Water management and conservation

OSU Extension helps Oregonians understand, protect and manage watersheds through community-based education and science-driven resources. We provide tools for monitoring water quality, improving land use practices and supporting watershed health across urban, rural and agricultural landscapes.

Trees to Tap: How Forest Practices Affect Oregon's Municipal Water

By Jon Souder

Forests produce economic benefits such as timber, forest products and jobs. They also provide wildlife habitat, recreation, carbon storage and clean water. In fact, most of Oregon’s drinking water is sourced from our forests. But logging, forest road building, using herbicides and other activities related to growing and harvesting timber can impact the quality and quantity of water. Oregon State University scientists examine these links in this comprehensive look at watershed health.

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Photo Credit: Zach - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Featured Resources

Social geometry of collaborative flood risk management

Using the case study of Tillamook County, this study draws upon qualitative interview data to identify and explain social factors that have influenced the outcome of a collaborative, socially engaged flood management project.

Aug 2020 | OSU Sea Grant Publication Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Identifying Tsunami Sand in Salt Marsh Stratigraphy

This hands-on lesson uses salt marsh sediment cores from Pacific Northwest estuaries.

May 2020 | OSU Sea Grant Publication Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Tide Gates: Operation, Fish Passage and Recommendations for Their Upgrade or Removal

This document is intended for policymakers so they can make informed decisions about upgrading or removing tide gates in an effort to improve conditions for Oregon’s native migratory fish and other animals and plants that inhabit estuaries.

May 2020 | OSU Sea Grant Publication Peer reviewed (Gray level)

More water management resources

Land Steward online course: The OSU Land Steward online course is designed for owners of woodlands, small farms, pasture or other rural land who want to manage their property's natural resources more effectively. This is a research-based, professionally developed course.
Network of Oregon Watershed Councils (NOWC): he Network of Oregon Watershed Councils supports the work of watershed councils by increasing council capacity, representing councils with key partners and funders, and convening council staff and board members to learn from each other.
Stormwater Solutions for Green Infrastructure: This project provides education and technical assistance on green infrastructure (GI) practices that address these stormwater impacts.
National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA): The National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) is an organization of public agencies whose function is the protection of lives, property and economic activity from the adverse impacts of storm and flood waters.

Latest Resources

Episode 70: Community Forestry in the PNW

Daniel Wear and Jake Barker discuss the ins and outs of acquiring and managing a section of forestland to achieve the ultimate goals of a community.

Carrie Cantrell, Jake Barker, Daniel Wear | Dec 2025 | Podcast episode Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Episode 62: Exploring Forest Biotechnology

Join Scott Leavengood and guest-host Teagan McElliot as they delve into the topic of BioEngineering, and how it could be applied beneficially to healthy forests and timber products.

Scott Leavengood, Carrie Cantrell, Steve Strauss | Jun 2025 | Podcast episode Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Episode 61: Marbled Murrelets

"The marbled murrelet is one of the Pacific Northwest's most mysterious seabirds..." - Dr. Jim Rivers

Lauren Grand, Carrie Cantrell, Dr. Jim Rivers | May 2025 | Podcast episode Peer reviewed (Gray level)

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Latest News

Student teams support watershed monitoring in Jackson County

By combining real-world relevance with experiential learning, SWAT strengthens local restoration efforts while building the next generation of environmental professionals.

Kara Baylog | Apr 2025 | Impact story

Viticulturist finds that Southern Oregon vineyards could save costs on water

Southern Oregon wine grape growers might be able to cut their water usage by almost half because of a new study led by Oregon State University Extension Service that found wine grape water usage estimated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's AgriMet was 44% higher than necessary.

Nov 2024 | Impact story

Helping Klamath gardeners save water with lawns and irrigation solutions

OSU Extension is helping local residents make informed choices about sustainable landscape practices.

Nicole Sanchez | Mar 2024 | Impact story

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Upcoming Events

Feb 7

Propagating Native Plants: A Gardener's Guide

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Eugene, OR

Feb 11

11th Annual Dry Farming Collaborative Winter Convening

9:00 am - 12:00 pm PST Online

Feb 28

Free Compost workshop

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Eugene, OR

Mar 28

Free Compost Workshop

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Eugene, OR

Meet Our Experts

Derek Godwin

Watershed Management

Jon Souder

Watershed Management Specialist (Retired)

Abigail Tomasek

Assistant Professor and Statewide Soil Water Quality Extension Specialist (Former), Crop and Soil Science (Former)

María Isabel Zamora Re

Assistant Professor, Water Management/Statewide Irrigation Specialist

Contact me with questions about irrigation, water management, efficiency and conservation.

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White spots from watering with hard water?

Q: I’ve been suspecting for the last few years that a large problem for our garden and orchard is our hard water. Once I start introducing water from our irrigation, after the spring rains have dried up, the leaves curl, ...

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