Central Portland Assessment and Benchmarks

Central Portland Assessment and Benchmarks

Matrix for

A Healthy River

Portland’s river will be healthy; improve water quality and habitat
Watershed-wide efforts to preserve the health of the river
Deployment of Portland’s human, financial and political resources will reflect the top priority status of the river
Daily behavior of individuals will better acknowledge the inter-relationships…
Many species, including Salmon and Steelhead Trout will call the river home
Portlanders will enjoy the river… by swimming, boating, bird watching and celebrating its fabulous revival

Effort	Lead Who is Involved	Timeline	How contributes to Vision	Benchmarks	Current Status
Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Designed to restore wild salmon and trout populations and fisheries to sustainable and productive levels that will provide environmental, cultural, and economic benefits and to improve water quality. Healthy Streams Partnership Associated with Oregon Plan — concentrates on agricultural practices under SB 1010	Governor’s Office 503/378-3589 Cooperative effort of state, local, federal, tribal and private organizations and individuals.	Started October, 1995. Will continue	Salmon and other fisheries restoration	Emphasizes tracking habitat indicators like water temp, revegetation, shading, pools, and fish passage	Focus for Willamette primarily through Willamette Restoration Initiative
Willamette Restoration Initiative (WRI) Broad-based effort to promote, integrate and coordinate efforts to protect and restore the health of the Willamette watershed. Established 10/98. Completed draft (6/99) inventory of major restoration and conservation programs applicable to activities in the Willamette Basin.	Governor’s Office 503/986-0034 Chaired by OSU President Risser; 26-Member Board of Directors all stakeholder interests. Portland area representatives: Portland Commissioner Sten , Metro Exec Burton, OBC Pres. Wyse	Has developed vision, mission, values, and goals.	WRI is intended to ensure a collaborative effort with other communities throughout Oregon to improve the overall health of the river and specifically to guide the development of the "Willamette Chapter" of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds.	Will establish specific measures for Willamette restoration	Reported to be getting off to a slow start; has no regulatory authority- depends on voluntary action; lacks funds
Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) (formerly Governor’s Watershed Enhancement Board) Established in 1987 to create a forum for agency members to discuss watershed scale issues, fund local demonstration projects and watershed education, and provide a forum for landowners and others to discuss watershed enhancement efforts. 1999 legislative session changed name, expanded board, made it independent, and dedicated $30 million over 1999-2001 biennium for watershed restoration. Agency has expanded role, including authority to acquire property or rights in property.	OWEB 503/378-3589	Ongoing	Helps support watershed councils and watershed health, which in turn are key to many strategies related to Willamette River health.	1999 legislation requires OWEB to establish regional priorities for investment of budgeted monies.	$30 million is expected to be a significant investment during next two years.
Watershed Councils Watershed Councils are local voluntary organizations formed in Oregon to identify common goals for watershed improvement. Each council is unique. They undertake a range of activities including education and consciousness raising about watershed issues.	Contact OWEB for referral or information 503/378-3589 Because watershed councils are not created by statute, there is not a "lead" agency. Generally composed of volunteers, advocacy, business, and govt. interests	Ongoing	Willamette Basin watershed councils are expected to play a key role in identifying existing conditions and bring stakeholders together to restore and enhance watershed conditions for improving water quality and watershed function.	Different depending on watershed council.	Questions about capacity; have obligations to help fulfill Oregon Plan with no legal standing and insufficient funding
Clean Rivers Plan (formerly known as Integrated Watershed Plan) Provides a vehicle for the City of Portland to diverge from the current practice of addressing each problem in a watershed in isolation and instead identify all needs throughout all the watersheds within the City’s jurisdiction over the next 20 years to develop a plan that addresses multiple objectives and provides multiple environmental and community benefits.	Bureau of Environmental Services (BES)/City of Portland 503/ 823-7115 Collaborating with federal government, corporate institutions, watershed councils, state government, conservation groups, recreation interests, etc.	20 year timeline for final plan	More comprehensive, coordinated city response to meeting its objective under the Clean Water Act, ESA, and other regulatory requirements. It is intended to be adaptive, allowing for changes over time.	Will result in comprehensive benchmarks for such activities as: stream buffers and natural areas; fish habitat and water quality; plant trees and revegetate watershed; amount of stormwater flowing into Willamette; erosion; CSO control; land use city code changes to protect streams and natural areas; pollution control	Three alternatives are out for public comment summer, 1999; plan to be completed fall, 1999. The Plan could be affected by what happens with ESA require ments.
