INR Projects related to Soils:

Aggregate Mining -- Since the beginning of land use planning in Oregon, conflicts have arisen between mining of sand and gravel and protection of other resource lands, especially farmlands. The Legislature has attempted to resolve these conflicts for many years without being able to satisfy the many competing needs-prime farmland, aggregate for construction and salmon habitat in rivers and streams. Following the 2003 Legislature, the Governor’s Office called on the Oregon Consensus Program (OCP) at Portland State University to bring together the various stakeholders. OCP and the Governor’s Office asked the Institute to provide the research and data needed to facilitate the dispute. Faculty from the Colleges of Engineering and Science at OSU are providing technical assistance to the OCP. The Institute and OCP will provide a final report summarizing the findings and feasibility of stakeholder group recommendations for the 2005 Legislature.

Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center -- The Institute has completed agreements with the Oregon Department of State Lands and The Nature Conservancy to assume managerial responsibility for the Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center (ORNHIC).