Organic Composting Facility – Site Suitability Analysis

Client: High Desert Organix

Location: Jefferson County, Oregon

We were asked by High Desert Organix to conduct a GIS-based site suitability analysis to identify a site for the construction of an organic compost facility that would have minimal environmental impact, land disturbance, public risk, and site preparation costs. They wanted FLO to compare and evaluate a parcel that they owned and to recommend potential alternative site options. The criteria used in the siting analysis satisfied both their business and regulatory requirements.

To assist them, we evaluated over 13,600 parcels in Jefferson County and found seven sites that satisfied all site suitability analysis requirements. They were surprised to discover that the land parcel they owned did not meet the defined criteria because of its designation as high-value farmland with prime farmland soils. As a result, they purchased one of the seven identified parcels, instead of moving forward with the parcel already under their ownership.