OUR APPROACH

Restoring Streamflows with a Scientific, Market-Based, Cooperative Model

Oregon Water Trust targets efforts in those basins that have historically supported significant fisheries. Within each basin Oregon Water Trust identifies priority streams for which streamflow is a limiting factor for fish habitat and water quality and there is potential for acquiring water rights to convert to instream use to enhance flows. Oregon Water Trust concentrates acquisition efforts on small to medium sized tributaries that provide spawning and rearing for salmonids. In these systems, small amounts of water can provide significant ecological benefits.

Scientific

Oregon Water Trust uses ecological, hydrologic and water rights data to identify priority streams and evaluate potential water right acquisitions. Analysis of streamflows and habitat conditions includes:
  • delineating fish use and distribution for each segment;
  • documenting the current and historical ecological value of the waterway for fish;
  • evaluating current habitat and water quality conditions;
  • describing the current water availability situation;
  • summarizing the relationship of the water right to other water rights in the stream segment; and
  • evaluating and summarizing the potential benefits of acquired water on fish habitat and water quality conditions.

    Oregon Water Trust compiles data on species present, their habitat needs and listing status; instream conditions (e.g., flow alteration, temperature, water quality); and relation of instream conditions to riparian, upslope and watershed conditions and activities.
Market Based

Oregon Water Trust's market-based approach provides water right holders in Oregon with a variety of incentives to convert their consumptive water rights to instream water rights. These include: income from marginally productive areas, replacement feed for lost production, funding for irrigation efficiency projects, a possible tax break for permanent donations of water rights, and flexibility in managing water rights.

Cooperative

With only six staff members, Oregon Water Trust must work with local and community groups, agency staff and others interested in water rights issues in order to add to, and not duplicate, the efforts of others. Whenever possible, Oregon Water Trust strives to work with communities to create cooperative solutions that benefit all parties.

Oregon Water Trust's board of directors is a diverse group of committed Oregonians working to realize the organization's goals. Agricultural, environmental, legal and tribal perspectives are equally represented of the board. Oregon Water Trust's diverse board membership allows us to openly and effectively address the concerns of rural Oregonians regarding their livelihoods and the conservation of aquatic resources.

 

522 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 825
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 226-9055 - Fax: (503) 226-3480

Oregon Water Trust is an Oregon 501(c)(3) nonprofit group.
All financial and permanent water right donations are charitable contributions.
All content and photographs are protected with US Copyright 2006.
"Water" image (top of page) Courtesy Dan Callaghan.