Endangered Species Program/City of Portland Organizational structure to coordinate the City’s response to the listings of steelhead trout and Chinook salmon in urban waterways. Coordinating with other programs like Willamette Greenway.	Commissioner Sten 503/823-3589 BES 503/823-7032 Includes Planning, Office of Planning & Development Review, Parks, Water, Energy, Transportation, Fire, City Atty, and PDC. Collaborating with federal & local govt, landowners, corporate, conservation groups, watershed councils, academic/research institutions, volunteers	Ongoing Assessment completed. Developing a plan, building a budget, and evaluating city progs. Will determine this fall if city will proceed with Habitat Conservation Plan.	Goals are to restore and maintain healthy urban watersheds that will, among other things, support recovered salmonid stocks in our urban streams.	Objectives are to adequately inventory the status of natural resources, identify areas that are critical to fish protection, and implement projects to protect fish and their habitat in City’s watersheds. Are developing benchmarks.	ESA work is limited by slowness of federal agency action. Potential of ESA to impact Clean River Plan; Willamette River develop ment, other city activities.
Environmental Management/City of Portland Numerous programs including naturescaping for Clean Rivers; stewardship; watershed revegetation; monitoring; public information, involvement, and environmental education	BES 503/823-7096 (programs) 503/823-5021 (public information, involvement & education) Many of these programs involve collaborations with landowners, businesses, conservation groups, watershed councils, volunteers, schools, other private groups Stewardship program primarily through an intergovernmental agreement with PSU.	Ongoing	Many watershed health activities are focused on awareness and education about specific actions individuals can take to help Willamette River Health	Different for different programs. Clean Rivers Program includes reduce stormwater runoff and water pollution and increase and improve wildlife habitat Monitoring program to quantify results of Clean River Program activities.	Some of these programs lack adequate funding. Many of these activities will be folded into the Clean Rivers Plan.
CSO Strategy/City of Portland CSO Stakeholders group; pre-design program; working since late 80s to reduce the amount of combined sewer overflows that enter the Willamette River (and Columbia Slough).	BES 503/823-5344 CSO Stakeholders Group is guiding planning efforts	CSO standards must be met by 2011	Purpose of strategy is to meet specific health standards for Willamette River.	Clear objectives for CSO standards by 2011 — reduce CSOs by 94%, with specified # of overflows/year and target meeting specific bacteria standard.	Clean Rivers process may result in a recommended strategy that will require modifying the DEQ order
Stormwater Program/City of Portland Stormwater Advisory Committee NPDES Municipal Stormwater Permit implementation program to reduce stormwater pollution. Program includes development and implementation of best management practices; provides technical assistance to developers interested in innovative stormwater management techniques (e.g. green roofs), including in existing development. New committee formed to provide program advice.	BES 503/823-7096 Commissioner Dan Saltzman 503/823-4151 All City bureaus and a number of local jurisdictions; co-permittees include Port of Portland, Multnomah County, ODOT	End of current 5 year permit cycle 9/2000	Focus of stormwater program is water quality and pollution	Reduce pollutant discharges to the "maximum extent practicable."	Have revised manual and code language to support goals. Advisory Committee is new.
Development Review Applies development review regulations as one part of City’s strategy to conserve environmental resources. Includes environmental zoning regs, Willamette River Greenway development regs, stormwater and erosion control standards, and land division regulations to avoid sensitive areas.	Office of Planning & Development Review 503/823-7706 Collaborates with federal, state, local government; coordination with DLCD, city development review agencies, ESA efforts, and Metro,	Ongoing	Much of development review involves factors that affect Willamette River health.	Development review has general goals for each program.	Challenged by volume of new develop ment and balancing conserva tion regs w/ property rights
Central Portland Riparian Committee Business community advocacy on ESA and participation in the city’s ESA response. Committee wants to address both ESA as well as other city goals such as housing, jobs and growth management, and health of businesses along the Willamette.	APP/Committee Coord. 224-8684 Committee members represent Riparian zone businesses	Ongoing	Important resource for city and other levels of government as they determine actions for ESA response	Goal to assist in development of City’s response to the ESA so policies and regulations do not needlessly prevent the city from meeting its housing, jobs and growth management goals, and to put public and private resources where they do the most good to meet ESA goals	Committee is developing an overall strategy. Committee could play important role in helping resolve potential conflicts between vision goals.
