How does the AgWQM Act work?
ODA developed each watershed plan with a local advisory committee (LAC) consisting of stakeholders residing in the watershed. Each LAC was responsible for developing a draft action plan to address water quality issues arising from agricultural activities in its area. Those plans have now been adopted and many have undergone one or more biennial reviews. Under the AgWQM area plans, local operators are asked to deal with identified problems such as soil erosion, excess nutrient loss from fields, or degraded streamside areas. The AgWQM Act provides flexibility so that landowners in each watershed developed their own approaches to local problems. Farmers and ranchers are allowed to choose their own ways of meeting established water quality goals. ODA does not want to “sit in the tractor seat” with Oregon farmers and ranchers, but rather to give them an opportunity to manage their own business as long as they are following their local AgWQM area rules to help meet watershed goals and object
