Oregon’s farmers and ranchers are stewards of land and water and play a key role in protecting the state’s natural resources for current and future generations. Every area across the state of Oregon is included in an Agricultural Water Quality Management Area Plan overseen by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. These plans, created by Local Advisory Committees, aim to prevent water pollution from agricultural activities through a combination of educational programs, monitoring, and management activities.
Polk SWCD is continuing a project focused on the water quality of Salt Creek. Efforts from the first two years of the project concentrated on gathering and addressing concerns of the stakeholders in the Salt Creek basin. Outreach events were held to gather and share ideas about the issues and potential solutions to water quality and flooding. One of the primary ideas that rose to the top after landholder meetings was the implementation of an OSU water quality research project in the basin to better inform the landowners about current conditions.
The pandemic and staff changes caused delays in many activities, but gathering data through monthly water monitoring on Salt Creek did endure. In partnership with OSU, we will continue to collect data monthly on water temperatures, turbidity, nitrates, and pH. We also plan to share analysis of the collected data with the landowners in the Salt Creek basin in the fall of 2023.
Depending on how they are managed, agricultural lands can protect or impair water quality. Below are examples of agricultural practices that area landowners and farmers apply to help ensure high water quality.
Polk SWCD is continuing a project focused on the water quality of Salt Creek. Efforts from the first two years of the project concentrated on gathering and addressing concerns of the stakeholders in the Salt Creek basin. Outreach events were held to gather and share ideas about the issues and potential solutions to water quality and flooding. One of the primary ideas that rose to the top after landholder meetings was the implementation of an OSU water quality research project in the basin to better inform the landowners about current conditions.
The pandemic and staff changes caused delays in many activities, but gathering data through monthly water monitoring on Salt Creek did endure. In partnership with OSU, we will continue to collect data monthly on water temperatures, turbidity, nitrates, and pH. We also plan to share analysis of the collected data with the landowners in the Salt Creek basin in the fall of 2023.
Depending on how they are managed, agricultural lands can protect or impair water quality. Below are examples of agricultural practices that area landowners and farmers apply to help ensure high water quality.
- Promote healthy streamside vegetation to capture harmful runoff, provide water cooling shade, and improve habitat for wildlife including pollinators and beneficial insects.
- In grazing systems, consider stocking intensity, frequency, and duration of grazing to promote and maintain adequate vegetative cover.
- Orchardists maintain cover plants between trees and along waterways; irrigate at low rates to conserve water, and prevent leaching and runoff of fertilizers.
- Row crop growers rotate crops, apply mulch and plant cover crops to reduce water runoff, erosion, and nutrient loss.
- Dryland farmers use direct seed drills and leave crop residue on fields to enhance soil health, reduce runoff and minimize field erosion.
- Penned livestock owners place feed, water, and minerals away from streams and store manure far away from streams and under cover of a tarp or roof to keep nutrients in the manure and to prevent nutrients or bacteria from running off into water.
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Polk SWCD is here to assist technically and financially with projects to help improve or maintain water quality. Consider contacting Beth Thiel at the District if you are interested in projects that could enhance water quality in Salt Creek or any streams in Polk County (503-623-9680, beth.thiel@polkswcd.com).
Projects could include:
Projects could include:
- Restoring native streamside or wetland vegetation
- Creating off-stream mineral and watering systems for livestock
- Fencing along streams to restrict livestock access
- Assessment and assistance with weed management
- Irrigation efficiency projects
