Abstract:
Since 1997, the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds has led to over half a billion dollars of investment
by state, federal, and private sources in watershed restoration across Oregon1. These projects not only
deliver ecological benefits to salmon and watersheds, they also create important economic activity at the
local level. A decade ago, much of the conversation around community and economic development involving
watershed restoration focused on the debate over jobs versus the environment, and strategies to create an
ecosystem workforce through job training and contractor development. This briefing paper is part of a series
from the Ecosystem Workforce Program that considers the economic activity generated through watershed
restoration.