Columbia SWCD is a special district that offers FREE services to the local residents and landowners in Columbia County.  Our focus is to help you with land and water issues you may have on your property or simply help you prevent potential issues.  We do this through free technical assistance and sometimes cost-share may be available for certain practices.

Agricultural Water Quality Management Act

In 1993 the Oregon Legislature tasked the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) with reducing water pollution from agricultural sources.

The Columbia SWCD assists the ODA with addressing agricultural runoff by working on a voluntary basis with landowners and agricultural operators to address pollution from:

¨ Erosion and runoff associated with roadsides and urban development

¨ Contaminated runoff from agricultural operations

¨ Reducing sediment from eroding agricultural and forest lands and  stream banks

The Act does not specify how to comply with runoff and soil erosion.  It gives each area and landowner the authority to develop Best Management Practices to suit their needs, and the needs of their operations.

Columbia SWCD prefers to be Pro-Active rather than Reactive helping landowners implement best management practices to prevent agriculture and water quality    issues on their land

The Columbia SWCD is non-regulatory, and works with willing landowners to prevent problems and solve issues that arise from a variety of land use practices.

 

Conservation Planning: With the assistance of the NRCS, we can create a Conservation Plan for your property.  These plans help conserve your natural resources while helping to maintain and improve productivity. Download the Conservation Planning pdf here.

Weeds: The Columbia SWCD is the county leader for weed control.  We have numerous partners who assist us and are always happy to take weeds with anyone

Outreach and Education: Whether it’s talking to landowners or school kids, we are always striving to spread the work of conservation.  If you’d like us to speak to your group please give us a call.

Technical Assistance: The SWCD and its board members have been at this for a LONG time!  If you have a question, feel free to ask.  If we don’t know the answer, we have an extensive network of experts that can help us find it!

Pasture Management: Download the Pasture Management pdf here.