Please lend your voice to the water needs of rivers and fish as part of Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) update!
The Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) is Oregon’s blueprint for meeting both instream and out-of-stream needs. This strategy is critically important in shaping policies, programs, and budgets for multiple state agencies.
First published in 2012, the IWRS must be updated every five years. The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and partner agencies are currently seeking public input on the update to the state’s IWRS. The IWRS provides a roadmap for better understanding and meeting Oregon’s instream and out-of-stream water needs.
There are two opportunities in May and June to let the state know about the importance of river issues to you: community meetings and an online survey. Scroll down for details.
Right now, it is critically important that the state hear that you want it to continue forward and build upon the instream components of the IWRS!
Sample talking points include:
The state should fund and support instream flow protection and restoration efforts, aquatic connectivity and sustainable water management! These include, but are not limited to:
- The state should protect streamflows needed for fish and other aquatic species
- The state should adopt more instream water rights to legally protect water instream
- The state should designate more Scenic Waterways
- The state should fund removal of fish killing dams
- The state should develop drought tools to help rivers and fish
- The state should mandate conservation during times of drought
- The state should ensure sustainable management of ground and surface water
Basically, the state just needs to hear that you care about Oregon’s rivers!
OWRD is partnering with Oregon’s Kitchen Table to gather feedback from the public for this round of updates through an online survey (goes live May 11, 2023) and during in person community conversations (May – June 2023).
To fill out the survey, after May 11, CLICK HERE
To attend a community conversation, sign up for an in person community conversation by clicking the link below (though walk-ins are also welcome!)
English: https://bit.ly/water-conversationsSpanish: https://bit.ly/reunión-agua
Meeting Locations
Seaside – May 11th, 6-8pmBob Chisholm Community Center1225 Avenue A, Seaside, OR 97138 Hermiston – May 16th, 6-8pmHermiston Community Center415 S Hwy 395, Hermiston, OR 97838 John Day – May 17th, 6-8pmCanyon City Community Hall123 Washington St, Canyon City, OR 97820 Roseburg – May 23rd, 6-8pmAviva Health Conference Room150 Northeast Kenneth Ford Drive, Roseburg, OR 97470(Located on second floor, has an elevator) Corvallis – May 24th, 6-8pmTunison Community Room365 SW Tunison Ave, Corvallis, OR 97333 Madras – June 7th, 6-8pmCOCC Community Room1170 E Ashwood Road, Madras, OR 97741 Ontario – June 8th, 6:30-8:30pmOntario Community Library Meeting Room388 SW 2nd Ave, Ontario, OR 97914
Resources:
Click here for more information on way to participateClick here for more information on community meetingsIntegrated Water Resources Strategy webpage
The contact for the Oregon Water Resources Department is: