Public Engagement
Purpose of Public Engagement
Public engagement focuses on informing the public about project goals, project design and anticipated
environmental effects, while seeking to understand and alleviate public concerns related to downstream
flood risk and other perceived potential impacts. While the project takes place entirely on private land
and is not subject to public decision-making, we understand the public has a genuine and legitimate
interest in how this project may affect them, their families, their financial interests, and their
community.
Communication and Outreach Goals
- En
- Communications and outreach activities achieve the following external communication goals:
- 1. Clearly communicate project goals for this private land project and how project
- decisions are made.
- 2. Provide meaningful, accessible, and equitable opportunities for the public to provide
- constructive feedback and concerns to the project sponsor.
- 3. Proactively communicate project milestones and progress to the public with opportunities for
- questions and timely follow up responses to minimize concerns raised due to misinformation.
- 4. Establish the project sponsors as a trusted source of project information, and ensure technical information is communicated to the public in the clearest, most explicit way possible
- 5. Demonstrate how decision-makers considered public concerns in project design and
- implementation.
For more information on public engagement for this project, please see the Public Outreach Plan.
Public Information Meetings
There are no upcoming scheduled meetings. Meeting materials for the introductory public meeting can be found below.
- Agenda
- Presentations
-Jim Webster, Union Soil and Water Conservation District
-Andrea Malmberg
Project Context, Purpose, and Funding
-Jesse Steele, Grande Ronde Model Watershed
Catherine Creek Fishery Resources and Habitats
-Allen Childs, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Buffalo Peak Project Area Physical Background and Concepts
-Mike Knutson, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Focus Group Meetings
The first Buffalo Flats Focus group meeting was held September 28th from 6:00-8:30pm via Zoom.
This Meeting provided a project update to Focus Group members affirming the project area, project timeline and activities currently anticipated for the project, along with addressing Focus Group questions.
Materials:
Stakeholder Focus Group
Description
We have identified a project-related stakeholder focus group (Focus Group) to engage in two-
way communication about the project. The Focus Group is not a formal advisory committee-
rather, its purpose is to enable the USWCD to share information about this private land project
with a voluntary set of community representatives and landowners, and to receive feedback
from this group as the project progresses. It will meet as determined by USWCD, and
periodically in conjunction with public information meetings.
Members
Mike Becker, President, State Ditch Company
Donna Beverage, Union County Commissioner
Dave Dahlstrom, Union Sportsman Club
Jeff Friesen, Community Member
Darren Hansen, Eastern Oregon Livestock Show
Bryan Endress, OSU, Union Experiment Station
Jake Kimbro, Resident, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Andrea and Tony Malmberg, Landowners, Buffalo Peak Land and Livestock
Willard Bertrand, Community Member
Dick Middleton, Councilor, City of Unionn
Cathy Nowak, Community Member
Paul Phillips, President, Prescott Ditch Company
David Ricker, Community Member
Wade Titus, President, Swackhammer Ditch
Doug Wiggins, Administrator, City of Union
Anthony Pagliarulo, Community Member
Kathy Kirby, Community Member
January 30,2020 (Union High School)
Members