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Benton County Environmental Programs – Water Quality Protection
Protecting Water Quality
Benton County is implementing a plan to improve water quality in creeks and rivers. The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan is the county’s effort to comply with rules issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality requiring counties and cities to reduce pollutants in the Willamette River and its tributaries. Review the Benton County TMDL Implementation Plan (PDF).
Specifically, bacteria, mercury and temperature are targeted. Benton County’s TMDL plan calls for reducing sources of these pollutants from county operations as well as from the actions of private property owners and the public in general.
Examples of actions called for in the plan include reducing instances of failing septic systems, improving the protection of riparian corridors, providing informational resources to property owners and the public, and reducing soil erosion. Implementation of the water quality plan began in 2008 and will continue through 2011.
For an extensive list of research, state and local programs and other work dealing with water quality see Water Resources.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Annual Reports
Benton County Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Annual 2009 Annual Report (PDF)
Benton County Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) 2009 Implementation Matrix (PDF)
Agricultural Related Water Quality
The Benton County Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan, approved by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), calls for “coordination with Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) regarding small CAFOs/livestock in residential zoned lands”
County staff coordinates with Oregon Department of Agriculture through the Regulatory Authority and Referral Process for Agricultural Related Water Quality Complaints in Benton County (PDF). All County Staff and Departments involved in water quality plan implementation are involved and tasked with submitting agricultural water quality complaint forms to the ODA when necessary.
