Cooperative Watershed Management Program

GSI helped Santiam Water Control District take a more collaborative approach to watershed planning in the North Santiam Watershed—one that engages more stakeholders, increases understanding of water issues, and helps integrate watershed efforts. Work included identifying stakeholders in the basin and developing a water rights transaction program framework. We also supported the formation of a group of decision-makers in the watershed called the Council of Water Leaders and created a framework for how the council could function in the watershed. GSI presented webinars about the Council of Water Leaders to various stakeholders in the basin (i.e., Tribes, interest groups, irrigators, cities, counties, and businesses), developed and facilitated the Council of Water Leaders Kickoff and Symposium in March 2022, and planned the first Council of Water Leaders meeting in May 2022. Meetings continue to be held multiple times per year to maintain a regular flow of information among organizations about pertinent water resources issues.

The purpose of the Council of Water Leaders is to enhance water resources management by providing a forum for learning about important water issues in the North Santiam Basin. In particular, this forum aims to bring together decision-makers and other leaders in the North Santiam that influence water resources management to increase communication and coordination.

GSI also supported outreach to underrepresented stakeholders to include more perspectives and spread the flow of information about water resources issues.

GSI’s work involved:

• Updating a list of stakeholders in the basin.
• Outlining a water rights transaction program.
• Creating a draft framework for how a water leadership group could function in the watershed.
• Presenting webinars about the proposed approach for the water leadership group to various stakeholders in the basin.
• Establishing the Council of Water Leaders.
• Organizing and facilitating a symposium and regular meetings.