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About Water and Pesticides

Water Quality Program

  • As the state lead agency for FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act), the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Pesticides Program holds the primary responsibility for pesticide registration and use regulation within the state of Oregon.
  • As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated state lead agency for pesticides, ODA is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Pesticide Management Plan (PMP) for the state of Oregon as stipulated in the annual EPA and ODA Consolidated Pesticide Cooperative Agreement.

In Oregon, statutory authority for development and enforcement of water quality policies lies with several different state agencies, primarily the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). An interagency team, the Water Quality Pesticide Management Team (WQPMT), composed of representatives from these agencies has been formed to efficiently address the protection of waters of the state from pesticide contamination.

WQPMT facilitates and coordinates water quality activities such as monitoring, analysis and interpretation of data, effective response measures, and management solutions. The initial goal of the WQPMT was to develop and implement a statewide pesticide management plan (PMP), which was approved by EPA in 2011.

WQPMT goals and objectives​

  • Identify and prioritize higher risk pesticides, use patterns, and watersheds
  • Facilitate water quality monitoring plans, resources, and activities
  • Annually evaluate pesticide water monitoring results
  • Facilitate management solutions and outreach and educational activities through local stakeholder groups to prevent or reduce pesticide contamination in water
  • Improve communication with state and federal agencies, farmers, commodity groups, OSU Extension, environmental groups, industry, local water entities, and others about pesticides and water quality
  • Measure progress and try new strategies if necessary​

Pesticides of interest (POI) and pesticides of concern (POC)

POI: A pesticide that has the potential to occur at concentrations approaching or exceeding a federal, state, or tribal health, or environmental reference concentration. All those listed are currently under evaluation. 

POC: A pesticide that approaches or exceeds an established benchmark concentration, indicating a possible risk to human or ecological life.

Nationwide, state agencies originally compiled a list of 57 active ingredients or groups of active ingredients that were most likely to affect water quality. WQPMT added additional local Oregon POI, resulting in a current total of 73. Of these 73 active ingredients, WQPMT annually selects a subset of this list for further evaluation. Designation as either POI or POC is based largely on monitoring data and other weight-of-evidence factors that may indicate a potential risk to water resources. 

Overall objectives

  • Identify and characterize pesticides that may pose a risk to water resources
  • Actively manage them by facilitating efforts to reduce or prevent contamination below the reference point (an established benchmark or standard)
  • Demonstrate how management efforts are keeping concentrations at acceptable levels

POI 2012-2013 

  • 2,4-D
  • Atrazine
  • Metolachlor
  • Metribuzin
  • Metsulfuron methyl
  • Propiconazole
  • Simazine
  • Sulfometuron methyl

POC 2012-2013 

  • Azinphos-methyl
  • Carbaryl
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Diuron
  • Ethoprop
  • Malathion

Water Quality Pesticide Management Team (WQPMT)

Addresses water quality issues in Oregon related to pesticide use with representatives from the following agencies:

  • Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)
  • Department of Forestry (ODF)
  • Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
  • Oregon Health Authority (OHA)
  • Oregon State University (OSU)

​​​​Resources

Complete list of pesticides of interest and concern

US-EPA and Oregon Pesticides of Interest (POI) & Concern (POC). Oregon pesticides of interest and concern

EPA aquatic life benchmarks

The aquatic life benchmarks (for freshwater species) provided in the table are based on toxicity values reviewed by EPA and used in the Agency's most recent risk assessments developed as part of the decision-making process for pesticide registration. EPA aquatic life benchmarks

EPA human health benchmarks for pesticides

The table includes benchmarks for acute (one-day) and chronic (lifetime) exposures for the most sensitive populations from exposure to pesticides that may be found in surface or ground water sources of drinking water. Human health benchmarks for pesticides

Integrated Pest Management Information from Oregon State University

IPM for nurseries information

Integrated Plant Protection Center

Information about drift management on the Senegal River and how it pertains to Oregon. Integrated Plant Protection Center website

Interagency Management of Pesticides and Water Quality in Oregon

List of issues of concern, examples and summary of management in Oregon. Document

North Willamette Research and Extension Center

Ways to develop and implement a program of Integrated Pest Management in northwestern Oregon. North Willamette Research and Extension Center website

Oregon Strategy for Collecting Unwanted Pesticides

Pesticide collection handout

OSU Extension—North Willamette Research & Extension Center, Integrated Pest Management Program

Website

OSU Extension—Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center, Integrated Pest Management Program

Website

Pest Control and Pesticide Safety for Consumers

A discussion of IPM and how IPM programs work and other questions. Pest Control and Pesticide Safety for Consumers

Pesticide Management Plan for Water Quality Protection

It outlines the roles, policies and legal authorities of each government agency with the responsibilities for protecting Oregon's water resources from pesticides and the process by which these activities will be coordinated. Document

Pesticide Stewardship Partnership (PSP) letter of support from Oregon Departments of Agriculture (ODA), Forestry (ODF), and Environmental Quality (DEQ)

Stakeholder letter

US EPA: Integrated Pest Management Principles

Website

USGS Clackamas River Basin 2008 Report

Pesticide occurrence and distribution in the Lower Clackamas River Basin, Oregon, 2000–2005. Website

WQPMT 2012 poster

Map of Interagency Management of Pesticides and Water Quality in Oregon. Document
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​Contact

Main Office
pestx@oda.state.or.us
Phone: 503-986-4635
Fax: 503-986-4735
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More info from ODA