As the Agricultural Water Quality Program matures, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) must adapt and gather more data, and document accomplishments to meet Oregon’s water quality goals. Comparing the scale of accomplishments within a larger scope will help ODA and its partners better track progress and estimate the costs of treating remaining areas. Water quality goals can be achieved by promoting voluntary cooperation among landowners and natural resource partners to address management concerns, and by ODA enforcing water quality regulations.

ODA is applying the Strategic Implementation approach, where selected areas around the state will receive outreach and education to address priority water quality concerns. Following an ODA-led Compliance Evaluation, ODA and its partners will work with agricultural landowners to concentrate technical and financial help to change agricultural activities that may be reducing water quality. Following outreach and assistance, ODA may enforce regulations where problems persist.

SIA's are chosen by ODA after discussions with partners and a review of local information and water quality data when available. ODA and program partners believe that strategic, focused, and systematic delivery of outreach and technical assistance will lead to greater Program effectiveness and allow ODA and SWCDs to make better use of limited resources.

SWCD Involvement 

SIA's are chosen by ODA after discussions with partners, and review of local information and water quality data when available.  SWCDs are a key partner in making Oregon’s Agricultural Water Quality program a success; we work with willing landowners to complete voluntary agricultural water quality improvement projects.

Partner agencies and organizations support SWCD projects with technical and financial assistance to make additional water quality improvements. The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), USDA Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Natural Resources Conservation Service, and watershed councils, among others, provide substantial resources to improve Oregon’s agricultural water quality.

Baker County currently has two SIA's; one along lower Powder River, and the other along upper Burnt River. 

History of the Program

 In 1993, the Oregon Legislature passed the Agricultural Water Quality Management Act, Senate Bill 1010, directing the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to develop plans and associated regulations to prevent and control water pollution from agricultural activities and achieve water quality standards. The legislation also required the involvement of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) as much as possible.

Since 1997, program staff have worked with Local Advisory Committees, which include farmers, ranchers, and stakeholders, to develop water quality management plans and adopt regulations in Oregon’s 38 water quality regions. The plans give local agricultural landowners a framework in which to comply with the rules. Compliance is required by state law.

In the early 2000s, ODA’s focus was to implement as many agricultural water quality improvement projects as possible and document those accomplishments. Efforts focused on outreach and technical help to create projects that would achieve immediate water quality benefits and build the foundation for strong partnerships in the future.

Oregonians have made tremendous investments to protect and improve our water quality. Scientific studies and technical documents from university researchers, the USDA, and other federal agencies show the types of projects implemented improve water quality at the farm scale. However, it has been a challenge to document the benefits of these projects on a larger scale and to measure what percent of the area is in compliance.

To determine your ag water quality management area, enter your address here.