1. Measure 49 Effectively Reducing Wasteful Rural Sprawl

The effort of Oregon voters to reduce rural sprawl across Oregon’s farms and forests by passing Measure 49 is working well. Instead of the projected 124,000 new Measure 37 houses built across our productive landscapes, Oregonians are projected to see roughly 13,000. Thanks again to all of you who joined a slew of OCN groups in helping to pass Measure 49!

Read The Oregonian article.

2. Columbia River MegaBridge Model Presumes No Land Use Impact

Models of the proposed Columbia River I-5 megabridge, the largest public works project in the region’s history, are even less complete than we thought. Not only were the traffic models based on cheap gas and the absence of global warming goals, but they presumed a new bridge wouldn’t change the region’s growth patterns. Given that we have some of the most sophisticated land use and transportation modeling people in the country, it’s stunning that the CRC project hasn't modeled the land use impacts of making it easier to drive to and from sprawling Clark County.

From the July 22nd Oregonian: "[T]raffic forecasters involved in planning a new bridge, projected to cost $4.2 billion, were told to assume a new 12-lane bridge would not trigger any more growth than if the current bridge were simply left in place. Yet a 12-lane bridge would handle 40 percent more cars during afternoon rush hour, according to the forecasters' calculations."

Read OLCV's blog about it.

If you're a Portland resident, send City Council a message about it.

3. Your Chance to Weigh in on Future of Land Use

The Oregon Task Force on Land Use Planning was charged with reviewing Oregon’s Land use Planning Program and recommending policy changes to the 2009 Legislature. The task force has created a public survey requesting feedback. Now is the time to review their draft report and influence the following proposals. 1000 Friends of Oregon has reviewed the report and written these comments.

Complete your own survey by clicking here.

4. Oregon Bottle Bill Task Force Considers Major Changes

The Joint Interim Bottle Bill Task Force has been reviewing potential changes to Oregon’s bottle bill. In 2007, the Legislature expanded the bill for the first time in many years, to include bottled water starting January 2009. Now the chair of the Interim Task Force wants to add deposits to wine, liquor, sports drink, and other bottles, an idea generally supported by recycling advocates. He also wants to shift returns to centralized redemption centers, instead of grocery stores, a policy that recycling advocates worry will make returns harder for Oregonians. Read more from OPB.

5. EQC Selects Pederson as DEQ Director

The Environmental Quality Commission that governs Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality has named Dick Pederson, who served as interim director for the past six months, as permanent director. Congrats, Dick!

Press release from DEQ.

Interview with Pederson from The Oregonian.