Information about the status and trends of natural resources is invaluable to decision-makers, but often difficult to access because it is collected in diverse formats and housed in disparate locations. Oregon Explorer is a natural resources digital library and web portal that is designed to provide easy, rapid access to reliable, up-to-date information about natural resources.

INR is developing the Oregon Explorer in collaboration with Oregon State University Libraries and other partners including the University of Oregon's InfoGraphics Lab, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and other state agencies.

The Oregon Explorer family of websites brings together several projects focused on different themes. Basin-level portals include the the Willamette Basin Explorer (part of the Willamette Basin Conservation Project), the North Coast Explorer, and the Umpqua Basin Explorer. Topic portals include the Wildfire Risk Explorer, the Land Use Explorer, the Wildlife Explorer, and the Oregon Imagery Explorer.

Basin Portals

North Coast Explorer -- The North Coast Explorer was developed as a prototype website for Oregon Explorer. The prototype demonstrates how a website can provide integrated access to natural resources data, tools, and expertise for the North Coast Basin of Oregon. Its focus is on watersheds and fisheries and is designed to serve three user groups: local restoration groups and citizens (for example watershed councils and soil and water conservation districts), and Oregon Plan partner agencies. Partners included OWEB, University of Oregon's InfoGraphics Lab, the Natural Resources Information Management Program of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Oregon Departments of Administrative Services and Environmental Quality, as well as members of coastal Watershed Councils. Funding was provided by OWEB.

North Coast Web Portal Reports

Umpqua Basin Explorer -- The Umpqua Basin Explorer provides information to help local citizens and policymakers make better decisions about natural resources, including watersheds and fish populations, in Oregon's Umpqua River Basin. Partners include the Partnership for Umpqua Rivers, OWEB, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Funding was provided by the Bureau of Land Management and OWEB.

Willamette Basin Explorer -- The Willamette Basin Explorer was designed to provide people with easy access to a wealth of environmental, social and economic information about the Willamette Basin. The site presents many of the data sets gathered by the Pacific Northwest Ecosystem Research Consortium including future landscape scenarios that could result from different resource management policies. It was developed as part of the Willamette Basin Conservation Project, an effort funded by The Meyer Memorial Trust with matching funds from OWEB and others. The project also helps local groups apply conservation and restoration strategies and increases access to incentives to encourage conservation on private land. Partners included OSU's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Oregon's Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Willamette Partnership, and Defenders of Wildlife.

Willamette Basin Explorer Reports

Topic Portals

Wildfire Risk Explorer -- The Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer allows users to selectively access the Geographic Information System (GIS) data used to develop Oregon’s 2005 Statewide Communities at Risk from wildfire assessment. The site also contains information to help Oregon communities refine and implement their Community Wildfire Protection Plans, and to help Oregon citizens learn about and reduce wildfire risks to their properties. The Wildfire Risk Explorer was developed to make the information used to assess wildfire risk in Oregon readily accessible to a wide range of potential users, from interested citizens to community wildfire protection planners and wildfire agency staff. Partner, funder and co-sponsor of the site is the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Land Use Explorer -- The Land Use Explorer allows users to access a broad range of current and historic land-use information for areas around the state. Land Use Explorer includes a “Measure 37 Viewer” that allows users to both view claims submitted under the state land-use law and to learn what claims would be acceptable under Measure 49, the ballot initiative that would modify Measure 37. The claims data was developed by the Institute for Portland Metropolitan Studies at Portland State University and includes 15 counties in Oregon. OSU Libraries and INR worked in conjunction with the PSU Institute of Metro Studies to create the new portal. The Oregon Community Foundation and the Gray Family Fund Land Use Planning Project have both supported the project’s development.

Wildlife Explorer -- The Wildlife Explorer allows users to find out about the Oregon Conservation Strategy and access a broad range of wildlife information for areas around the state. It provides a single point of access for current and historic wildlife distribution maps, wildlife photos, local wildlife plans and other information. OSU Libraries and the INR worked in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to create the new portal. The ODFW’s State Wildlife Grants program funded the project. The grant funds are provided to states by Congress through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.