& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

A landowner’s guide to

Oregon’s Agricultural Water Quality 

Management Program
& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

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Oregon agriculture and

water quality stewardship

Oregon’s farmers and ranchers have an intimate relationship with 

the land on which they depend. All are stewards of land and water, 

and all must play a key role in protecting the state’s natural 

resources for current and future generations.

Agricultural Water Quality 

Management Program

In 1972, the federal Clean Water Act was passed to clean up water 

pollution from human activities such as forestry, factories, 

wastewater treatment plants, and agricultural runoff. 

Oregon’s Agricultural Water Quality Management Act (Act) was 

passed in 1993, with the input and support of the agricultural 

industry and the Oregon Board of Agriculture, to help farmers and 

ranchers address water pollution.

This legislation is the foundation of the Oregon Department of 

Agriculture’s (ODA) Agricultural Water Quality Management 

Program (Program). The Act directed ODA to assist the industry in 

preventing and controlling pollution from agricultural sources. 

Working in partnership with Oregon’s 45 local Soil and Water 

Conservation Districts (SWCDs), ODA identified 38 watershedbased Agricultural Water Quality Management Areas 

(Management Areas) throughout the state. 

ODA Water Quality Specialists work with farmers, ranchers, 

community leaders, and other stakeholders who serve as Local 

Advisory Committee (LAC) members for each Management Area. 

Each LAC identifies local agricultural water quality problems and 

opportunities for improvement. 

The 38 resulting Agricultural Water Quality Management Area 

Plans (Area Plans) address agricultural water quality issues in 

Oregon. As the LACs helped create the plans, they also helped 

write Area Rules (regulations) for that Management Area. The 

regulations ensure that all landowners do their part to prevent and 

control water pollution. The Program is designed to help anyone

engaged in agricultural activities prevent water pollution.
& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

Does agriculture contribute

to water pollution in Oregon? 

Yes, unfortunately. We know this because the 

Clean Water Act requires water quality 

monitoring. Oregon’s Department of 

Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead agency 

for monitoring water quality in Oregon. The state 

of Oregon has identified many streams flowing 

through agricultural lands that are considered 

polluted.

How might my activities 

affect water quality?

The primary water quality issues related to 

agriculture are excessive sediment, nutrients, 

bacteria, and water temperatures. These 

pollutants can harm people and fish.

Depending on how they are managed, 

agricultural lands can protect or impair water 

quality.

Healthy streamside vegetation prevents runoff of 

excessive sediment, nutrients, and bacteria. It 

also provides shade to reduce solar heating of 

water, stabilizes streambanks, and provides fish 

and wildlife habitat.

Runoff from farms and ranches can pollute 

water. Examples include: 

v Sediment from eroding croplands, pasture 

lands, and streambanks.

v Erosion and runoff from farm roads.

v Pesticides.

v Nutrients from animal waste and 

fertilizers.

v Bacteria from animal manure.

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& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

What is required?

Compliance with the agricultural water quality Regulations is required by state law. Regulations for each of 

the 38 Management Areas prohibit water pollution and activities that pollute or can lead to polluted water. 

However, the Regulations don’t specify how each agricultural landowner must do this. 

Instead, the Area Plans recommend options crafted to meet each Management Area’s unique agricultural 

water quality issues. Each farmer or rancher can decide the solutions that best fit their operation. 

How is the Program enforced? Will my property be inspected?

It is up to each landowner to ensure that his or her operation does not pollute Oregon’s waters. Most 

already are in compliance with the regulations. However, ODA also investigates complaints or ODAidentified concerns associated with water pollution resulting from agricultural activities.

If violations are found, corrective actions must be taken. ODA first works with landowners and operators to 

solve problems through education and technical assistance. Landowners and operators who are asked to 

solve a problem, but refuse to do so, could be subject to enforcement actions, including fines. 

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& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

Isn’t agriculture already working toward improving water quality?

