Coastal flooding study finds trust-building key for environmental justice

Coastal flooding study finds trust-building key for environmental justice

Five rivers converge in Tillamook County as they meander from the coast range to the sea. This area of convergence, known as the Tillamook Drainage Basin, suffers from severe flooding. Flood events in the area wreak havoc on local communities, the economy, and the watershed ecosystem.

Oregon Solutions was asked to bring together federal, state, and local government agencies with community leaders to agree on the best strategies to mitigate flood events in the Tillamook basin. The team evaluated and prioritized projects that will diminish severe flooding and alleviate flooding damage. New partnerships were formed to expedite the projects and leverage funding.

The goal of the project was to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and the adverse impacts of flooding while incorporating environmental, social, and economic values in the development of short- and long-term solutions. Read more about the Oregon Solutions project.

A recent study examined the trust-building and power-sharing in the Oregon Solutions project. Read  an article about the study. 

Read the study: "The Social Geometry of Collaborative Flood Risk Management” (PDF)