Council of Councils Deepens Watershed Partnerships

By Cathy McQueeney on Mar 8, 2022 in Water quality & quantity, Working together

Johnson Creek Watershed is one of nine watersheds represented on the Council of Councils.

Directors and coordinators representing all nine watershed councils in Clackamas County attended a Council of Councils meeting on March 1, 2022.

District Manager Chris Lapp and staff member Cathy McQueeney represented the Clackamas SWCD. The event was organized and facilitated by Alexis Barton of Tryon Creek Watershed Council and Neil Shulman of North Clackamas Watersheds Council.

What is the purpose of the Council of Councils?

The Council of Councils provides the group with an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues who represent watersheds in all areas of the District. Additionally, participants have the chance to get acquainted with new leaders and discuss creative opportunities to partner together to achieve shared goals.

Pudding river watershed near Aurora

What Was the Outcome of the Meeting?

Attendees shared best practices for developing financial management plans for their organizations. They also discussed ways to optimize their resources and strengths as a collaborative unit. Councils drew on their diversity to assist one another on these topics:

developing strong written financial policies and procedures – members of the councils will meet in late March to address this topic more fully
exploring more ways to collaborate and not compete for limited funding
deciphering new infrastructure funding and finding ways to collaborate on shared projects
addressing inequity, both historically and in current program implementation
undertaking strategic planning, especially how the District’s upcoming planning process will impact future partner funding

Absence of Sandy River Watershed Council Noted

The Board of the Sandy River Watershed Council (SRWC) announced the dissolution of the SRWC at the end of 2021. Staffing losses, operation under limited funds, and the restricted conditions associated with the pandemic lead to financial difficulty. Consequently, it became increasingly difficult for the SRWC to fulfill all its obligations. After extensive review and consideration, the Board voted unanimously to dissolve the organization.