Absolutely. As dedicated land stewards, many farmers and ranchers already protect water quality. 

v Orchardists maintain plants between trees and along waterways, apply water at low rates to 

conserve water and prevent leaching and runoff of fertilizers, and use pesticides only as needed.

v Livestock operators use rotational grazing, provide off-stream water sources, and store manure 

under cover and away from water.

v Nurseries recycle irrigation water and reduce chemical inputs. 

v Rowcrop growers rotate crops, apply straw mulch, and plant cover crops to reduce water runoff, 

erosion, and nutrient loss. 

v Dryland farmers use direct seed drills and other conservation practices to minimize field erosion.

v Landowners protect streamside vegetation that stabilizes streambanks, slows erosion, helps keep 

water cooler, and provides wildlife habitat. Some landowners plant additional trees and shrubs 

along streams to protect water quality and enhance fish habitat. 

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Grass growing between tree rows reduces soil erosion

What are the benefits of the Program?

v Maintains flexibility for landowners to improve and protect water quality.

v Promotes coordinated watershed planning.

v Demonstrates agriculture’s commitment to water quality stewardship.

v May limit the need for more restrictive regulations.

v Helps improve fish and wildlife habitat.
& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

How can I help improve water quality?

The following recommendations may help you improve water quality, ensure that you are operating within 

the guidelines of your Area Plan, and comply with water quality regulations. It’s likely that you already are 

doing one or more of these management activities. You may choose the approach that works for your 

operation as long as it meets the regulations and the goals of the Area Plans.

Livestock Grazing 

Grazing systems should promote and maintain adequate vegetative cover to protect water quality by 

considering intensity, frequency, duration, and season of grazing.

Proper grazing improves the pasture plant community, creates more forage, helps prevent weeds, and 

supports animal health. Appropriate grass height will depend on whether you live on the east or west side 

of the Cascades. A rule of thumb is to graze when pasture grasses are 6-8 inches tall and to remove 

animals when grasses are 3-4 inches tall.

Recommendations include:

v Rotate grazing among two or more pastures. This allows vegetation in one pasture to recover and 

reduces trampling and resulting erosion and runoff. 

v Allow grasses to regrow before autumn frosts or the dormant season. 

v Don’t graze when soils are saturated; this compacts soils and destroys roots.

v Provide off-stream water and minerals in each pasture. This reduces overgrazing of streamside 

areas and increases use of forage away from streams. 

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Grass tall enough for grazing
& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

Livestock Manure 

and Heavy Use Areas Management of areas used for feeding and handling 

livestock is critical to the success of livestock 

operations and can also affect water quality. 

On ranches and pastures:

v Prevent runoff of sediment and manure from 

winter feeding and calving areas.

v Place feed, water, and minerals as far as 

possible from streams to prevent overuse of 

streamside areas. 

v Spread accumulated manure in pastures and let 

dry completely before flood irrigation.

For penned animals: 

v Store manure on concrete pads and cover with a 

tarp or roof. This helps keep nutrients in the 

manure rather than leaching to water. 

v Store manure away from surface water to 

prevent nutrient and bacteria runoff.

v Cover heavily used animal walkways with sand, 

rock, and/or geotextile fabric, and regularly 

clean confinement areas. This helps keep 

animals out of mud and muck.

v Establish a heavy use area away from streams 

and cover with a thick layer of sand, gravel, or 

hog fuel. A heavy use area protects pastures 

from compaction during the winter months, 

improving plant health and growth as well as 

animal health. It also helps rest pastures 

throughout the year to allow grasses to grow to 

proper grazing height.

v Install gutters and downspouts on buildings next 

to heavy use areas. Route the clean water away 

from the heavy use area to a waterway, pasture, 

or tank; this lessens mud in heavy use areas. 

v Capture clean rainwater in a tank to use as 

drinking water for livestock.

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Rocked surface in drylot

Gutters and downspout on building
& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

Manure and Nutrient 

Application

Crop nutrients, including manure, 

sludge, commercial fertilizer, and 

other added nutrients, should be 

applied in such a way that they 

do not enter streams or 

groundwater.

v Apply evenly to pastures 

and only as much as your 

crops or pasture can use 

(agronomic rate). This 

helps prevent runoff and

reduces the costs for 

chemical fertilizers. 

v To prevent runoff, do not 

apply when soils are 

saturated or frozen.

