SWC Bylaws
Current SWC Bylaws
Click here for the Siuslaw Watershed Council Bylaws (2006).
Proposed Bylaw Changes
At the August 12, 2009 Executive Committee Meeting a proposal was made to expand the geographic area that the council serves to include the near-shore ocean. This would be accomplished through a change to the bylaws. The current language under Section II, Geographic Area is:
“The geographic covered by the Siuslaw Watershed Council includes all land drained by the Siuslaw River basin and adjoining coastal lakes.”
The initial proposed language was:
“The geographic area covered by the Siuslaw Watershed Council includes all land drained by the Siuslaw River basin and adjoining coastal lakes and out to 3 nautical miles offshore of Western Lane County.”
The update proposed language is:
“The geographic area covered by the Siuslaw Watershed Council includes all land drained by the Siuslaw River basin and adjoining coastal lakes and out to 3 nautical miles offshore between the mouth of the Siltcoos and Heceta Head.”
The proposal was first published in the August newsletter and is scheduled to be discussed at the September, December and January General Council Meetings. We will work on coming to a consensus decision about the potential Bylaws change at the January General Council Meeting. Please bring your questions and comments to the January 27, 2010 General Council Meeting at the Mapleton Grange.
Bylaws Discussion Items/Notes from the September and December General Council Meetings:
-Several members shared that they felt this was a natural fit for the council, since the water flows out of our watershed and into the ocean, and since many species spend time both in the ocean and in the watershed.
-It was asked if extending the boundary would prevent the SWC from receiving OWEB funding. The SWC would still be eligible for OWEB funding. Ocean specific projects may not be eligible for OWEB funding, but other funding sources may be available for ocean specific projects. As with any matter, if the SWC was not fulfilling our grant obligations with OWEB, we would face consequences accordingly.
-Several members expressed concern about the SWC spreading our resources too thinly if the geographic area was expanded.
-Discussion occurred at both meetings about the north and south boundaries.
-For further discussion at the January meeting—how far the boundary should extend into the ocean? Suggestions for the west boundary include 3 miles and the river plume.
Bylaws Discussion Items/Notes and Decision from the January General Council Meeting:
At this meeting SWC members and meeting participants continued to participate in the consensus decision making process on the proposed changes to the SWC Bylaws. The discussion included many of the same points that had been raised at previous meetings and the following discussion items:
-Concerns about the SWC losing legitimacy by expanding the geographic area;
-Potential benefits of the expansion building stronger ties with the Florence and fishing communities;
Several potential distances out into the ocean were suggested and discussed, including the plumes of the Siuslaw and Siltcoos Rivers, the plume of the Siuslaw River, 1-3 miles out, and the near shore. The final wording that was agreed to through consensus upon is:
“The geographic area covered by the Siuslaw Watershed Council includes all land drained by the Siuslaw River basin and adjoining coastal lakes and the near shore ocean between the mouth of the Siltcoos River and Heceta Head.”
It was also suggested by an Executive Committee member that at this point the SWC only continue those efforts with the ocean currently underway, which are nearshore water quality monitoring, involvement on Cape Perpetua MR community team, and ocean issues community forum.
From the February 10, 2010 SWC Executive Committee Meeting:
The Executive Committee recognizes that despite the consensus on including the near shore ocean in our boundaries some concerns remain about diluting our efforts. We pledge to honor the concerns. Currently we facilitate the annual Ocean Issues Forum, conduct near shore water quality monitoring, and are involved in the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserves Community Team.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the decision making process. Much appreciation for the sharing of diverse concerns, thoughts, ideas, and opinions in a respectful manner and listening to those of others.
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