Overview Water pollution occurs when contaminants wash into streams, lakes, and wetlands or infiltrate the soil reaching the groundwater. Water running off paved surfaces in urban areas often carries oil, heavy metals, pet waste, and toxic chemicals from industrial and residential areas into storm drains and eventually waterways. Agricultural operations can cause fertilizers, pesticides, and animal wastes to leach into groundwater or enter waterways through irrigation return flows and surface runoff. These diffuse sources (nonpoint source pollution) are considered the primary source of water quality problems nation wide, as well as in the Pacific Northwest. Pollution Assessment and Prevention programs focus on cultivating “water quality citizenship,” an active sense of “ownership” of global and local water quality by individuals, households, farms, and other businesses. The Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Program provides community-based volunteer water quality monitoring and watershed stewardship training programs. These programs enable volunteers and individual land managers to understand watershed processes and empower them to address water quality issues, either on their own land or in local waterways. Members of the Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Program team are engaged in research supporting watershed management and provide a range of science-based educational materials addressing land-use management and pollution prevention techniques.

Desired Outcomes Water bodies are assessed and water quality problems are identified Empowered residents address and correct water quality problems Community members educated in watershed processes are involved in planning processes Water quality is protected and improved Pacific Northwest Regional Publications: (note: these publications can be obtained from publication offices at Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho) PNW 552 Taking Care of Streams in Western Washington, Western Oregon, and Coastal Alaska: A Homeowner’s Guide to Riparian Areas PNW 557 Taking Care of Streams in Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Idaho: A Homeowner’s Guide to Riparian Areas PNW 558 Taking Care of Streams in Western Washington, Western Oregon, and Alaska: A Landowner’s Guide to Riparian Areas PNW 559 Taking Care of Streams in Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Idaho: A Landowner’s Guide to Riparian Areas PNW 560 Taking Care of Streams in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska: A Guide to Riparian Areas in Rangelands PNW 561 Taking Care of Streams in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Coastal Alaska: A Recreationist’s Guide to Riparian Areas PNW 562 Taking Care of Streams in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska: A Developer’s Guide to Riparian Areas

ALASKA Contacts Fred Sorensen, Water Quality Coordinator, Anchorage, 907-786-6311, dffes@uaa.alaska.edu Bob Gorman, Land Resource Agent, Anchorage, 907-786-6300, ffrfg@uaf.edu Richard Steiner, Marine Advisory Agent, Anchorage, 907-786-4156, afrgs@uaa.alaska.edu ALASKA Publications http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/ces/publications/ FGV-00242 Soil Fundamentals GWQ-00547 Protect Water Resources-Understand Pesticide Movement GWQ-00548 Protecting Alaska’s Water Resources HGA-00236 Lawn Maintenance & Pesticides HGA-00239 Managing Alaskan Lawns HGA-00334 Lawn Maintenance HGA-00436 Tree Maintenance and Pesticides IDAHO Contacts Robert L. Mahler, Water Quality Coordinator, Moscow, 208-885-7025, bmahler@uidaho.edu Ronda E. Hirnyck, Ext. Pesticide Coordinator, Boise, 208-354-4046, rhiryck@uidaho.edu IDAHO Publications info.ag.uidaho.edu/ CIS 861 Pesticide Handling Practices to Protect Groundwater CIS 865 Pesticides and Their Movement in Soil and Water CIS 872 Nitrate and Groundwater CIS 887 Idaho’s Water Resource CIS 893 Household Water – Dos and Don’ts CIS 900 Groundwater in Idaho CIS 907 Phosphates in Detergents

CIS 962 Best Management Practices for Nitrogen Management to Protect Groundwater CIS 963 Best Management Practices for Phosphorus Management to Protect Surface Water CIS 1053 Design and Construction of Earthen Embankments for Animal Liquid-Waste Containment CIS 1070 Nutrient Management Plans: Who Needs Them and How to Prepare Your Own CIS 1099 Idaho’s Nitrate Areas of Concern BUL 807 Irrigation Management in the HUA BUL 808 Erosion Control Progress in the HUA BUL 811 Groundwater & Wellhead Protection in the HUA BUL 814 Public Attitudes about Water Quality in the HUA BUL 817 Nutrient and Pesticide Management in the HUA VID676 Forest Water Quality VID675 Riparian Water Quality Study Forestry BMPs for Idaho OREGON Contacts Mike Gamroth, Water Quality Coordinator, Corvallis, 541-737-3316, mike.gamroth@oregonstate.edu

