Pesticide Reduction Efforts

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. The CRWP continues to work with a number of our Basin partners on Pesticide Reduction Efforts. See what we are working on below.

Pestice Reduction Effort with the Clackamas River Basin Council

The Clackamas River Water Providers continue to work with Clackamas River Basin Council to support an outreach program for voluntary pesticide reduction through the distribution of educational fact sheets, consultations with landowners, and developing outreach to residential property owners. See what we accomplished this past fiscal year CRWP 2023-24 Program Report

Parting with Pesticides Pledge

Because low levels of pesticides continue to be found in water samples collected from the Clackamas River and its tributaries, the CRWP is working with the Clackamas River Basin Council, to implement a Parting with Pesticide Pledge Program.  Homeowners or residents in the Clackamas Watershed that care about protecting water quality for people, fish, wildlife, drinking water and pets can help prevent more pesticides from reaching the river by making a declaration to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides on their yard and property.

Participants who are using few to no pesticides (including herbicides and fungicides) can sign the pledge and display a beautiful, basin specific yard sign to highlight the important steps they are taking to promote and enhance the health of our watershed.  Take the Pledge today and display your salmon proudly.

Pesticide Reduction Fact Sheets

We have a suite of fact sheets available to targeted users and appealing to the general public, and provides one-on-one consultations for landowners.  These fact sheets are distributed in a variety of ways to stakeholder within the watershed. Click below to view the individual fact sheets

• Reading Pesticide Labels
• Alternatives to Pesticides
• Pesticides in Your Yard
• Be Pesticide Wise
• Integrated Pest Management
• Christmas Tree Growers
• Pesticide Application
• Nursery Growers
• Pictorial Pesticide Reduction Tips

For more information about the pesticide program being implemented by the Clackamas River Basin Council for the Clackamas River Water Providers, visit the Clackamasriver.org webpage.  Need help with weed or pest problems and don’t want to use pesticides?  Check out the Oregon State University Solve Pest Problems website for solutions go here.

Pesticide Reduction Efforts with the Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District

The CRWP is working with the CCSWCD to leverage funding for pesticide reduction workshops and two pesticide reduction programs. The Windsock Program and the Pesticide Sprayer Efficiency Cost Share Program.

Windsock Program – The purpose of this program is to help agricultural producers apply pesticides without losing chemicals to drift from wind. Agricultural users can get a free calibrated windsock through the Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District. These windsocks are attached directly to the tractor for real time information to make quick, more accurate decisions on spraying practices to reduce pesticide drift.
Windsock Fact Sheet

Sprayer Efficiency Cost-Share Program – This program provides cost share on the replacement of a limited number of parts for commercial pesticide spray equipment of agricultural producers in the Clackamas River watershed. The purpose is to increase sprayer efficiency and reduce the amount of pesticide used. Reducing pesticides reduces the risk of polluting nearby waters that are used by humans, fish, and wildlife.
Nozzle Replacement Cost Share Form

Pesticide Stewardship Partners

The CRWP is an active participant of the Clackamas Pesticide Stewardship Partners. The Clackamas Basin Pesticide Stewardship Partnership (Clackamas PSP) is a voluntary, collaborative process of monitoring, information sharing, and problem solving to protect the river and its tributaries. Our goal is to offer water quality monitoring data, resources and training for landowners and managers to enable more efficient and effective pesticide use that reduces drift and runoff. For more information about the Clackamas Basin Pesticide Stewardship Partnership go to https://conservationdistrict.org/programs/pesticide-stewardship-partnership or click on the Clackamas Basin Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Fact Sheet

What’s Your Lawn Style Campaign

The best lawn care practices allow you to avoid using unnecessary chemicals on your lawn. Lawn care chemicals aren’t safe for pets and children playing on the grass. Plus, what we put on our lawns ends up in our rivers—and pesticides and fertilizers are toxic when they get into our water supply. Check out the following videos provided by the Follow the Water Coalition by clicking here.