Oregon watershed councils have developed a culture and history of working together and building community.  In summer and fall of 2003, an ad-hoc working group of nine representatives from the five regions established by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) met to discuss our common goals and to organize a statewide Council Gathering.

The first step was to figure out what councils have in common.  Council regional representatives identified three draft principles that could unite all Oregon councils while recognizing each council is locally determined and unique.  The following three principles for working together were sent out to councils statewide for comment:

1. Building capacity of watershed councils,
2. Improving key relationships, and
3. Promoting public awareness of watersheds and watershed councils.

Overwhelming agreement came back that all councils could benefit by working together on these three issues statewide. In February 2004, 42 councils represented by 91 council members and coordinators met in Wilsonville at the first Statewide Watershed Council Gathering.  Two goals were established for the gathering.  First, was to build capacity of councils through high priority training workshops.  Second, the group adopted the three principles and discussed how we might continue working together within them.  It was agreed that funding would be needed to hire a coordinator to assist the regional representatives and councils to move forward.

In November 2004, two successful grants and in-kind support from many groups allowed councils to hire the first statewide coordinator and, through the Resource Assistance to Rural Environments (RARE) program, an assistant coordinator.   The staff’s work was guided by the Interim Steering Committee of Regional Representatives and a work plan that is organized on the three principles adopted by the councils in 2004.

In November 2005, representatives from about 60 councils throughout the state gathered in Bend for another round of training and conversations about the work of the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils.  The councils present indicated overwhelming support to continue the development of the statewide support organization, and elected Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors consists of two council representatives from each of the following parts of the state: North and Mid Coast, Southwest, Willamette Basin, Central, Northeast and Southeast.  The Board will serve for one year, and is charged with overseeing the continuing work of the Organizational Development Team in working out the nuts and bolts of the Network’s structure and process.  In addition the Board will provide direction to Network personnel.