46. Wild Salmon Center

June 1, 2026 sent via email: Prosperity.Roadmap@oregon.gov, tim.knopp@oregon.gov Governor’s Prosperity Council Tim Knopp, Chief Prosperity Officer Office of Governor Tina Kotek, State of Oregon 900 Court Street, Suite 254 Salem, Oregon 97301 RE: Recommendations for development of statewide economic strategy by the Prosperity Council Dear Co-Chair James, Co-Chair Robinhold, Prosperity Council members, and Mr. Knopp: Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments as the Prosperity Council develops its recommendations to inform approaches to achieve goals outlined in the Prosperity Roadmap. The Wild Salmon Center (WSC) works to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim. We identify science-based solutions to sustain wild fish and the human communities and livelihoods that depend on them. The Roadmap’s goals prioritize accelerating Oregon’s economic growth, creating more living wage jobs today, and retaining and growing Oregon businesses. The Roadmap highlights Oregon’s “exceptional quality of life, marked by clean air, abundant fresh water, and a stunning natural environment” that make Oregon a desirable place to live. Our iconic rivers and landscapes draw people and businesses to the state and motivates people to stay. The natural values of Oregon’s lands and waters must be protected, for the health of all Oregonians and the resilience of the businesses and communities that depend upon clean air and water. The statewide economic strategy in development by the Prosperity Council must prioritize the protection of natural resources as integral to a healthy Oregon and include strategies to ensure cold clean water in Oregon’s rivers, thriving populations of wild fish, healthy forests, and a growing restoration economy. All communities benefit from healthy ecosystems. Growth and prosperity must be consistent with the protection of vital ecosystem services, which provide the foundation for Oregon quality of life. These include healthy forests, cold clean water, tourism and recreation, and restoration of habitat for fish and wildlife.

Healthy forests and abundant supplies of cold clean water support sustainable economies and thriving communities across the state of Oregon. Clean water and healthy forests that support fish and wildlife are integral to the livability and welfare of Oregon communities. Abundant supplies of cold, clean water support Oregon’s economy through irrigated agriculture, industrial uses, drinking water for communities, recreation, tourism, and commercial fishing. In 2021, commercial fisheries i in Oregon generated $642 million alone. Healthy watersheds provide habitat for fish and PO Box 10026, Portland, Oregon 97296 | 503.222.1804 | wildsalmoncenter.org

wildlife, store and slow down floodwaters, filter out pollutants, and buffer the impacts of ii fire and climate change. Failing to adequately protect Oregon’s natural resources has real consequences for the state’s economy, particularly under a changing climate. More extreme weather, from increased flooding to drought, is projected to impact Oregon communities statewide. Changes in precipitation that increase drought risk and decrease snowpack will have significant impacts to irrigated agriculture and other industries that rely upon sustainable supplies of clean water. The Oregon Climate Change Research Institute identifies economic losses from smoke impacts to businesses and tourism, reduced timber prices from wildfire exposure, and adverse public health outcomes related to increased wildfire iii smoke as projected effects of climate change. Many Oregonians recognize and value the importance of protecting the state’s natural resources. A 2023 Oregon Values and Beliefs survey found that 53% of Oregonians believe that maintaining a quality environment attracts people and companies to Oregon. The same survey also found that a majority of Oregonians believe that stronger iv environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost (63%). The Prosperity Council must include the protection of Oregon’s natural resources as foundational to the health of Oregon’s economy. 2. Tourism and outdoor recreation are important economic drivers that depend upon a healthy environment. Outdoor recreation in Oregon supported $16 billion in spending that supported 192,000 v full or part-time jobs in 2022. As stated in a 2024 analysis by Earth Economics, “outdoor recreation is an important part of Oregon’s identity” and a majority (95%) of Oregonians vi participate in outdoor recreation. Oregon’s rivers, forests, mountains, and coastlines are vii also a major driver of visitors to the state. Fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing contributed $1.2 billion in spending by Oregonians and visitors in 2019 and supported 11,000 jobs. These activities, which rely upon a healthy environment that is protected and restored, generated $385 million in labor viii income. According to Travel Oregon, the Oregon Coast tourism economy is the second largest in the state. In 2018 alone, the Oregon Coast captured 17% ($2.053 billion) of ix total statewide spending and 59% (17 million) of all visitors to Oregon (29.1 million). The coastal Oregon counties of Lincoln, Lane, and Coos have the highest percent of the x labor force employed by spending in outdoor recreation. 3. Restoration investments are investments in local communities. The labor, materials, and private-sector contracts that result from financial investments in habitat restoration projects is often referred to as the “restoration economy” and offers important benefits to Oregon communities. Increasing investments in these types of projects can particularly benefit rural communities in Oregon. Communities that have traditionally relied upon natural resource extraction are finding new strategies to use PO Box 10026, Portland, Oregon 97296 | 503.222.1804 | wildsalmoncenter.org

