Rugged Oregon Coast

Oregon Offshore Wind Work Group

At the request of representatives from the renewable energy sector, fishing industry, labor unions, environmental groups, and other interests, Oregon Consensus facilitated an informal work group to explore the impacts and benefits of offshore wind along Oregon’s coast. This work group has recommended that Oregon develop an “Offshore Wind Roadmap with Exit Ramps.” The Roadmap … Read more

Offshore Wind Community Benefit Assessment

Oregon Consensus was asked by a state senator to assess whether the timing was right for Oregon Consensus to facilitate a stakeholder collaboration specifically to craft guidelines around a community benefit agreement tied to possible offshore wind development off of Oregon’s south coast. Oregon Consensus found that the conditions and timing were not right for … Read more

Ferns in the forest

Beaverton Climate Change Task Force

Oregon Consensus was asked by the City of Beaverton, Oregon, to assist with the convening and facilitation of the Beaverton Climate Action Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to enhance city council awareness of community perspectives related to climate change issues, help the city communicate its climate message to the community, and … Read more

Oregon wind farm

OregonSmart Siting Collaboration

Oregon Consensus was asked by a coalition of nonprofit organizations engaged in renewable energy issues (Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, Renewable Northwest, and Oregon Natural Desert Association) to help facilitate a collaborative effort around renewable energy facility siting. These groups recognize that there is the potential for expanding renewable energy in Oregon, but … Read more

Coastal forest

Oregon Department of Forestry, Recreation, Education and Innovation Program Strategic Visioning

The Recreation, Education, and Innovation (REI) program, housed within the State Forests Division of the Oregon Department of Forestry, is embarking on a strategic visioning process to develop internal agency agreement on a vision and common set of values for the REI program, as well as a process for future strategic planning that explores how … Read more

Wildfire in the Pacific Northwest

Harney County Wildfire Collaborative

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

Recycling bales

Department of Environmental Quality – Updating Oregon’s Recycling Systems Project

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

Drop of water falling in a pool

Governor’s 100-Year Water Vision

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

Clackamas County Wastewater Governance

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.

Pilot Butte State Park

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

Elliott State Forest

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

Research on Forestry and Estuarine Shellfish

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

Salt Creek Watershed

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

Bates Pond Work Group

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.

Columbia Basin Partnership

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

Harney County Place-Based Integrated Water Resource Plan

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