Charting a Course to Manage Oregon’s Water for Future Generations

 

Oregon’s water management system was created in the early 1900s, when water was plentiful, clean and available to all. As our population and economy grew, combined with climate change Oregon is now facing a water management crisis that threatens Oregon’s long-term prosperity. Unfortunately, making changes to Oregon’s water management system is fraught with challenges, as water stakeholders battle over the nature of proposed changes.

 

Since 2012, the Oregon Business Council (OBC) has made water quality and management one of its highest natural resource priorities. Each of the last nine Business Leadership Summit’s has devoted considerable time and energy to addressing water challenges.

 

In 2019, OBC asked me to staff a new project (led by OBC Directors) designed to reframe the water challenge debate to enable water stakeholders to find common ground and work towards real solutions to our water management needs.

 

Working with Duke University and national water expert Martin Doyle, we prepared (and OBC Directors unanimously endorsed) Securing Oregon’s Water Future, calling for the modernization of Oregon’s water management system. OBC Directors are dedicated to making water management a top priority to the next Oregon governor