Plan to control nonpoint sources of pollution

It takes us all

Nonpoint pollution refers to pollution that doesn't come from a single source. Instead it, comes from many sources and conditions. It occurs when rainwater or snowmelt picks up pollution as it flows over land and carries it into waterways. Nonpoint pollution can also happen when there is a lack of shade-providing trees next to streams and water temperature increases. 

Coming from many different places, this type of pollution can be difficult to manage and is often harder to control compared to pollution that comes from a single source. Our Nonpoint staff work with landowners and local partners across the state to reduce nonpoint pollution from agricultural, forestry, and residential sources.

Washington's plan to address nonpoint pollution

The Nonpoint Plan and Clean Water Guidance outline our strategies and recommendations to help address nonpoint pollution across the state. Learn more about our updates to the Nonpoint Plan and our Clean Water Guidance. 

The Washington’s Water Pollution Control Act  gives Ecology authority to regulate active and potential sources of nonpoint pollution, however achieving clean and cool water takes us all. 

Nonpoint Plan

The Nonpoint Plan outlines the approach to addressing water quality impacts from nonpoint sources. The Plan is required by the Clean Water Act and ensures funding that allows us and our partners to help get clean water solutions on the ground. While Ecology develops Washington's Nonpoint Plan, it encompasses statewide efforts and partnerships to reflect and guide strategies across the state.

We update the Nonpoint Plan regularly, our next update is due at the end of 2025. We are working with Tribes, state agencies, and local partners to update the Plan.

Clean Water Guidance

We are developing Agriculture Clean Water Guidance as a part of our Nonpoint Plan. This guidance document is a technical resource for agricultural producers that recommends best management practices (BMPs) to protect water quality. It is intended to support healthy farms while helping producers meet clean water standards.

We submitted the first set of chapters to EPA with the 2022 Nonpoint Plan and will submit the last set of chapters with our 2025 Plan. Chapters are developed using best available science and through a collaborative process design in coordination with our advisory group. 

Read our Clean Water Guidance for Agriculture focus sheet to learn more.

Keeping the Nonpoint Plan up-to-date

To ensure the Nonpoint Plan accurately represents our collective strategies, we coordinate updates and seek feedback from partner state agencies, local on-the-ground implementation groups, Tribes, and communities. 

2025 Draft Nonpoint Plan 

We are currently accepting comments on the draft Nonpoint Plan. Comments can be submitted from midnight on May 22 - August 29, 2025, 11:59pm. Read our blog for more information 

Draft materials 

• Plan to Control Nonpoint Sources of Pollution

• Reading guide - This is an overview of the plan and highlights updates

How to comment

• Submit comments online
• Submit comments by mail to:
  Kathryn Loy
  WA State Department of Ecology, Water Quality Program
  P.O. Box 47696
  Olympia, WA 98504-7696

Join our public webinar

• June 11, 2025  10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  Register in advance on Zoom.

We are hosting a webinar where we will discuss our process and provide an overview of updates made to the plan. While there will be time for questions, because this is not a formal hearing we will not be taking oral testimony and encourage comments be submitted through mail or online.

Clean Water Guidance

Along with the Nonpoint Plan, we are also working on the remaining Voluntary Clean Water Guidance for Agriculture (Clean Water Guidance) chapters. This is a technical resource for producers that recommends site-specific best management practices (BMPs) to support both water quality and productive lands. 

We will submit the remaining Clean Water Guidance chapters to EPA with the Nonpoint Plan, however they will have their own comment period. We will release draft chapters for early preview as available. We’re currently preparing to publish a draft chapter so stay tuned!

Final eight chapters of the Clean Water Guidance:

• Cropping Methods: Crop System 
• Nutrient Management
• Pesticide Management
• Sediment Control: Soil Stabilization & Sediment Capture (Vegetative)
• Water Management: Irrigation Systems & Management
• Water Management: Field Drainage & Drain Tile Management
• Water Management: Stormwater Control & Diversion 
• Suite of Recommended Practices

Previous updates  - 2022

Our last Plan update was relatively minimal and submitted to EPA in 2022. Along with our 2022 Plan, we submitted the first chapters of our Clean Water Guidance: 

• Cropping Methods: Tillage & Residue Management
• Livestock Management: Pasture & Rangeland Grazing 
• Livestock Management: Animal Confinement, Manure Handling & Storage
• Sediment Control: Soil Stablization & Sediment Capture (Structural)
• Riparian Areas & Surface Water Protection

You can read the comments we received and our response to comments. Read our letter of submittal for the 2022 Nonpoint Plan.