Hello esteemed partners, 

We are excited to unveil to you the first edition of the Ag Water Quality Newsletter produced by the Water Quality Program at the Oregon Department of Agriculture. This newsletter is part of our effort to improve communications with Soil and Water Conservation Districts (staffs and boards), Local Advisory Committees, and our partners, a key area of opportunity identified in our 2025-29 Strategic Plan. 

This newsletter will be published twice per year, with the next one set for release in late March 2027. We will provide timely updates on program priorities, emerging water quality issues, and the collaborative work being done by farmers, ranchers, SWCDs, and natural resource organizations across the state to protect water quality. 

Following are headlines from this inaugural edition (attached): 

• Page 1: Newsletter to focus on topics affecting water quality and SWCDs 
• Page 1: OWEB grant funding leads to restoration work in South Umpqua watershed 
• Page 4: Meet the Ag Water Quality Team: Nick Sirovatka, Amanda Robinson 
• Page 5: Practices that make a difference with animals grazing near water 
• Page 6: Online ag water quality practices tool set for release next year 
• Page 7: New ODA data hub helps tell better story of restoration 

We welcome your feedback on the newsletter and are open to any ideas on content that would be helpful to you. Please email Jason Eck at jason.eck@oda.oregon.gov with suggestions for future newsletters. 

 

Newsletter