The city of Gold Hill has some help in managing its water resources.
Nicolas Lennartz has started his 11-month internship as the city’s new water quality improvement manager. The Portland native and former Western Washington University student – where he majored in urban planning and policy management – started the internship on Sept. 9.
“It’s a big change for me,” Lennartz said. Making the transition from Portland to Gold Hill, however, hasn’t been a major issue. Lennartz has been spending his time acclimating to the area and “learning the lay of the land.” He likes it here. “It’s a beautiful area and it’s so rich in many resources. That’s why,” he said, “I’m here.”
Lennartz is part of AmeriCorps’ Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) program. RARE AmeriCorps members have a variety of backgrounds and bring to their communities a wide range of experiences, he said. In addition, members receive training in areas such as citizen involvement, outreach and communication, land-use planning, grant writing, project management and necessary computer skills. “I get a monthly stipend for living expenses,” he said. “So, the city doesn’t pay me.”
Lennartz had heard of the RARE program from an old friend of his. “She was in the program and talked about it a lot,” he said. “I applied and was accepted. Then, when Gold Hill applied for a RARE intern, I was eventually matched up with the city.”
Lennartz’s work is in response to a University of Oregon Community Planning Workshop (CPW) hosted by the Gold Hill. In a statement from city manager Rick Hohnbaum, he said that after after extensive studies and community input, the CPW created a five-year plan for improving the quality of surface water runoff using such concepts as installing rain gardens in sensitive areas, riparian restoration using native foliage, educational outreach to local schools and interpretive park trails. They also proposed low-impact development code amendments for review by city councilors, which allow greater flexibility for future development.
Lennartz said he plans to apply a combination of these concepts to improve recreation access and opportunities for residents and visitors, raise awareness for water quality issues and improve the health of the ecosystem for fish, wildlife and people.
“Part of my job will call for outreach programs to both the public and the schools,” he said. “It’s all about education. Awareness. Getting the people involved – I mean, this is their water. It’s important that they become part of the process in managing it.”
He said he’ll be working with other agencies, including the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, Dept. of Environmental Quality, the Seven Basins Watershed Council and others. “I also hope that we can get volunteers involved as well,” Lennartz said. “I mean, from landowners who want to manage their property with more water sensitivity to townspeople wanting to help to plant local trees or even volunteers at events or simply offer new ideas.”
“Nicolas is providing a very valuable service to the city and the region while gaining experience with community outreach, state agencies and non-profits seeking the common goal of a safe and healthy Rogue River,” Hohnbaum said. “He’s bringing a level of service and commitment on behalf of the City in addressing water quality issues and protecting the Rogue River which our limited staff resources could ever provide.
In the meantime, Lennartz wants people to know that he’s “always accessible” to anyone who wants to talk to him. “My door is always open,” he said.
For additional information or to volunteer for water quality improvement projects in Gold Hill, Nicolas Lennartz may be reached at 541-855-1525 or via email at wqic@ci.goldhill.or.us.
By Brad Smith
Reprinted with the permission of The Rogue River Press, Valley Pride Publications
www.rogueriverpress.com
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