Bates Pond, located in Bates State Park on the Middle Fork of the John Day River, is the last remaining feature of the historic mill town of Bates, Oregon. For several years, area stakeholders have grappled with issues related to restoration of Bates Pond and fish passage for threatened steelhead and bull trout populations. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which manages natural resources, cultural sites, and recreation in the area, has asked Oregon Consensus to conduct an assessment to determine whether a collaborative process might effectively address stakeholder issues related to Bates Pond.
