The Oregon Department of Agriculture is seeking agricultural landowners across the state to serve on local advisory committees focused on protecting water quality.  

Oregon has 38 such committees, primarily made up of landowners, that play a key role in the state’s agricultural water quality program.  

Barry Bushue, who farms near Boring, Ore., serves on the Clackamas Local Advisory Committee, and said it is an opportunity to meet other landowners and impact the watershed.  

“It’s a great way to learn about methods and strategies to use on your own farm that will benefit water quality in the region,” Bushue said, in an agency news release.  

“Farmers get blamed for a lot of things — poor water quality should not be one of them. Being a member of this LAC helps all farmers and sends a good message to our urban neighbors.” Bushue added.  

Wanting a voice in decisions  

Cameron Duncan, a rancher in southwestern Oregon, is the newest member of the Klamath Headwaters Local Advisory Committee.  

“I wanted a voice in what decisions were being made as far as the water quality,” she said, in the news release.  

Without landowner input, government agencies won’t get the “boots-on-the-ground” details, Duncan added.  

The state relies on science to help shape water quality policy to protect rivers and streams from pollutants such as bacteria, sediment, and pesticides.  

Duncan said landowners can offer valuable input and be part of discussions early in the process to help balance the science with what ag producers observe.

 “You need to be involved and can’t be mad at a ruling someone makes if you aren’t willing to get involved and push back a little bit, compromise,” Duncan said.  

Ron Whiting, a semi-retired rancher near Burns, Ore., has served on the Greater Harney Basin Local Advisory Committee for about 25 years to stand up for farmers and ranchers.  “I saw an opportunity for local people to participate in the writing of the rules and regulations versus it being dictated to us by upstairs people or people outside of the ag community that didn’t really entirely understand the situation,” Whiting said, in the news release.  

Good input creates good outcomes

Committee members are expected to be familiar with their local agricultural water quality management area plan.  

They provide input once every two years during guided discussion. Members typically receive a draft of the plan to review weeks in advance of the meeting.  

John O’Keeffe, a third-generation cattle rancher in Adel, Ore., serves on the Goose and Summer Lakes Local Advisory Committee.  

“I’d encourage people to get involved,” O’Keeffe said, in the news release. “Because that’s how we get good outcomes is by getting good input.”

To learn more about becoming a member of a local advisory committee, email LAC@oda.oregon.gov.  To find out which management area you live in and learn more about the committees, visit ODA’s website at https://oda.direct/agwqplans.  

Read more at: https://capitalpress.com/2025/11/27/oda-seeks-landowners-for-water-quality-committees/