Erosion and Sediment Control

Video Series for Erosion Control Practices

Since the early 2000’s we continue to see low levels of pesticides in the Clackamas River from the urban and agricultural areas of our watershed.  Pesticides carried by stormwater runoff, wind, and irrigation can contaminate streams and the Clackamas River, threatening aquatic life and our drinking water. There are a number of practices that both residents and agricultural landowner in our watershed can do to reduce the possibility of pesticides reaching the Clackamas River.

The Clackamas River Water Providers partnered with the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District to develop a new video series on Erosion Control Practices for agricultural landowners.  Erosion control is an important practice in helping keeping soil and pesticides on farms instead of washing off into our tributaries and into the Clackamas River.  This is especially important during our rainy season.

Agricultural operations that require growers to work the soil during the rainy season, know that keeping soil in place is a challenge. That challenge often extends to operations that are not just in the winter but are year-round. To bring new ideas for holding your ground, we have created a video that addresses the challenging facets of preventing soil from leaving your operation and ending up in our local streams.

The video includes episodes on best management practices for: operational and planning, border and entry, covering, slope management, and ditches, piping, and ponds. It features local growers, watershed councils, water providers, agency and industry representatives all talking about the importance of soil and erosion prevention.

Watch the Videos Now

Managing erosion is not a cut-and-dried process. Not every practice works for every situation, but we hope that you will find new ideas that can be applied to your farm. We recommend you view every video, as many practices can work in combination with each other to achieve the best results.

This video series was made possible by support from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Clackamas River Water Providers, and assistance from the Pudding River Watershed Council staff. The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District offers technical assistance and resources to control erosion. Call them 503-210-6000 for more information.  By working together, we are working towards conserving and protecting both our land and water resources while helping our communities be better stewards of their natural resources.