The Oregon Agenda Vision: Clean water, naturally spawning salmon and healthy economies throughout Oregon; agenda includes recommendations on what needs to be done and legislative action steps	Oregon Business Council 503/220-0691 Council represents major business interests in state. Oregon Agenda also supported by: APP, Portland Chamber of Commerce	Advocacy in 1999 legislature	The Oregon Agenda includes working toward healthy rivers, including the Willamette.	Regions with: Naturally spawning salmon; clean streams; sustainable harvests of timber, farm products, and fish	Succeeded in getting some changes made relative to watershed councils
Portland Multnomah Progress Board Has established benchmarks for the environment; doing a Benchmark Audit on Salmon Recovery with focus on Johnson Creek Watershed	Portland Multnomah Progress Board City Auditor’s Office 503/823-3524	Ongoing	Review of the major factors influencing salmonid health; develop benchmarks to track watershed trends.	Increase the number of salmon and great blue heron; Increase the in-stream water quality of streams monitored in Mult. Cty; will be future benchmarks from audit	New benchmark audit expected to be completed spring, 2000.
Oregon Progress Board Sets statewide benchmarks for the environment, including fish.	Oregon Progress Board 503/986-0039 Chaired by Governor, members represent various interests in state.	Ongoing; reports to each legislative assembly on progress	Helps track and report on measurable indicators that bear on Willamette River health	Salmon—key sub-basins at target levels; water quality trends; Percentage of native fish and wildlife species that are healthy	New set of benchmarks and targets is under develop ment
Regional Programs/Metro Title III erosion control measures; salmon coordinator; managing resource lands; Greenspaces Grants Program focused on habitat restoration and enhancement, salmonid education and enhancement, and environmental education ; conducting fish and wildlife habitat inventory; "fish friendly" transportation planning	Metro 797-1579 (Salmon coordinator) 797-1781 (Grants)	Ongoing	Title 3 provides standards for limiting development in flood plains and streamside habitat reducing erosion; salmon recovery coordinator helping to coordinate regional activities;	Stream and Floodplain protection Plan has specific regional standards	Metro has been subject of much discussion regarding its appropriate role in regional salmon recovery efforts
River Health Advocacy Many advocacy groups are involved in working on river health and salmon recovery. They include non-profit organizations such as Save Our Wild Salmon, the Pacific River Council, For the Sake of the Salmon, Oregon Trout, Oregon Environmental Council, Audubon Society, Northwest Environmental Advocates, Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLV), Willamette Riverkeeper, Tualatin Riverkeepers, River Network, Native Fish Society, Trout Unlimited, Coalition for a Livable Future, Keepers of the Waters, many others.	Individual non-profit organizations (see list to left) Many of these organizations are represented on various other efforts	Ongoing	Advocating at all levels of influence for Willamette River health.	Varies depending on organization.	Efforts vary depending on focus of group and scope of activities
Portland Harbor Sediments Management Plan	DEQ In cooperation with Portland Harbor Group
Portland Harbor Cleanup/Superfund Listing	DEQ/EPA
State Water Supply Management Water Resources Department develops basin water management plans to recognize and balance the competing water quantity demands of ten different water uses (e.g. agricultural, industrial, recreational, power, fish, livestock, municipal, mining, wildlife, and other).	Oregon Department of Water Resources 503/378-8455 Water Resources Commission sets policy	Ongoing	Water supply allocation affects optimum flows necessary to respond to concerns about endangered fish		Current policy requires major water users and suppliers to prepare water management plans; provide pilot process for evaluating effectiveness of conservation planning
State Water Quality Programs Programs primarily intended to implement the federal Clean Water Act. Sets and enforces water quality standards and monitors water quality. DEQ permits required for discharging pollutants. Environmental Protection Agency has delegated much authority to State DEQ.	Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 503/229-5324 Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) sets policy	Ongoing	Water quality is directly related to river health	Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements will set specific standards.	TMDL requirements for Willamette to be completed by 2002
State Agricultural Management Development of Agricultural Water Quality Management Area Plans in all sub-basins including the Willamette River; set standards for on-farm activities to prevent and control pollution resulting form agricultural activities and soil erosion	Oregon Department of Agriculture Federal, state, local government and landowners	Goal to develop plans for all subbasins in Oregon by end of 2001.	Directly relates to river health	Plans provide objective-based performance standards for landowners	Much of activity on Healthy Streams by virtue of Governor’s Executive Order.
State Forestry Management Forest Practices Program/Oregon Forest Practices Act on non-federal forestlands; forest operations must comply with EQC standards relating to water pollution.	Oregon Department of Forestry 503/945-7484	Ongoing	Forestry practices impt. to river health; especially affect upstream water quality		Some believe forest practices require ments not enough to meet ESA needs
State Land Use Planning Oversees comp plans that must comply with several planning goals which contain provisions that provide for the conservation of resources related to fish and aquatic habitat	Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development 503/731-4065	Ongoing	Land use goals responsible for Metro guidelines on erosion, floodplains, etc. to protect rivers	?
