Meet Jan Lee Weinberg, At-Large Representative on the Clackamas SWCD Board of Directors
Jan Lee Weinberg is one of two At-Large Representatives on the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors.
Lee Weinberg’s list of accomplishments is as long as it is impressive. A long-time resident of Clackamas County, Lee has demonstrated a life-long dedication to managing Oregon’s natural resources. She has been involved in state and local resource policy for over 40 years. Her broad experience makes her a valued member of the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District board of directors.
Lee Weinberg joined the District as an associate director in 1999. She previously served on the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District board of directors in Bend during the 1980’s. In 2008, Lee Weinberg was appointed as an at-large director to fill a vacant position on the board. Later that year, she ran for the seat and was elected to the position she has held for the last 14 years. “We’re always involved in so many valuable and meaningful projects. It feels good to be part of the future we’re building here in Clackamas County,” she shares.
Board members join the legislators’ tour of the Eagle Creek Community Forest.
Business Owner with a Strong Work Ethic
Lee Weinberg grew up in the Sandy area where her father worked in the timber industry. She worked for a variety of construction and engineering companies before she became involved in the water and energy industries. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Linfield College. In 1983, she established her own successful business, Water & Energy Resource Services. Lee Weinberg went on to obtain her masters degree in public administration with a natural resources emphasis at Lewis and Clark College.
In addition to running her own business, Lee Weinberg has served as executive director for the Northwest Hydroelectric Association and the Oregon Water Resources Congress (irrigation districts). In 2009, Lee Weinberg was chosen to serve on the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) board of directors where she served in several officer positions, including president. She was appointed as the executive director for OACD in 2019. This statewide organization represents soil and water conservation districts.
Lee Weinberg is also currently a member of the Oregon Water Resources Commission, the City of Sandy Planning Commission and Budget Committee, and a member of the Clackamas County Budget Committee. She previously served on the Sandy City Council, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and the Clackamas County Planning Commission.
Jan Lee Weinberg receives recognition for 10 years of service with the District.
Lobbyist, Legislator, and Conservation Advocate
Over the years, Lee Weinberg has actively lobbied on behalf of water policy, renewable energy, and conservation issues. Lee worked with many environmental and agricultural groups. She helped to draft legislation that increased irrigation efficiency by providing an incentive to place conserved water instream. She also helped draft legislation to provide funding and policy for fish passage. These measures helped to protect native habitat, fish passage, and water quantity and quality.
Lee Weinberg served a two-year term as a House member of the Oregon legislature. During her tenure as a state legislator, she was a member of the Land and Water Use Committee. She was also Vice-Chair of the House Species Recovery and Streamflow Restoration Committee.
Throughout her career, Lee Weinberg has been recognized with numerous awards and has provided service to the community through participation in many conservation organizations. In July 2015, she received international recognition as a winner of the Women with Hydro Vision award for her work in support in the hydropower industry.
Jan Lee Weinberg: Looking Forward
Lee Weinberg takes great pride in her work with the District. She is particularly pleased with how the District has refined its policies, procedures, and business mechanisms. As chair of the District’s Working Lands and Natural Lands Committee, she looks forward to supporting the District as it explores how to best develop and utilize properties now under District management. These properties include the 15-acre farm site at the Conservation Resource Center in Beavercreek and the Eagle Creek Community Forest.
Lee Weinberg is also excited to support the District in its efforts to help transition the next generation of farmers as they negotiate the land succession process. “I think conservation and working land easements will be of great help to Clackamas farmers,” she notes. She is also looking forward to supporting the District as it develops ways to help landowners in the face of changing climate.
Attend a Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting!
District Board Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month and are open to the public from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to see your elected officials in action. It is also a wonderful way to learn more about natural resource conservation in your community. Visit our calendar to find the link to join in. For more information, contact the District at 503-210-6000.