The Timber, Fish and Wildlife Agreement is aimed at cooperatively managing forest land, setting policies, and doing research. Agricultural nonpoint source pollution is largely managed under the Agricultural Memorandum of Agreement, signed in 1988. The Memorandum of Agreement is a cooperative effort among Ecology, the Conservation Commission, and nearly all of the conservation districts in the state. The agreement sets up a response process to handle agricultural water quality complaints and enforcement actions. In addition, through nonpoint water pollution prevention, Ecology works with local governments to support watershed planning and implementation.
Watershed management is a holistic approach for handling water pollution and prevention.
Watershed management involves the public in a review of water quality issues and needs across an entire watershed or drainage area and it involves people in designing solutions locally. Ecology also works with the Washington State Department of Health to protect shellfish harvesting areas of the state. This is accomplished through watershed planning and technical assistance to local governments. In cooperation with federal, state, and local governments, the program provides financial and technical assistance to public entities for water quality management facilities and activities. The Water Quality Program administers several federal and state financial and technical assistance programs.