River Trust brings agency heads together
Maria Thi Mai
Last Friday afternoon (Nov 18), Sam convened a meeting of federal and state agency directors to identify collectively environmental priorities for the coming year. The River Trust was originally initiated by Sam when he was Chief of Staff in the Mayor's Office and builds on the 2001 River Renaissance Vision.
The River Renaissance Vision is a passionate effort to bring rivers and watersheds back into balance with the rest of the City. Success of the River Renaissance will be accomplished through effective partnerships with concerned individuals and groups in the private sector, and through more effective intergovernmental working relations with relevant federal and state agencies. The Portland River Trust is the key to bringing those agencies together.
Members of the Trust identified the complexity of obtaining environment-related permits for construction activities as an area where increased communication and coordination would benefit all parties at the table. That effort resulted in a first-of-its kind permit Streamlining Agreement among regulatory agencies and a municipal government. The agreement has reduced the time and cost associate with regulatory permits for City projects.
Members of the River Trust discussed and identified new environmental priorities within Portland that advance agency and City objectives. From the list of projects implementing elements of the South Waterfront Greenway Plan, sediment clean up and restoration of land near the University of Portland, obtaining federal matching funds for restoration actions and improving performance measures for environmental management activities, and collaborating with the Corps of Engineers on the Water Resources Development Act. The Endangered Species Act recovery planning and Ross Island are in progress through other stakeholder groups. And improving scientific knowledge about Pacific lamprey and superfund efforts will continue to be monitored.
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on November 21, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Good Government
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