Riparian Ordinances by Alex Page

Through my team’s project in the Community Planning Workshop, we have been exploring options for small communities in Oregon to meet the state and federal water quality standards. When a waterway is declared “impaired” by the Environmental Protection Agency, each watershed basin creates a plan to reduce the pollution in that waterway. The simple, effective solution is a riparian ordinance, which many towns have implemented, such as Medford, Eugene, Albany, Harrisburg, Lebanon, and Sweet Home. Misperceptions of this approach can often make it politically volatile though.

So, what is a riparian ordinance, really? Well, it’s a regulatory approach at the local level to limit future development along the waterway. The purpose of a riparian ordinance can vary, but most are designed to protect and restore the natural ecology, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, improve filtration of pollution runoff, increase property values, and meet the goals of state and federal regulatory agencies. But an ordinance allows for hardship variances, grandfathers in development, and does not take property from private individuals.

Water is a crucial resource. While we are slowly learning that we cannot control nature, community planners must work with our environment to reduce our impacts and build sustainable communities, not for us, but for our grandchildren. Riparian ordinances are an excellent tool to use when feasible.

More about the Community Planning Workshop(CPW)