sustainable schools – sustainable solutions conference june 19, 2012
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Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy: Moving from Development to Implementation. Sustainable Schools – Sustainable Solutions Conference June 19, 2012 Ruben Ochoa, Water Policy Analyst Oregon Water Resources Department. The Charge to Develop a Strategy. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Sustainable Schools – Sustainable Solutions Conference
June 19, 2012
Ruben Ochoa, Water Policy AnalystOregon Water Resources Department
Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy:
Moving from Development to Implementation
The Charge to Develop a Strategy
Oregon’s House Bill 3369 (2009)• Directs WRD to lead efforts
to “understand and meet”Oregon’s water needs”
• Partner with DEQ, ODFW, ODA, other agencies, tribes, stakeholders, public
• Account for coming pressures
instream and out-of-stream …quality, quantity & ecosystem needs …today and in the future
The IWRS Process
Setting the Stage - 3-year Workplan, Issue Papers, Map Gallery- Formation of Project Team and 3 Advisory Groups
Identifying Water Resource Needs - 11 Open Houses, Stakeholder Workshops, Survey, Public Comments, Advisory Groups- Development of Framework (goals, objectives, guiding principles, critical issues)Developing Draft Recommended Actions - 12 “Bulletins” containing recommended actions- Continued input from advisory groups (policy, state agencies, and federal partners)- Release of “2011 Discussion Draft” in December 2011Producing Oregon’s 1st Integrated Water Resources Strategy- Accepted public comment on discussion draft through March 15, 2012- New version by the end of May- Water Resources Commission notifying other boards & commissions; seeking endorsement- WRC scheduled to consider adoption in August 2012.
The IWRS Today
General Approach− Building upon a good foundation of policy and
data− Preserve rights and authorities that are in
place today− Voluntary, incentive-based approach− Practical, ”implementable” recommendations− Heavy focus on the data required for decision-
making
The State of Water Resources in Oregon
~ 96 million acre feet of water / year
Diverted8%
Not Diverted92%
Protected for instream use
The State of Water Resources in Oregon
If the majority of the pie is unallocated, what’s the problem?
• Location• Timing• Form
The State of Water Resources in Oregon: LocationMean Annual Precipitation in Oregon
The State of Water Resources in Oregon: Timing
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month
Perc
ent o
f ann
ual
Stream flow distributionCrop requirements
The State of Water Resources in Oregon: Form
Current Precipitation Conditions
Future Scenario (3° F increase)
Percent of annual precipitation falling as rain
The State of Water Resources in Oregon: Groundwater Quantity and Quality
The State of Water Resources in Oregon
• Energy used to pump, treat, and heat water accounts for at least 13 percent of the nation’s total electricity use.
• Strategy recommends enhanced connection between Oregon’s long-term energy and water strategies.
• For municipalities, the energy costs for managing water and wastewater can represent one-third of their total energy bill.
• Forty-two percent of Oregon’s electric power comes from hydropower – the availability of water is essential to hydroelectric generation.
• Oregon’s Building Codes Division recently approved Statewide Alternative Methods (SAMs) on rainwater harvesting for commercial and residential construction as well as potable and non-potable uses; graywater use.
The Water and Energy Nexus
How Will the IWRS Benefit Oregon?
Data Developing science leads to better management(Rec. Actions #1 – 6)
How Will the IWRS Benefit Oregon?
Education and Outreach…(Rec. Actions #8b)Preparing Oregon’s Next Generation of Water
Experts
Water treatment plant operators
Wastewater treatment plant operators
Water utility workers
Soils scientists
Biologists
Zoologists
Chemists
Geologists
Hydrogeologists
Environmental engineers
Civil engineers
Mechanical engineersNanotechnologists
Toxicologists
Epidemiologists
Attorneys
Policy wonks!
Public FinanceWatermasters
Hydrologists
GIS/Mapping
How Will the IWRS Benefit Oregon?
Education and Outreach…(Rec. Actions #8b)Preparing Oregon’s Next Generation of Water
Experts
www.workforwater.orgWater treatment plant operators
Wastewater treatment plant operators
Water utility workers
Soils scientists
Biologists
Zoologists
Chemists
Geologists
Hydrogeologists
Environmental engineers
Civil engineers
Mechanical engineersNanotechnologists
Toxicologists
Epidemiologists
Attorneys
Policy wonks!
Public FinanceWatermasters
Hydrologists
GIS/Mapping
How Will the IWRS Benefit Oregon?
Water Supply DevelopmentLeads to safe and reliable supplies, (Rec. Actions
# 10a-d)
The Road Ahead
– Water Resources Commission consider IWRS adoption - August
– Some implementation requires no legislative action or budget $
• For example, updating the state’s permitting guide• Interagency coordination• Making data more accessible on the web
– Some entail budget / legislative requests for 2013 and beyond
• For example, developing additional data for science-based decision-making
• Creating a water supply development program
