[selfsupplied] Update on first week of Mid-Coast Water Survey

[Sarah Giles via selfsupplied]

Hello - 

We've completed the first week of the Mid-Coast Water engagement and I wanted to send you all an update on how that's gone.

Nearly 2/3 of respondents have either very little or no previous knowledge of the Mid-Coast Water Planning Partnership.  Two of the Partnership's goals with this engagement were to provide some education on the effort and to hear from people who aren't already very engaged, so this is a great outcome so far!    

Total Responses online

As of this am, over 200 people have responded online (last I checked, it was 210, but that number can fluctuate in seconds, so it will likely be higher when you read this). 

Paper and Spanish language in-person listening sessions participation will have a time lag as the events and paper collection will happen at different points this month. 

We are hearing from both English and Spanish speakers online, with the majority in English, and OKT staff and community organizers in the Mid-Coast are continuing outreach efforts, holding listening sessions, appearing on the radio, having one-on-one conversations, and distributing paper surveys.  Centro de Ayuda is willing to serve as a paper pick-up / drop off site as well for Spanish language paper surveys.

 At OKT we typically tell folks the goal is "as many people as possible". If you keep spreading the word, sharing, and asking others to share over the next few weeks, you could get to 1,000 people!

Where are responses coming from?

So far, the majority of responses are coming from the following geographic areas (making up about half the responses combined):

1. Unincorporated county residents (the largest group)
   
2. Newport
   
3. Yachats 
   
4. Lincoln City
   

Other locations we have much fewer online responses at the moment, so if you are in (or have relationships / networks in) Depoe Bay, Siletz, Seal Rock, Toledo, Waldport, Kernville-Gleneden-Lincoln Beach, or Otter Crest, take a few minutes to reach out to folks and let them know (or remind them if you already have) of this opportunity to share their values and thoughts on water.  

The vast majority (over 2/3) are residents of the region, with many of the rest having strong connections (work in, own a business in, or own property there).  

The majority are also over the age of 36.  A couple of people on the Partnership's Outreach and Communications Sub-Committee are working on engaging with the school district and schools in the area to hear from younger folks.  Another goal of the Partnership was to hear from young people, so please encourage those you know who are 35 and younger to share their thoughts - this is their water, too! 

Thank you all for your hard work in spreading this opportunity far and wide.  We'll be following up individually with folks on the green sheets that were filled out at the Partnership meeting last week, and don't hesitate to reach out with thoughts / ideas or to let us know if you made outreach connections.  Don't forget there are outreach support materials here. 

I'll send another update in about a week,

Sarah at Oregon's Kitchen Table

Sarah Giles

Special Projects Manager

(503) 725-5248

National Policy Consensus Center | Kitchen Table Democracy 

Hatfield School of Government | Portland State University 

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