Improving oregon's agricultural water quality
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IMPROVING OREGON’S AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY THROUGH FOCUSED ASSESSMENT , PRODUCER ASSISTANCE,& ENFORCEMENT SWCS Conference Lombard, IL July 29, 2014
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Transcript of Improving oregon's agricultural water quality
IMPROVING OREGON’SAGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITYTHROUGH FOCUSED ASSESSMENT,
PRODUCER ASSISTANCE, & ENFORCEMENT
SWCS ConferenceLombard, ILJuly 29, 2014
What I’ll Talk About
Where is Oregon and how do you say it
Ag Water Quality Program Overview
Strategic Planning
Focus Areas
Strategic Implementation Areas
Prioritized Enforcement
Oregon Ag Water Quality Program ‐ Background
Agricultural Water Quality Management Act – 1993
Prevent and Control Water Pollution
Federal Clean Water Act Nonpoint Source Pollution (primarily) Private land agricultural activities 38 Water Quality Management Areas
Ag WQ Management Areas 38 Basin‐wide Plans
Challenges
Strategic Planning
Change from Outputs to Outcomes
Measurable Objectives
Focused Assessment
Agency Initiated, Prioritized Enforcement
Two New Efforts
Focus Areas
SWCD‐led
Outreach
Assessments Pre and Post
Voluntary
Strategic Implementation Areas
ODA‐led
Outreach
Assessments Pre and Post
Regulatory
Focus Areas
Streamside Vegetation Assessment Characterizes landscape conditions & improvements
45 Focus Areas One in each SWCD At least on in each Management Area
Strategic Implementation Areas
Compliance Evaluation Watershed characterization of compliance Active, prioritized enforcement
Two test‐run watersheds West‐side: Clackamas County East‐side: Wasco County
Strategic Implementation Areas
But First….Three beautiful scenes from Wallowa County
Clackamas County SWCDWasco County SWCD
Strategic Implementation Areas Compliance Evaluation: (Clackamas & Wasco)
Evaluation Methods –Publically Available Information Aerial Photos Topographic Maps NHD Layer Property Tax Maps Field Surveys
Strategic Implementation Areas Compliance Evaluation: (Clackamas & Wasco)
Threat Assessment on Ag Lands
Categories Riparian Vegetation Bare Ground Manure Piles
Riparian Vegetation – Potential Concern
Low Concern
Moderate Concern
Significant/Serious Concern
SPECIAL NOTE: Actual “Compliance” can only be determined by on‐sight examination
Not Applicable No Concern Potential Concern
Compliance Evaluation Mill Creek – Wasco County
Federal Land, Urban
ResultsWasco County (Mill Creek Parcels)Total Parcels in Assessment Area = 2,032
‐ 1,717 (N/A)315 “Evaluated”
Clackamas County (Noyer Creek Parcels )Total Parcels in Assessment Area = 623
‐ 368 (N/A) 237 “Evaluated”
____________________________________________________________________
Special Note: In a 3‐acre Parcel, only a small area may actually be “of concern”
Strategic Implementation Areas
Outreach & Enforcement
All Concern levels get contacted
Serious Concerns = site visit
Moderates and Significants = several contacts + site visit
Strategic Implementation Areas
Strategic Implementation Areas Prioritization
Post test‐run evaluation
3000‐plus 6th Field HUCs
Must prioritize
How?
SIA Prioritization
Urban Forestry Zone Not Private LandsFarm Land
Geographically StratifiedWillamette Valley
6th Field HUC
Forestry
Urban
Water
Ag land
Upper Willamette Ag WQ Management Area
Upper Willamette 6th Field HUC Characterization
0102030405060708090100
% HUC Zoned Farm % Stream Length in Zoned Farm
Additional Prioritization Tools• Essential Salmon Habitat (ESH)
• 303(d)‐listed or waters with TMDL load allocations, Ground Water Management Areas, etc.
• Partner priorities; OWEB, FSA, NRCS, ODFW, USFWSSWCD/WSC priorities –
OTHER:ODA staff capacity
