Natural Resources

GVMC is becoming increasingly involved in issues surrounding our natural environment and its resources. Centering around the Regional Environmental Planning Agency, (formerly the Metropolitan Water and Sewer Planning Agency), there has been a demonstrated need for this organization to study, evaluate and make recommendations about avoiding environmentally harmful aspects of human support systems (such as utilities, roads, stormwater handling, power transmission, communications, water treatment, etc.) and how to design such systems in smarter ways making the best long-term use of our existing natural environment.

GVMC has also become a central point for organizing and promoting coordinated regional participation in NPDES II program requirements of USEPA, a large watershed initiative known as the Lower Grand project. The Rogue River Watershed Council has also organized as an Agency of GVMC and is currently operating as a planning subregion within the Blueprint II Regional Development Framework process.