Coordination in the Willamette

Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) staff coordinated activities and provided coordination functions. ODA staff administered and coordinated the technical support component of the state-federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP provides riparian exclosures planted with desired native vegetation to achieve recovery plan goals. ODA staff developed a riparian management and water quality issues message map for use in outreach to producers. Staff directed the use of state funds provided to SWCDs for implementation of the Oregon Plan. Coordination functions included: coordinating Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), participating in recovery plan implementation, and helping lead the state’s Clean Water Act (CWA) toxics standards implementation. Staff also assisted in Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) project grant reviews to help ensure monies are effectively targeted to high priority restoration projects in agricultural areas.

This project addressed several limiting factors in the Upper Willamette River Conservation and Recovery Plan for Chinook Salmon and Steelhead, including agricultural land management impacts to riparian vegetation, high water temperatures, and runoff of pollutants including nutrients, pesticides, and sediment. Strategies identified in the recovery plan to address limiting factors include: restoration of riparian condition and large woody debris recruitment, restoration of degraded water quality and protection of unimpaired water quality, and restoration of degraded upland processes to minimize unnatural rates of erosion and runoff. The completed coordination activities and functions encouraged broader adoption of healthy riparian management and water quality protection activities while helping direct restoration funds and activities to priority areas.

Goal is to achieve water quality standards to ensure that the Upper Willamette River can support healthy populations of salmonids and other aquatic life. Purpose is to work with SWCDs, watershed councils and other strategic partners to ensure broader adoption of healthy riparian management and water quality protection activities and targeting restoration efforts at highest priority restoration needs to improve riparian conditions and water quality. ODA staff coordinate with federal, state and local partners to help ensure riparian restoration activities are coordinated with in-stream habitat restoration to make effective use of restoration resources and to restore stream function to meet water quality and fish management goals. Expected benefits include reduction in nonpoint source pollution from agricultural land uses, increased riparian shading and large woody debris recruitment.