Report
Though some specific improvements are undeniable, the Bureau does not have a planning and evaluation framework to quantify and communicate where it has invested those millions and how successful it has been in achieving overall goals for improving environmental health.
Published
Portland residents rely on Bureau of Environmental Services restoration projects and green streets to improve water quality, restore wildlife habitat, and prevent flooding. However, without formal methods to select projects and document outcomes, the City risks not meeting those goals. We found that the Bureau did not have a system in place to ensure that restoration projects and green streets were placed in the highest-needs areas. We also found that the Bureau did not consistently report outcomes for restoration projects or provide reports to ratepayers and regulators about green street condition. We recommended more formal planning, evaluation, and reporting.