Photo: Open Rivers Fund

Water Quality Improvement

Communities throughout southern Oregon rely on the Rogue River and its tributaries as a drinking and irrigation water source, and as a recreation destination. Cool and clean water benefits a multitude of uses as well as fish and wildlife populations.

The Rogue River Watershed Council works to address issues that pollute and warm the streams in our region. We are developing a collaborative Water Quality Improvement Program that will help us achieve our goal of cleaner water. Specifically, the intent of the program is to address persistent water quality problems that include temperature, dissolved oxygen, sedimentation, bacteria, and nutrients.

Projects such as planting native tree and shrub species along streams, converting from flood to sprinkler irrigation, and reducing stormwater in urban areas provide water quality benefits including decreased stream bank erosion, increased shading, and decreased nutrient bacteria entering the stream.

Learn more about our water quality improvement work on Our Projects page ยป