Meyer Memorial TrustWillamette River

Strategic Initiative

October, 2008

Why the Willamette River?

Willamette Basin is home to 70% of Oregon’spopulation and generates 75% of the state’seconomic output

Entirely in the state of Oregon, with its destinylargely in the hands of Oregonians

Population expected to nearly double by 2050; waterwill become ever more important

Not many local private funders contributesubstantially to river restoration

Timely and ripe for intervention and leadership

Big Challenges Face the River

Ecological

Institutional

Social

Ecological Challenges

Water quality

Channel simplification

River disconnected from itsfloodplain

Loss of natural habitat/historicvegetation types

Flow modification due towithdrawals and reservoiroperations

Institutional Challenges

Many groups, somewith overlapping goals,mandates and serviceareas

Some stretches of rivernot covered by localwatershed councils orland trusts

Limited access totechnical expertise

Lack of funds, fundingnot coordinated

Regional perspective &leadership lacking

Social Challenges

Mostly private land,especially at lower elevations

Distrust of government bysome landowners

Agency coordination issues

Population growth &development pressures

Key Question for MMT

What is the most effective role for a privatefoundation to play in this setting?

What MMT wants, generally:

Impact & measurable results Leverage with other funders To catalyze action and a new level of

commitment and collaboration A national model for large river

restoration Something that can be sustained beyond

its involvement

Decision Process: Tighten theGeographic Scope

Decision Process: Review Science

Willamette Restoration Initiative – Restoring aRiver of Life: The Willamette Restoration Strategy(2001) and the Willamette Sub-Basin Summary(2002)

Pacific Northwest Ecosystem Research Consortium– Willamette River Basin Planning Atlas (2002)

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife – OregonConservation Strategy (2006)

Defenders of Wildlife – Oregon’s LivingLandscape: Strategies and Opportunities toConserve Biodiversity (1998)

Decision Process: Engage Stakeholders

15+ Non-Profits

10 Local Watershed Groups

15+ Public Agencies

12 Other Funders

Scientists & Consultants

What We Learned

The river is not a “lost cause”

Don’t reinvent the wheel – buildon other past and current efforts

Don’t create a new organization

Be strategic: focus on identifiedecological priorities & criticalinstitutional gaps

A multi-year commitment isessential

Initial Funding Strategies

I. Mainstem Strategy

Support the Oregon WatershedEnhancement Board’s Willamette“Special Investment Partnership”

Focus is on channel complexityand floodplain/riverconnectivity

MMT will contribute funds toOWEB-approved SIP projects(up to one-third, non-capital)

Support early developmentstages of “SIP-worthy” projects

II. Tributary Strategy

Establish a Willamette Model WatershedProgram Partner in partnership withthe Bonneville EnvironmentalFoundation & community-basedwatershed groups

Focus on integrated restoration

Require rigorous, long-termplanning, monitoring & evaluation

Support capacity building

Provide multi-year funding

Mainstem Strategy: MMT/OWEB Partnership

MMT will fund: Restoration project design and

engineering, some other “pre-permit” costs

Monitoring & evaluation

Project management

Project documentation

Public education about the project

Up-front costs of land acquisition

MMT will not fund: Land, building or

equipment purchase

State agency personnel

MMT/OWEB Partnership

MMT participates on the OWEBtechnical review team (TRT)

Funding roles decided afterproject is approved by TRT

OWEB administers mainagreement, MMT references

MMT grants directly toimplementing partner

Trustees approved $600,000 for2008, $1.2 mm for 2009

MMT/OWEB Partnership:Early Project Development

MMT takes lead role in funding

Projects still in developmentphase and not yet “ripe” forsubmittal to OWEB SIP

Surveys, assessments, early sitedesign, outreach, technicalassistance, etc.

Initial SIP Projects

Willamette Mission State Park

Buford Park South Meadow

Bower’s Rock State Park

Others being developed

Tributary Program:Background

A solid base of assessments,plans, institutionalinfrastructure andrelationships to build on

Impacts are more likely todetected at this scale

Tributaries are integralcomponents of the largerWillamette system

Tributaries provide essentialservices: key fish habitat,municipal drinking water,recreational opportunities

Tributary Strategy: Advisory Group

Convened advisory group of watershedcouncil, state agency and non-profitadvisors

Conducted an assessment to look atother integrated approaches towatershed restoration (BEF, Ecotrust,NFWF Columbia Basin WaterTransactions Program)

Tributary Strategy: Advisory GroupRecommendations

Foster and support a “whole watershed” approach to restoration,including long-range planning and rigorous monitoring andevaluation

Work in close partnership with local watershed groups tosupplement and build capacity

Set high expectations for performance toward desired outcomeswhile encouraging adaptive management

Allow flexibility in the use of funds

Commit to long-term funding

Tributary Strategy: MMT/BEFPartnership

MMT has entered into apartnership with BEF to provideprogram management andtechnical support; will providefunds to BEF for a “WillametteModel Watershed” programmanager

Solicitation of Interest out,responses due November 7

Background: The BEF Experience

Short-term, project-specific grants often produce:

•Little incentive to evaluate results, maintain projects

• Lack of results for rate payers, stakeholders, funders

• Limited accountability—diminished public support

• Little adaptive capacity

• Investment in ineffective strategies

BEF’s Evolving Model WatershedStrategy

Measurable Objectives and Benchmarks : Set specific quantitativeand measurable ecological restoration objectives at the outset.

Evaluation Plan : Establish a comprehensive assessment andmonitoring strategy upfront.

Restoration Strategy : Identify a ten-year series of coordinated actionsthought necessary to restore ecosystem processes and address causesof habitat degradation.

10-Year Timeline : Establish a timetable to guide systematicevaluation of restoration progress and adjust restoration strategiesaccording to results.

Scientific Review : Integrate regular review from an independentscience team.

Why 10 Years?

• More consistent with the natural timescales of ecological recovery

• Institutional, long-term partnership—added value

• Reliable funding

• Focus on outcomes and adaptive management—improved results

Tributary Strategy: Details

From LOI responses & follow-up, up to six local groups will be selectedto receive small grants to develop a 10-year watershed plan

Based on the plans, MMT and BEF will select initial grantees (3/31/09)

Trustees have approved funds to support two grantees in Year 1 and twoadditional groups in Year 2 (up to $125,000 each per year)

Committed to seven years of funding for the selected grantees, and areworking to leverage an additional three years from other sources.

Response to Date

Strong project interest from state, federal government &local and regional implementing partners

Improved collaboration

Spike in media interest in the Willamette

Interest from other funders

Next Steps

Move forward with implementation of mainstem and tributary strategies

Continue working to engage other funders

Resolve long-term structure and support for the initiative

Explore other funding strategies to complement the mainstem and tributary strategies,such as:

Improved access to technical assistance by local groups

Projects that could have a basin-wide impact (e.g. science or policy research,supporting the development of ecosystem service markets and other incentives forprivate landowners)

Willamette gathering(s)

Meyer Memorial TrustWillamette River

Strategic Initiative

Contact InformationPam Wiley - wileypam@comcast.net

Todd Reeve - treeve@b-e-f.org