The Newport Blue Water Task Force continues to expand with new projects and partnerships with
OSU Extension's after school programming and the
Oregon Coast Aquarium's Youth Volunteer Program. Additionally the central coast chapter has formed a new campaign to better framework the increased watershed management potentials which the Blue Water Task Force influences. Through the incorporation of youth involved with OSU Extension's after school program (
Newport Middle School), the chapter will be gaining increased water quality data from a number of sites within the Nye watershed and mid-coast basin. The additional data allows the chapter to better recognize management possiblilites and best practices for stormwater planning and development. Beginning with watershed protection ordinances of the Big Creek resevoir, the city of Newport's culinary water source, the chapter hopes to adopt similar protection ordinances for urban watersheds. Implementing management strategies and land use planning ordinances is visioning beyond water quality problems and working toward solutions through engaging citizens, science and stakeholder interest into management decisions. Furthermore, blue water task force helps shortcut the TMDL process by incorporating these best management practices prior to 303d listings. The state of Oregon is required under the Clean Water Act to list all water bodies that are water quality impaired on a "303d" list. Subsequently, a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) is established for that particular body of water. After a lengthy process, 303d listings will be required to establish and implement management plans to mitigate or improve water quality. The state of Oregon anticipates this process completing in 2010 for the midcoast basin. By incorporating management decisions now, local governments, counties and cities will be better positioned to meet Clean Water Act standards.