Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2009OR114B

Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD): Developing an Integrated Water Resource Strategy

Institute: Oregon
Year Established: 2009 Start Date: 2009-03-01 End Date: 2010-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $8,506 Total Non-Federal Funds: $38,021

Principal Investigators: Greg Perry

Abstract: The wet climate of western Oregon and the relatively low population densities of eastern Oregon have delayed statewide long term water resource planning. The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and the Oregon Water Commission (OWC) have recently prioritized this planning necessity in an effort to develop an integrated long term water resource strategy. One major aspect of this extensive undertaking is cataloging, analyzing, and then reporting available water management strategies such as conservation programs. Water conservation programs will be analyzed using an interdisciplinary quantitative and qualitative modeling approach, following existing statewide water conservation plans from around the U.S. as a template. Ultimately, this research will provide initial and internal information to OWRD in an effort to focus further research and justify additional state legislature funding for statewide water resource planning. Long-term water resource planning is an emerging necessity world-wide, and the technical evaluations of water management strategies in this proposal will aid Oregon in its quest to catch up with the rest of nation.