State Recreation Lands Willamette Greenway Program; State Park Master Planning; Natural Resources/Forestry Program; State Scenic Waterway Program	Oregon Parks & Recreation Dept. 503/378-4168 (Re: Willamette Greenway, also Willamette Riverkeeper & local govts.)	Ongoing	Many of these programs have a Willamette River restoration component to them	?	Willamette Greenway program lacks funding & staff
State Fish Management Protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats	Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 503/872-5270 Collaborates with watershed councils, conservation groups, al levels of government, tribes, volunteers, landowners, recreation interests	Ongoing	One goal is to prevent depletion of native species of fish and wildlife ; estimated 25% of resources spent on Willamette River	Have developed species and basin plans	Insufficient funding for monitoring fish & wildlife populations and habitat in the Willamette Basin
State Lands Management Has management and some regulatory responsibilities for submerged and submersible lands on navigable waterways; administers state removal-fill law; issues wetlands permits.	Division of State Lands 503/378-3805 State Land Board sets policy; works with other state and federal natural resource agencies on permitting	Ongoing	Decisions regarding waterway leases, removal/fill and wetlands can affect water quality and fish habitat and are considered in waterway management decisions.	?	Lacks adequate funding for regulatory role
Willamette Valley Livability Forum (Created in December 1996 by Gov. Kitzhaber to identify and promote solutions to the growth and development issues facing Willamette Valley) "Choices for the Future: The Willamette Valley." Report produced May, 1999. Represents completion of first phase of Forum’s work. Report brings together survey results, 50-year vision for the Valley’s future, research on issues and trends, and recommended actions toward achieving a preferred future including Willamette River health	Willamette Valley Livability Forum 541/687-4429 Citizen leaders & representatives of businesses, non-profit organizations and local, state, and federal governments.	50 year vision. Second phase to develop different scenarios factoring in transportation and land use.	Generally study-oriented group, although supports and collaborates with other significant efforts including: Recommendations of Willamette River Basin Task Force and the initiatives to restore the watershed health. Willamette Restoration Initiative (WRI)	Not specifically; rather, supports other efforts which are or have established objectives	Second phase has been funded
Willamette River Basin Task Force Charged by Gov. Kitzhaber to assess the current status of the Willamette Basin waters, gather information on water quality problems, determine the need for further study, build consensus among the many groups whose activities affect the river, and deliver recommendations.	DEQ staffing Chair and all members were representatives of urban, agricultural, environmental, and other interests.	Recommendations delivered to Governor and Legislators in December 1997; task force completed its work	Comprehensive final task force recommendations are widely regarded as a guiding force for restoring watershed health	Developed benchmarks for watershed health and a monitoring report card in cooperation with the Oregon Progress Board and Willamette Valley Livability Forum	Activities not ongoing
Surface Water Management Program Provides sanitary, sewerage, sewage treatment, and storm water and surface water management in Tualatin River watershed	Unified Sewerage Agency 648-8644	Ongoing	Tualatin River flows into Willamette — its health affects Willamette River health	Specific program objectives, including conserve, enhance, restore, and maintain water quality for the Tualatin River watershed
Federal ESA Activities Federal agencies responsible for administering federal ESA. Make listing decision, develop critical habitat designations, develop 4(d) rule regarding take, and develop recovery plan	National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 503/326-6352 US Fish & Wildlife Service 503/231-6131	Critical habitat draft done. 4(d) rule not yet drafted- was expected summer, 1999; recovery plan not started —agency has 2 _ years to complete recovery plan	Will provide framework for City plans for ESA response	Critical habitat designation sets out guidelines. 4(d) rule will specifically define what a "take" is with respected to listed species. Recovery plan will defined what it will take to recover.	Overall federal action delayed. Agencies underfunded and overloaded.
National Water-Quality Assessment Report assessing Willamette Basin water quality 1991-95	USGS	Study completed 1998	Provides baseline water quality information	Report information could provide baseline	Completed
Willamette Basin Floodplain Restoration Study Address floodplain restoration opportunities throughout Willamette Basin for multiple benefits	Corps of Engineers 503/808-4732	Reconnaissance phase complete 9/99; Feasibility phase complete 2002(?)	Study will specifically address floodplain restoration opportunities including native habitats and species	Has specific study outcomes, including establishment of criteria and priorities for floodplain restoration activities	Ultimate objective is federal funding of specific restoration projects — outcome unknown
American Heritage Rivers Initiative Designed to help communities revitalize their rivers as well as the habitat, development, and parks on the river banks.	?	Ongoing?	Willamette River was designated as an American Heritage River	?	?