these conversations are still ongoing, a consensus has been formed on wanting to see place-based planning continue in some capacity.

Below is information regarding the four pilot areas originally formed in 2015. It should be noted that although the state awarded funding to these pilot projects, it was understood that the maximum an area could receive was 75 percent of the total financial need. The rest was required to come locally either from in-kind contributions, or local revenues. 

  • The Harney-Malheur Lake Basin designated the Harney County Court and Watershed Council as the conveners. This large basin primarily supports hay and cattle industries as well as the high desert ecosystem. Their OWRD award was originally for $135,000, and since 2015, they have been allocated a total of $550,000 from the state. Locally, the pilot has raised $336,234 for these efforts. With the addition of $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources recently awarded to this pilot, the efforts in this basin, in all, are $886,234.
  • The Lower John Day Sub-Basin designated Gilliam Soil and Water Conservation District to serve as the conveners. This sub-basin supports not only agriculture-based needs but also wild fish habitat. Their OWRD award was originally for $190,000, and since 2015, have been allocated $525,000 from the department. Locally, they have raised $157,000 for these efforts.   With the addition of $250,000 in ARPA resources recently awarded to this pilot, the efforts in this basin, in all, are $682,000.
  • The Mid-Coast Region designated the City of Newport as well as OWRD as the conveners in this pilot area. This region is made up of many smaller watersheds that support out-of-stream needs for municipal drinking water, small water systems, agricultural and industrial use, as well as instream needs for aquatic species, water-based tourism, and fisheries. Their OWRD award was originally for $135,000, and since 2015, have been allocated $550,000 from the state.  Locally, they have raised $430,000 for their efforts. With the addition of $250,000 in ARPA resources recently awarded to this pilot, in all, efforts in the mid-coast region are just below a million dollars at $980,000.
  • Upper Grande Ronde Sub-Basin had Union County serve as the conveners. This sub-basin supports not only farming and ranching, but also urban residents and an array of fish and wildlife species. Their OWRD award was originally $197,000, and since the pilot began, they have raised $110,000 locally and been allocated, with the addition of $250,000 in ARPA resources, a total of $525,000 from the state. This sub-basin has been able to allocate $635,000 for their place-based planning efforts. 

All four pilot areas are in various stages of their efforts.  The Harney Basin is currently looking at the future needs of their basin, the Lower John Day Sub-Basin and Mid-Coast Region are working on integrated solutions for long-term water needs, and the Upper Grande Ronde Sub-Basin is in the final planning phase: plan adoption and implementation. 

Contributed by: Branden Pursinger | Legislative Affairs Manager