Numerous sources of water resource data for Oregon can be found if one knows where to look. Traditional providers such as the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) have made great strides in recent years to make historical and...
The specter of climate change looms large over Oregon. Although hydroclimatologic models predict a warmer Oregon, the total volume of precipitation may not change significantly. However, the character (rain vs. snow) and spatial and temporal distributions of precipitation will likely change. The state is already witnessing earlier snowmelt in the...
During 2009, the 75th Legislative Assembly passed House Bill 3369, directing the Oregon Water Resources Department to develop a state-wide, Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) to help Oregon meet its future water quantity, water quality, and ecosystem needs, while taking into account coming pressures such as population growth, changing land...
Oregon’s stream gaging network was last evaluated in 1970 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Water management and scientific-related needs have changed significantly since 1970, including the recognition of instream water rights and implications of climate change on water resources. The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) has recently undertaken an evaluation...
The Metolius River basin is a sub-basin of the Deschutes Basin within central Oregon. Considered one of the crown jewels of the state, this historically undisturbed basin drew attention in 2009 because the Oregon legislature designated the basin as the first Area of Critical State Concern (ACSC) under the state’s...
The City of Damascus, Oregon has a current population of nearly 10,000 people and expects to grow to 50,000 residents by 2060. On the eastern edge of the Portland metropolitan area, the City is located in the Clackamas and Willamette basins with an area of almost 12,000 acres. Semi-rural in...
Spatial patterns of summer streamflow in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon vary dramatically between the geologically distinct High and Western Cascade regions. A key control is the partitioning of water input between a fast-draining shallow subsurface flow network (Western Cascades) versus a slow-draining deeper groundwater system (High Cascades). These differences...
Oregon’s largest metropolitan region, Greater Portland, is home to a diverse array of water utilities though few have sufficiently robust water reuse and conservation goals. In determining the most beneficial way to allocate water-related public goods and natural resource management services, Oregonians are adapting to stronger legal standards among other...
In 2010 Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) embarked on a research effort to develop strategic, practical recommendations for advancing agricultural water efficiency in Oregon. While OEC’s report on this project will not be published until July 2011, we will share some of our initial findings at the Oregon Water Conference.
As...