Oregon Consensus assisted policy and executive leadership, and two technical work groups of the Bonneville Power Administration, US Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers and their cooperating agencies to develop an environmental impact statement for Columbia River System Operations. It was due for completion in 2020. Photo: Tony Webster, Wikimedia Commons
This collaborative is discussing opportunities for increased collaboration and improved communication to improve fire prevention, suppression, and restoration. Agreements have been reached on suppression, and the team is implementing wildfire prevention and restoration strategies in several high-risk locations. These pilot projects will provide valuable information for partners in understanding and managing fire risk across Eastern … Read more
The Oregon Board of Forestry directed the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to move forward with development of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for timber harvest and overall management of state forest lands in western Oregon. The effort aimed at ensuring programmatic compliance with the Endangered Species Act, related ODF planning and management efficiencies and … Read more
Starting in October 2017, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hosted meetings with local governments, recycling collectors, recycling processors, and industry representatives to address short-term responses to China’s 2018 ban on the import of certain recyclables from the United States. In May 2018, DEQ launched a longer-term planning process with a convening of these representative … Read more
In December 2018, the State Land Board directed the Department of State Lands (DSL) to work collaboratively with Oregon State University to develop a proposed plan for transforming the Elliott State Forest into a research forest, while meeting the Land Board’s vision and direction for the forest. In response, DSL established the Elliott State Research … Read more
Northwest Regional Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NWRNBS) is a program of the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Oregon State Public Health Laboratory. An Advisory Board was established by the Legislature in 2019 to provide strategic policy advice to OHA’s Public Health Newborn Screening Laboratory program. Oregon Consensus was brought in to help establish the group’s Governance Agreements … Read more
Oregon’s natural resource agency leadership began a process to engage communities, experts, and interest groups to examine the Governor’s 100-Year Water Vision. The water vision was drafted as a starting place and an invitation to stakeholders, agencies, and tribes to help shape a long-term vision and plan for strategic investments in Oregon’s water and water … Read more
On behalf of its Columbia Gorge Service Advisory Council, Providence Health & Services awarded funds to the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District in support of the Transportation Innovations through Collective Impact project. This project proposed to identify appropriate innovative transportation solutions for rural places that would allow advancement of new models for delivery of transportation for … Read more
OC provided facilitation support to a Department of State Lands rules advisory committee designed to provide input on new rules related to easements for crossing of trust and non-trust lands. Beginning in spring 2018, OC began providing facilitation support to a second rules advisory committee that designed to provide input to the Department of State … Read more
In response to a request from the Water Environment Services of Clackamas County, Oregon conducted an assessment of the potential opportunity for a collaborative agreement-seeking process to address issues related to governance of wastewater infrastructure in Clackamas County. Oregon Consensus then facilitated the process.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is developing a master plan for Pilot Butte State Viewpoint in Bend, Oregon. Pilot Butte is a 500-foot extinct volcano with panoramic views of the Cascades Mountains and the city of Bend. Tens of thousands of people visit the park each year. Oregon Consensus worked with OPRD’s internal team … Read more
The 93,000-acre Elliott State Forest, just northeast of Coos Bay, Oregon, is made up primarily of state-owned lands dedicated to Oregon’s Common School Fund under the authority of the State Land Board. Since the forest was established in 1930, timber harvest has served as the primary source of revenue. In 2017, due to declining timber … Read more
An estuarine research project was conducted by PSU faculty from the Environmental Science and Management Department and others with funding from Oregon Sea Grant. The project, captioned “Linkages between forestry practices and Oregon’s estuarine shellfish,”clarified connections between forest management regimes and contaminants in estuarine shellfish to inform future forestry policy discussion. Oregon Consensus facilitated an … Read more
OC was asked by the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District, on behalf of the steering committee for the Salt Creek Watershed Collaborative, to conduct an assessment to see whether and how a collaborative process might help resolve issues related to flooding in the Lower Salt Creek watershed and floodplain. Over the last couple … Read more
The High Desert Partnership, a rural nonprofit that strives to advance collaborative relationships between Harney County residents and government, convened the Youth Changing the Community (YCTC) initiative with assistance from Oregon Consensus. High Desert Partnership brought together a group of leaders from education, health, justice, natural resources, and other fields to coordinate and take strategic … Read more
OC worked with a representative stakeholder work group convened by Oregon Parks and Recreation District to assist in developing an alternative for managing Bates Pond that meets multiple objectives, focusing on maintaining cultural and historic values and addressing fish passage and habitat needs.
As a follow up from OC’s 2012 Columbia Basin Salmon and Steelhead Situation Assessment, NOAA fisheries held a basin-wide collaborative forum to reconcile overlapping efforts for salmon and steelhead into a consistent and comprehensive set of integrated goals that provide a common path toward recovery. OC provided consultation services to NOAA and others in support … Read more
At the request of the Governor’s office, OC provided neutral facilitation and coordination support for the community of Roseburg in the wake of the Umpqua Community College shooting. A Leadership Team and Coordinating Council were formed to facilitate communication, prioritization, and decision making between social and mental health service providers.
The Harney County Watershed Council asked Oregon Consensus to facilitate place-based water resource planning for the Malheur Lake Basin, per a pilot grant from Oregon Water Resources Department. A water availability work group looked at sprinkler irrigation technologies and conservation practices that could be among several strategies for sustainable water management in the basin. Potential … Read more
The Burns, Oregon, district of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) engaged Oregon Consensus to convene and facilitate the BLM Burns District Wildfire Collaborative. The group worked to increase fire resiliency in southeast Oregon by improving collaboration and communication related to fire prevention, response, and recovery.