Jeff Jenkins, Pesticide Extension Specialist, Corvallis, 541-737-5993, jenkinsj@ace.orst.edu Derek Godwin, Watershed Management Specialist, Salem, 503-566-2909, derek.godwin@oregonstate.edu Dan Sullivan, Soil Science Specialist, Corvallis, 541-737-5715, dan.sullivan@oregonstate.edu OREGON Publications extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ EC 1407 Understanding Natural Wetlands EC 1489 Stream Temperatures: Some Basic Considerations EC 1492 Gardening and Water Quality Protection: Understanding Nitrogen Fertilizers EC 1493 Gardening and Water Quality Protection: Using Nitrogen Fertilizers Wisely EC 1506 Working Together: Successful Partnerships EC 1507 Working Together: Choosing Your Group’s Structure, Mission, and Goals EC 1508 Working Together: Effective Meetings Management EC 1509 Working Together: Good Decision Making EM 8651-E Twelve Simple Things You Can Do to Protect Your Well Water EM 8714 Watershed Stewardship: A Learning Guide EM 8738 Life on the Edge: Restoring Riparian Function EM 8752 Keeping Your Well Water Well EM 8761 Stream*A*Syst: A Tool To Help You Examine Stream Conditions on Your Property VTP 019 Healthy Watersheds video VTP 021 WE All Live Downstream video TP 029 After the Rain video VTP 033 Life on the Edge video

Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Coordination Project Partners Land Grant Universities Alaska Cooperative Extension Service Contact Fred Sorensen: 907-786-6311 http://www.uaf.edu/ces/water/ University Publications: http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/ces/publications/ Idaho University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System Contact Bob Mahler: 208-885-7025 http://www.uidaho.edu/wq/wqhome.html University Publications: http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/Catalog/catalog.html Oregon Oregon State University Extension Service Contact Mike Gamroth: 541-737-3316 http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ University Publications: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ Washington Washington State University WSU Extension Contact Bob Simmons: 360-427-9670 ext. 690 http://wawater.wsu.edu/ University Publications: http://pubs.wsu.edu/ Northwest Indian College Contact Charlotte Clausing: 360-392-4319 cclausing@nwic.edu or http://www.nwic.edu/ Water Resource Research Institutes Water and Environmental Research Center (Alaska) http://www.uaf.edu/water/ Idaho Water Resources Research Institute http://www.boise.uidaho.edu/ Institute for Water and Watersheds (Oregon) http://water.oregonstate.edu/ State of Washington Water Research Center http://www.swwrc.wsu.edu/ Environmental Protection Agency EPA, Region 10 The Pacific Northwest http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/ Office of Research and Development, Corvallis Laboratory http://www.epa.gov/wed/ For more information contact Jan Seago at 206-553-0038 or seago.jan@epa.gov
	WASHINGTON Contacts Curtis Hinman, Water Quality Coordinator, Pierce County, (253) 798-3257, chinman@wsu.edu Craig MacConnell, Community Environmental Education, Whatcom County, (360) 676-6736, cbmac@wsu.edu Michael Barber, Director, Washington Water Resources Center, (509) 335-6633, meb@wsu.edu
	WASHINGTON Publications: pubs.wsu.edu/ EB 1631 Protect Your Groundwater: Survey Your Home Environment EB 1713 Protecting Groundwater: Managing Livestock on Small Acreage EB 1714 Farming Practices for Groundwater Protection EB 1761 Developing a Volunteer Program for Public Environmental Education EB 1721 Defining Water Quality EB 1744 Your Yard and Water Quality: Simple Things Gardeners Can Do To Prevent Water Contamination EB 1746-W11 Home*A*Syst Site Evaluation EB 1746-W6 Home*A*Syst: Household Wastewater Treatment EB 1746-F6 Home*A*Syst: Improving Household Wastewater Treatment EB 1810 A Ready Reference for Irrigation Manual of Practice MISC 0133 Riparian Areas: Fish and Wildlife Havens MISC 0134 Aquatic Pest Control MISC 0172 Experiencing Water Resources: A Guide to Your River Basin MISC 0179 Wetlands as Varied as Our Region MISC 0174 Washington’s Water MISC 0225 Water Currents 1998 Highlights Issue VT 0082 Keep it Clean Downstream XB 1040 Effects of Burn/Low-Till on Erosion and Soil Quality
	NIFA is the Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service, a sub-agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, and is the federal partner in this water quality program.

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HOME | About | Calendar | Contacts | Links | PNW Water Updates | Sitemap NIFA National Water Quality Program This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement No. 2008-51130-04734. all external sites will open in a new browser window page last modified on August 27, 2006