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ODA's Agricultural Water Quality Resources

The Oregon Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Water Quality Resources page offers a comprehensive collection of materials aimed at supporting landowners and stakeholders in maintaining and improving water quality in agricultural settings. Key topics include:

Soil erosion on a muddy field, with water flowing over and carrying soil away.
Water Eroiding Soil on a Farm; photo courtesy of biocycle.net

Strategic Implementation Area (SIA) Resources: These resources assist landowners in assessing and enhancing water quality practices within designated SIAs. Notable materials are:

  • Landowner Self-Assessment Tool: A handout enabling landowners to evaluate their current practices and identify areas for improvement.
  • Implementation Areas 2014-19 Progress Report: A report detailing progress made in various implementation areas over the specified period.
  • SIA Outreach Handout: Information on ensuring compliance with agricultural water quality regulations.

Landowner Resources: A variety of guides and case studies tailored to specific agricultural practices, including:

  • Streamside Vegetation Management: Resources like "Achieving Healthy Streamsides" and "Affordable Streamside Improvements" focus on maintaining healthy riparian zones.
  • Erosion Control Practices: Materials such as "Christmas Tree Farmers & Preventing Erosion" and "Field Borders to Reduce the Sediment Load in Water Leaving the Field" provide strategies to minimize soil erosion.
  • Livestock Management: Guides like "Horse Health and Water Quality" and "Landowner's Guide to Managing Livestock Mortality" offer best practices for livestock care that protect water quality.

Program Resources: Documents and forms related to the administration and monitoring of water quality programs, including:

  • Monitoring Strategies: The "Agricultural Water Quality Management Program Monitoring Strategy (2017)" outlines approaches for assessing water quality.
  • Regulatory Information: Access to rules and statutes such as "OAR 603 Division 90: Agricultural Water Quality Program" and "Oregon Revised Statute 568: Water Quality Management."
  • Complaint Forms: The "Agricultural Water Quality Program Complaint Form" allows stakeholders to report concerns regarding water quality practices.

Additional Resources: Information on pesticides and water quality, a Water Quality Specialist Map, and the Oregon Nitrate Reduction Plan are also available to support landowners in their conservation efforts.

These resources collectively aim to promote sustainable agricultural practices that protect and enhance water quality across Oregon.

 

Landowner's Guide to Oregon's Agricultral Water Quality Program PDF Handout:

Brochure cover titled "Water Quality & Agriculture" with a landscape image. Oregon Department of Agriculture logo is present.

 

WaterQualityandAgriculture-ODA.pdf

 

CLICK HERE TO NAVIGATE TO OREGON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S RESOURCE PAGE 

Or, copy and paste url into browser: https://www.oregon.gov/oda/natural-resources/agwq/Pages/ag-wq-resources.aspx

 

Logo of the Oregon Department of Agriculture with a stylized sun and fields design.