State of the River Report / Portland Watershed Management Plan Annual Report
Integration Proposal, March 2008
1. SOTR Report – PWMP Annual Report Integration options
1. Reference and describe the other program in report
2. Co-present reports to Council and others simultaneously
3. Have PWMP be collector of watershed-related items for SOTR
4. Publish :PWMP annual report as chapter or back-half of SOTR Report
5. Create new report: Waters of Portland 2008; blend it all together
6. Create a new report: EnvironmentPortland 2008 with chapters on all major topics: River, watersheds, urban forest, invasive species, species recovery, etc.
Gil Kelley has indicated a that having a new, integrated document incorporating both reports is a high priority.
2. Document Comparisons
SOTR | PWMP Annual Report | |
Reporting period | fiscal year (loose) | fiscal year (tight) |
Tone/target | Upbeat / general reader | Positive / watershed-interested |
Report character | Magazine cataloging broad sweep of broadly river-related items | Corporate annual report to shareholders |
Future actions | Major focus | Included, but abbreviated |
Identification of challenges | Implicit | explicit |
Performance measures | Mix of “progress measures” that include results measures as well as activity measures. | Activity measures. “Performance measures quantify annual achievement, such as the number of acres of impervious surface mitigated through implementation of stormwater facilities. Performance measures show how effectively the City implements strategies and actions to improve watershed health. Future Annual Reports will estimate the watershed health benefits from implementation of the Plan’s strategies and actions. Estimates will become more precise over the next five years.” |
Graphic style | Both pleasing in own ways | |
Length | Longer (64 pages) | Shorter (25 pages) |
Scope of topic | Really broad: ecology, recreation, education, urban redevelopment, port/industrial issues… | More clearly focused on watershed actions. |
Origins | Required by Council in ordinance | Required under plan adopted by Council |
3. Recommended approach
• In this first year of integration, aim to incorporate the reports as separate but artfully-related chapters within a newly-named document.
• Look for opportunities to reduce duplication of actions/events; or to clearly distinguish different aspects of shared actions.
• Cooperate in collection of items from bureaus, but sort-out which goes where in the document in a collaborative, behind-the-scenes fashion.
• Look for opportunities to improve and integrate performance measures
4. Management Considerations
• how do we comply with differing reporting mandates, yet provide a “smooth read?”
• does either somehow limit the other? If so, how?
• Matt and Rick will need to be adaptive to capture integration opportunities
• who has the primary task of editing and writing?
• who formats and prints the document?
• what are the timelines for production?