Clean Water Consortium Addresses Governance, Community Engagement, and Future Planning

On August 11th, the Clean Water Consortium (CWC) held one of its most active and well-attended meetings to date, with discussions ranging from community participation and governance to potential conflicts of interest and the future of regional drinking water planning. (WATCH VIDEO)

Leadership Changes Approved

The consortium approved two leadership-related actions during the meeting. Jerry Rietmann of the Port of Morrow was confirmed as a new board member, filling the seat previously held by Kelly Doherty. In addition, the board unanimously approved Morrow County Planning Director Tamra Mabbott as the CWC's new vice chair.

Drinking Water Roadmap Report Expected in September

A significant topic of discussion was the upcoming release of the final Drinking Water Roadmap report, which is expected in September. During the conversation, Vice Chair Tamra Mabbott emphasized that responsibility for drinking water oversight primarily rests with state agencies, including the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Oregon Health Authority. She encouraged stakeholders to keep that perspective in mind as recommendations from the roadmap move toward implementation, noting that long-term solutions should not fall solely on local counties or municipalities.

The report is expected to provide important guidance for addressing drinking water challenges across eastern Oregon and could influence future discussions about the respective roles of state agencies, counties, cities, and regional partnerships in funding and implementing water infrastructure improvements.

Looking Ahead

With growing public engagement, leadership changes, and the release of the Drinking Water Roadmap on the horizon, the Clean Water Consortium appears poised to enter a new phase of its work. The discussions highlighted both the challenges and opportunities involved in building consensus around regional drinking water solutions, while underscoring the importance of transparency, collaboration, and clear accountability among all stakeholders.

As the roadmap report is released and implementation discussions begin, questions about governance, funding responsibilities, and community involvement are likely to remain central to the conversation.

You can find out more about the work of the Clean Water Consortium here.