Roundtable Dates (12-6 p.m.) 25 Sept - Bend (Agenda) 30 Sept - Newport (Agenda) 7 Oct - Ontario (Agenda) 14 Oct - Medford (Agenda) 21 Oct - Salem (Agenda)

Synthesis Report The Roundtables Synthesis Report was posted December 11, 2008.   Join Email List Sign up for the Water Roundtables email list to receive information about venues and other updates.

Roundtable Agenda

The public forums will include brief overviews of Oregon’s current water situation, both statewide and within the specific regions where the forums will be held, followed by facilitated discussions. Local water leaders will be recruited to assist in developing participant lists and key issues. Experts from the Oregon University System, State agencies, watershed councils, and other organizations will be recruited to provide short presentations on issues identified as vital to the specific forum. Issue identification will be done in advance with regional water leaders and watershed councils. Issues would include topics, such as the following:

• Climate change impacts on water resources, water demands and management
• Water storage, both surface water and groundwater, as well as opportunities for enhancing natural storage (restoration of wetlands and floodplains)
• Market-based mechanisms for meeting future needs (e.g. voluntary transfers, reallocation)
• Environmental and instream flows
• Water reuse and conservation
• Protection and restoration of water quality and aquatic/riparian ecosystems
• Exempt groundwater wells
• How Federal agencies impact water management in Oregon

Participants will communicate what issues they view as most important, and proffer solutions to problems.  Examples of local water issues include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Meeting water quality requirements
• Restoration of environmental flows and instream water rights
• Water and energy linkages
• Collection, conveyance, and distribution infrastructure
• Economics of water management
• Aquifer depletion/limited groundwater supplies

Facilitated discussion will focus on these and other issues with participants being asked to address what they think needs to be done to address the issues and next steps to be taken. Each Roundtable will conclude with a summary of what has been accomplished.

Specific agendas for each roundtable session will be posted as we approach the meeting date:

• Agenda for Central Oregon Roundtable in Bend - BendAgenda_v2.pdf
• Agenda for Coastal Oregon Roundtable in Newport - NewportAgenda_v3.pdf (last updated 9/29/08)
• Agenda for Eastern Oregon Roundtable in Ontario - OntarioAgenda_v2.pdf (last updated 11/10/08)
• Agenda for Southern Oregon Roundtable in Medford - MedfordAgenda_v2.pdf (last updated 11/10/08)
• Agenda for the Western Oregon/Willamette Valley Roundtable in Salem - SalemAgenda_v4.pdf (last updated 10/22/08)