Benton County Water Project – Policy

Water Project Policy

"From districts to cities to counties, the continuity, or 'handshake' between each jurisdiction’s water supply policy plans and implementation frameworks, are experiencing ever-growing mismatches that could cause serious breaches in water security, economic vigor, and environmental health."
 - Commissioner Linda Modrell

  Phase I of the Water Project is to develop, with the direction of a Steering Committee, an assessment to address the growing water supply issues across political boundaries within the county. Benton County Commissioner (Chair) Linda Modrell and Water Project Coordinator, Adam Stebbins, began presenting the Water Project goals and Memoranda of Cooperation (MOC) agreements to stakeholders across the county starting as early as January 2008 to develop the committee structure and volunteer members.

  City Councils, Watershed Councils, Benton Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), Lane County, and others have entered into MOCs with Benton County to collaborate in the project. Each collaborator has also selected a representative to serve on a committee or team, as appointed by County Commissioners.

  The connections between water resources, science, and policy are complicated (see the Water Project Situation Map).

  All Committee and Team members were appointed by the Benton County Commissioners based on past experience and desire to collaborate on this important project.

•  REVIEW the current Steering Committee Web page and roster, the Outreach and Education Team page and roster, and the Technical Team page and roster.

•  READ the Water Supply Project Synopsis (PDF)

•  WATCH a Web-cast of Commissioner Modrell and Water Project Coordinator Adam Stebbins presenting the Water Project to and discussing policy with the Lane County Board of Commissioners.

•  VIEW picture of Commissioner Annabelle Jaramillo and Lanny Zoeller, Chair of the Southern Willamette Valley Groundwater Management Area Committee, signing a Memorandum of Cooperation to work with one another towards sustainable water supply, policy, and planning.

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