Corps of Engineers, Freshwater Trust streamline water projects
By Christina Williams
Sustainable Business Oregon
Watershed restoration projects got a boost Wednesday when the Freshwater Trust and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ Portland District signed a Memorandum of Understanding to streamline regulations.
The MOU, effective immediately, was signed by Freshwater Trust President Joe Whitworth and Portland District Commander Col. Steven R. Miles.
Restoration projects —work that can include rebuilding stream beds and reintroducing native species among other measures — generally require both federal and state permits.
Last year, the State of Oregon approved new measures to make the state permitting process for restoration projects faster and simpler. The MOU with the corps will enable similar efficiencies to happen at the federal level.
The federal streamlining will be available to any project using Freshwater Trust's Web-based StreamBank management platform.
"The corps believes that regulatory processes must adapt to accommodate projects that clearly benefit the environment,” said Miles in a statement. “This MOU is a start in that direction.”
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