Applying nutrients at the appropriate agronomic rate ensures that plants receive needed nutrients for 

growth and makes plants more competitive against weeds. It is also a good way to empty your manure 

storage area to make room for the next season’s storage requirements. 

To find out agronomic rates, compare manure nutrient content with Oregon State University fertilizer guide 

recommendations (search for ‘fertilizer’ at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog). You can have 

manure tested or use book values for your livestock type. To avoid the expense and time of 

over-application, take regular soil tests to determine the amount of nutrients already in the soil.

Irrigation 

Diverting water for irrigation can reduce stream flows enough to degrade fish habitat. Runoff or leaching of 

irrigation water from farm fields can deliver sediment, manure, warm water, and agricultural chemicals 

(fertilizers and pesticides) to ground and surface water.

v Schedule irrigation based on crop needs, soil type, climate, topography, infiltration rates, and your 

existing water rights. 

v Monitor irrigation to avoid over-watering and subsequent leaching of nutrients.

v Minimize or eliminate irrigation runoff to ditches and streams. 

v Improve irrigation efficiency by maintaining existing systems in good condition. Where appropriate, 

consider upgrading to a more efficient delivery system.

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& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

Streamside 

Vegetation 

Agricultural activities must allow 

the establishment and 

development of the vegetation 

expected to grow along the 

stream naturally, given the soil 

type and climate. Plants need to 

have a chance to become 

established and to grow to 

maturity. 

Healthy streamside vegetation 

provides shade, stabilizes banks, filters nutrients and sediment, and provides fish and wildlife habitat.

v Plant willows, alders, and other vegetation appropriate for your area to give nature a head start. 

v Fence livestock away from streams or graze the area as part of a pasture rotation. 

v Provide off-stream livestock water troughs and nose pumps. 

v Harden access points or stream crossings with rock to reduce erosion from trampling and allow 

plants to establish. Monitor crossings to prevent them from becoming sources of pollution.

SWCD staff are highly knowledgeable and can provide suggestions and assistance. You may qualify for 

financial assistance through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) or another funding 

program designed to improve streamside vegetation.

Uplands and Erosion Control 

A protective cover of crops and crop residue, grass, shrubs, or trees will capture, store, and safely release 

precipitation, thereby reducing the potential runoff of soil or pollutants. Keep soil where it belongs – on 

your fields.

v Maintain trees, shrubs, and grasses on steep slopes, drainage canals, ditches, and other water 

bodies.

v Seed bare ditches to create grassed waterways after construction or maintenance activities. 

v Use direct seed or reduced tillage methods to leave high amounts of crop residue on fields to 

enhance soil health, reduce runoff, and improve yields. 

v Minimize hard surfaces to maximize water infiltration. 

v Catch and store rain water from barn and shed roofs. 

v Capture eroding soil and slow runoff with filter strips, grassed waterways, and structures such as 

terraces and sediment basins.

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Livestock recently fenced out of a creek
& Agriculture IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Water Quality

All publications produced by the Oregon Department of Agriculture will be made available in alternate formats when needed.

Oregon Department of Agriculture 

Natural Resources Program Area 

635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97301-2532

(503) 986-4700

Oregon.gov/ODA

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ODA Agricultural Water Quality Management Areas

Where can I get help?

Technical assistance is available at no charge from local SWCDs, watershed councils, the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service, Oregon State University Extension, and ODA.

In some cases, funds are available through grants and programs that deal specifically with water quality 

issues. Often, implementing management alternatives helps the environment and also makes operations 

more productive and profitable. 

Where can I learn more?

Information about the Program, Area Plans and Regulations, recommended management activities, 

SWCDs, and other water quality and agricultural issues is available at: 

www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/NaturalResources/Pages/AgWaterQuality.aspx.

John Day/Umatilla/Wallowa 

Region

(541) 278-6721 

Central/South 

(541) 617-0017 

Central/Southeastern

(541) 318-9088

Klamath/Rogue/Umpqua

(541) 414-8797

Mid Coast/S. Willamette

(503) 986-4712

N. Coast/North Willamette

(503) 986-4696

June 2014