Hibbard, Michael

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https://hdl.handle.net/1794/3702

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Browsing Hibbard, Michael by Author "Bonner, Kristin"

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    The economic and community effects of Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board investments in watershed restoration
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2002-07-15) Bonner, Kristin; Hibbard, Michael
    Cooperative, community-level approaches to environmental management are emerging in a variety of contexts, in Oregon and elsewhere. The rise of these approaches has led to a new appreciation of the possibility of watershed restoration projects that also foster good jobs and strong local businesses. With millions of dollars to spend on its mission, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) plays a significant role in supporting local economies through grants to watershed councils, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), and other local restoration activities. The aim of this study is to document the level of that support. The specific question addressed by the study is: Did OWEB's 1997-99 grants improve socio-economic conditions in local communities in Oregon? To answer this question, the Ecosystem Workforce Program reviewed a sample of 1997-99 OWEB grants and also conducted telephone interviews with selected grantees. The purpose of the interviews was to help us understand the patterns of expenditure we found while reviewing the files. In conclusion, this study finds that OWEB grants and program expenditures improve or maintain economic stability in Oregon communities.
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    Issues in monitoring the socio-economic effects of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant program
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2002) Bonner, Kristin; Hibbard, Michael
    This report examines some of the issues involved in setting up a system for monitoring the socio-economic effects of Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (O-WEB) grants on an on-going basis. We conducted telephone interviews with 20 individuals from watershed councils, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and state agencies, to learn their attitudes toward monitoring the socio-economic impacts of their projects as well as to gain an understanding of any potential barriers to monitoring. The majority of respondents recognize the socio-economic impact of watershed enhancement projects and are willing to implement a clearly defined and simple monitoring system to measure these impacts. However, many stated the need for a clear definition of “local,” both geographically and in terms of business ownership. This is a complex issue that needs to be fully explored before implementing any system. In addition, there was some reluctance on the part of some respondents to monitor these impacts because of the heavy administrative burden. A couple of respondents thought that evaluative questions in the final report could be as effective as tracking individual expenditures.