The Partnership for Coastal Watersheds (PCW), which includes staff from Coos County, City of Coos Bay, City of North Bend, and Port of Coos Bay, has gone through an extensive process to evaluate the needs of the local governments and the community for the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan. Their past work included public meetings and an open house to share results from all of the data products that were created. The process was patterned from the original CBEMP workgroup setup in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. This effort has resulted in the development of an integrated assessment which was conducted with the assistance of the PCW steering committee, stakeholders representing, economic, socio-cultural, and natural resource protection interests, and public feedback from a previously held open house. This effort started in 2015 and was presented by consultants, University of Oregon, Institute for Policy Research and Engagement to the Coos Bay, North Bend, and County Planning Commissioners and City Councilors and County Board of Commissioners in 2019. The plan was to move the products from the effort into formal hearings and adoptions for a unified plan. COVID19 stalled the process and after a re-evaluation and additional funding, the County and City staff would like to move this project forward. The findings and products were presented to city councilors, planning commissioners and Board of Commissioners in an informational work session setting January 4, 2023. The City of Coos Bay, North Bend City Councilors, and Board of Commissioners then met officially January 4, 2023. The public house has been scheduled for Saturday, January 7, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. at the North Bend Community Center, 2222 Broadway North Bend, OR. This will give the public an opportunity to learn about the products and process going forward. If you have questions, please contact Coos County Community Development at 541-396-7770 or email planning@co.coos.or.us.
