Get Involved in the Integrated Water Resources Strategy!

The 2009 Legislative Session passed House Bill 3369. Among other things, this Bill tasked Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) with developing Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS). The IWRS goals are to build resources and tools to assist Oregon in looking at its future water needs in terms of water quantity, water quality, ecological needs, economic needs, social needs, and implications of climate change.

Issue papers were drafted addressing these areas and are found by following the link below. These issue papers are open for public comment. All comments received by the OWRD Project Team before October 31st will be available at the next Water Resources Commission meeting currently scheduled for November 19th and 20th in Salem.

According to the Project Team’s September 23, 2009 Briefing, the intent of the IWRS is to “develop a framework, consisting of a set of tools, data, and resources with statewide relevance that communities can use to develop their water resource needs.” We encourage everyone to become involved in this process as submit comments.

Integrated Water Resources Website: http://www.wrd.state.or.us/OWRD/LAW/Integrated_Water_Supply_Strategy.shtml