Issues related to submerged lands date back to Oregon’s inception when the Equal Footing Doctrine granted the state ownership of submerged and submersible lands on tidally-influenced and navigable waterways. Since then, some of these lands have been filled, developed and inhabited by occupants who may be unaware of the state’s entitlement to these lands. The … Read more
Achieving Oregon’s educational goals requires engaging communities beyond the classroom. The Oregon Education Investment Board (OEIB) has launched the Regional Achievement Collaborative Initiative (RAC) to forge connections that improve educational outcomes. Each Oregon school district, community college and university has an individual achievement compact with the OEIB. The compacts set goals for improving key outcomes, … Read more
OC facilitated a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperating agency advisory group (CAAG) that is leading a public engagement process to develop a Resource Management Plan for Western Oregon. The cooperating agency role derives from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which calls on federal, state, and local governments to cooperate with the goal … Read more
OC is working with local landowners, non-governmental organizations, and federal and state agencies to design and implement a collaborative effort to combat invasive carp and preserve important bird habitats throughout the Harney Basin in southeast Oregon. Initial goals of the project are to improve the health of wetlands under the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge’s comprehensive … Read more
OC facilitated the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Local Stakeholder Advisory Committee and several technical working groups. The committee and working groups worked to develop an implementation-ready TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) for bacteria and sediment impairment in water bodies in the mid-coast basin. OC also facilitated a Statewide TMDL Policy Committee to gather input … Read more
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) asked Oregon Consensus, in partnership with the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a joint program of Washington State University and the University of Washington, to conduct a situation assessment of regional views about salmon and steelhead recovery planning in the Columbia River Basin over … Read more
The Community Health Worker Consortium is a partnership between Oregon Consensus, Portland State University’s School for Community Health, the Oregon Community Health Workers Association (ORCHWA), and the Multnomah County Community Capacitation Center (CCC). The Cambia Health Foundation provides funding for the project. The Consortium focuses on creating alignment around best practices in the community health worker field … Read more
In 2013, Oregon Consensus and Oregon Solutions facilitated a collaborative effort between the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and county parks (through the Association of Oregon Counties) to change the distribution formula for recreational vehicle (RV) registration fees, enhance partnership efforts between state and county parks providers, and consider jurisdictional transfers of park properties. Over time, … Read more
The Oregon Non-Roadway Transportation Funding Working Group was convened by Oregon Governor Kitzhaber to engage the State of Oregon, transportation providers and other stakeholders in developing and implementing a plan to establish dedicated funding for non-roadway transportation projects and programs, including rail, marine, aviation, transit, and on and off-road bicycle and pedestrian paths. Currently, vehicle … Read more
In 2012, in collaboration with the University of Washington’s William D. Ruckelshaus Center, Oregon Consensus conducted an assessment for the executive staff of the Columbia River Gorge Commission that identified opportunities for collaboration between parties interested in issues related to urban growth policies in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
The Renewable Energy and Eastern Oregon Landscape Conservation Partnership was convened by the Oregon Governor’s Natural Resources Policy Director and the Deputy State Director for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to address renewable energy development and habitat conservation across Eastern Oregon. The group addressed sagebrush and sage grouse issues, and developed criteria for identifying … Read more
In 2012, Oregon Consensus conducted an assessment and facilitated a series of stakeholder meetings for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to address land use issues affecting siting of state parks. Priority issues discussed were: park uses in farm and forest zones; intergovernmental coordination to ensure land use compliance; methods for determining the need for … Read more
The Integrated Services Support Rules (ISSRs) govern the licensing of addiction and mental health providers in Oregon. In 2011, the Oregon Legislature adopted Senate Bill 238 directing the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to form a work group to review the rules and recommend revisions. The ISSR Revisions Work Group included representatives of Coordinated Care Organizations, … Read more
The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge working group, with more than 30 diverse members, developed a draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement to guide refuge management from 2012 until 2027. From 2008 through 2011, Oregon Consensus provided facilitation and collaborative governance training to Malheur Wildlife Refuge staff and other stakeholders. The group strengthened working … Read more
The 2009 Jobs and Transportation Act directs the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to adopt administrative rules in line with environmental performance standards (EPS) for highway projects, and improve permitting processes. Oregon Consensus convened a process to develop rule language and EPS, worked with stakeholders to prioritize and frame issues and helped ODOT develop an … Read more
The Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative examined ways to curb greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles while creating healthier, more livable communities and greater economic opportunity. The project aimed to reduce emissions in Oregon by 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Department of Land Conservation and Development led the … Read more
In 2011, Oregon Consensus facilitated an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife task force that reviewed dog and raptor training regulations in Oregon. The task force included the Oregon State Police; representatives of the birding, hunting and dog training communities; and other interested stakeholders.
In 2011, the City of Salem and the North Santiam Watershed Council asked Oregon Consensus to conduct a neutral assessment of the potential for collaborative approaches to water management in the North Santiam Basin. The North Santiam River serves a broad variety of water needs including municipal water supply, irrigation, recreation, and ecological services for … Read more
The Aging Matters Initiative is committed to enhancing quality of life for older adults who are poor, frail or incapacitated, and who have little support. The initiative is a forum for identifying and promoting innovative policies and programs that respond to housing, health, and social concerns. Aging Matters is a project of the Institute on Aging … Read more
In 2008 through 2011, Oregon Consensus (OC) worked with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ ) to support DEQ’s Portland Air Toxics Solutions (PATS) project. The PATS project was a collaborative effort to develop Oregon’s first area-wide air toxics reduction plan for the Portland region through a broad, community-based effort. OC is assisted DEQ … Read more