Water Resources
Westside and Eastside Combined Sewer Overflow ProjectsPortland, Oregon
Client: Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO’s) occur nearly every time it rains in Portland, dumping raw sewage into the Willamette River. The purpose of the project is to eliminate most CSO’s from entering the Willamette by funneling wastewater into large-diameter interceptor pipes and then treating the effluent before it enters the river. The Eastside and Westside CSO projects represent two of the largest capital projects in the City’s history. JLA has been working with the Bureau of Environmental Services for almost 10 years on an information and involvement program to support planning, final design and construction of the project. Outreach activities have included developing informational materials, conducting business and residential site visits, arranging and conducting small group presentations, assisting with the Businesses for Clean Rivers Committee and the Community Benefit Opportunities Advisory Committees, responding to citizen requests, and maintaining stakeholder contact during construction. The West Side is now complete and the East Side should be finished by 2011.
Columbia Southshore Wellfields Protection ProgramPortland, Oregon
Client: Portland Bureau of Water Works
The Columbia Southshore Wellfields is the secondary water supply to Portland’s Bull Run reservoir, making adequate groundwater protection a must. JLA recently led a long-term public process for the Columbia Southshore Wellfields protection program review and update. We provided team building, facilitation, and meeting planning/logistics services for a stakeholder advisory committee made up of business owners, environmental advocates, ratepayers, municipalities, and regulatory agencies. The committee was formed to resolve complex environmental issues and advocate for the implementation of protection measures among involved interests and jurisdictions. JLA also directed the implementation of a broad outreach program to inform and seek public comment on suggested protection program requirements from regional water users.
Watersheds 2000Washington County, Oregon
Client: Clean Water Services
The Watersheds 2000 Project was initiated to inventory more than 470 miles of streams in the Tualatin River Watershed after winter steelhead and spring Chinook were listed as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. To assist with this monumental undertaking, JLA facilitated three citizen advisory committees and led the general public involvement component of the program for Clean Water Services, a Washington County public utility. We provided stakeholder identification, database and mailing list design and maintenance, public information and outreach materials development and facilitation of citizen-based project committees.