Projects by Discipline / Environmental Science

Pollutant Trading Resource Guide, State of Oregon

Pollutant trading between point and non-point sources can be an attractive option for implementing load reductions to meet Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. Many pollutant trading pilot projects are currently being conducted throughout the country and some basin-specific programs have been implemented. In most states, TMDLs are being conducted throughout the state covering numerous, often diverse, basins. However, most pollutant trading efforts have not had a statewide focus.

In the State of Oregon, there are 1,168 water quality limited stream segments where TMDLs are being completed or are scheduled to be completed in over 90 sub-basins throughout the state. These sub-basins exhibit considerable diversity with respect to land uses, size, geology, habitat features, and climate. Therefore, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) identified the need to focus pollutant trading efforts in a way that would benefit the entire state and facilitate meeting TMDL goals.

Hydrosphere Resource Consultants was retained to develop a resource guide for the State of Oregon. This document, A Resource Guide of Pollutant Trading Metrics and Other Management Tools, was designed to serve as a guide and reference for regulatory agencies, local watershed groups, trading sponsors, and citizens interested in trading programs. It addressed the diversity among Oregon watersheds in order to be useful throughout the state. Hydrosphere used experience and lessons learned from existing trading programs and pilot projects in the development of the guide. We designed the Resource Guide to be flexible and applicable to the State's evolving trading program.

The Resource Guide provides logical methodologies with a systematic approach to the identification of practical and effective improvement measures. It includes scientifically sound metrics and user-friendly templates for calculations necessary for the evaluation of proposed trades. The Resource Guide addresses several water-quality parameters including temperature, nutrients, and sediment.