(University of Oregon, 2009-06) Gurewitz, Heather, 1977-
In Oregon, watershed councils are a prime example of community-based natural
resource management. Since the early 1990's the state has promoted local place-based
ecosystem management for the restoration of fish habitat, water quality, and the protection
of water resources. In this new paradigm, watershed management in Oregon incorporates
ecosystem and adaptive management, a concept that involves acting, monitoring, and
evaluating current and past programs. Since their early beginnings, watershed councils
have recognized the integrated nature ofthe socio-economic and biophysical environment.
However, the management practices of watershed councils in Oregon have focused on the
bio-physical environment and bio-physical monitoring and evaluation. Socio-economic indicators may provide information that will allow watershed councils to plan for
watershed management in a more holistic framework for strategic decision-making and
collaborative management through an integration of the socio-economic and bio-physical
elements of the watershed.