natural resources that focus on environmental stewardship and ecological restoration. A study of Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) projects found that 80 percent xi of grant funding remains in the county where the project is located. Between 2001 and 2010, habitat restoration in Oregon alone generated up to 6,400 jobs and more than $977 xii million. A University of Oregon study found that every $1 million invested in watershed restoration results in an average of 16 to 17 new jobs and averages $2.3 xiii million in economic activity. Additionally, researchers have found a strong local bias for hiring related to restoration projects. Between 95% and 99.5% of restoration project xiv managers hired Oregon-based businesses for contracted work. The restoration economy offers job creation potential and employment opportunities in fields such as construction, engineering, natural resources. WSC encourages the Prosperity Council to consider the economic benefits, particularly to rural communities and local businesses, connected to a growing restoration economy here in Oregon. We urge the Prosperity Council to ensure that any recommendations are aligned with the majority of Oregonians that value a healthy environment and protections for clean air and water. These recommendations should prioritize the protection of Oregon’s natural resources, and the need for regulations and agencies that implement those protections on behalf of the public. These recommendations should also be aligned with the Governor’s Executive Order 25-26 that directs xv state agencies to promote the resilience of Oregon’s lands and waters. Further, any recommendations should address barriers to supporting a thriving recreation and restoration economy. Thank you for your consideration of these comments. Sincerely, Stacey Detwiler Oregon Policy Director Wild Salmon Center i Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Oregon Commercial and Marine Recreational Fishing Industry Economic Activity for Years 2020 and 2021. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/docs/TRG Oregon fishing industry 2020-2021 ES.pdf ii Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. State Wildlife Action Plan: Water Quality and Water Quantity. https://swap.oregon.gov/key-conservation-issue/water-quality-and-quantity/. iii Fleishman, E., editor. 2025. Seventh Oregon climate assessment. Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/1181. iv Oregon Values and Beliefs Center, Environment and Land Use, 2023 https://oregonvbc.org/environment-and- land-use/ v Mackey, E., Cousins, K., 2024. Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Oregon: 2022 Update. Earth Economics. Tacoma, WA. vi Mackey, 2024. vii OPRD (2018). Outdoor Recreation in Oregon: Responding to Demographic and Societal Change. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Salem, OR viii Mojica, J., Cousins, K., Madsen, T., 2021. Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Oregon. Earth Economics. Tacoma, WA. Factsheet available https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/docs/Factsheet- Economic%20Impact%20OR%20Counties-Earth%20Economics%202019.pdf. PO Box 10026, Portland, Oregon 97296 | 503.222.1804 | wildsalmoncenter.org

ix Travel Oregon. Regional Cooperative Tourism Program. 2019. https://industry.traveloregon.com/wp- content/uploads/2019/10/Oregon_Coast-4.pdf x Mackey, 2024. xi Bonner, K., and M. Hibbard. 2002. The economic and community effects of Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Investments in Watershed Restoration. University of Oregon, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Ecosystem Workforce Program, Briefing Papers. xii Ecotrust. 2012. Oregon’s Restoration Economy, Investing in natural assets for the benefit of communities and salmon. p. 4. http://www.ecotrust.org/our-programs/water/. xiii Nielsen-Pincus, M., and C. Moseley. 2010. Economic and employment impacts of forest and watershed restoration in Oregon. University of Oregon, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Ecosystem Workforce Program, Working Paper Number 24, Spring 2010; Edwards, P.E.T., A.E. Sutton-Grier and C.E. Coyle. 2013 Investing in nature: Restoring coastal habitat blue infrastructure and green job creation. Marine Policy 38:65-71. xiv Nielsen-Pincus, M. and C. Moseley. 2010. “Economic and Employment Impacts of Forest and Watershed Restoration in Oregon.” University of Oregon: Ecosystem Workforce Program, Working Paper 24. xv Executive Order 25-26 “Directing State Agencies to Take Urgent Action to Promote the Resilience of Our Communities and Natural and Working Lands and Waters.”21 October 2025. https://www.oregon.gov/gov/eo/eo- 25-26.pdf. PO Box 10026, Portland, Oregon 97296 | 503.222.1804 | wildsalmoncenter.org

Parent: Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback · PDF: pp. 393-396