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.

Our collective plan to address nonpoint pollution

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. 

Together, Nonpoint Plan and Clean Water Guidance outline our collective strategies and site-specific recommendations to ensure cool and clean water for all. 

Washington's Nonpoint Plan

The Nonpoint Plan outlines our 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 implement clean water solutions on the ground. While Ecology is responsible for Washington's Nonpoint Plan, it encompasses statewide efforts and partnerships.

2025 Nonpoint Plan 

To ensure the Nonpoint Plan accurately reflects our statewide efforts, we strive to update the plan regularly in coordination with state and local partners involved in this work. We are in the process of updating the plan and will submit the next update to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the end of 2025.

Public involvement

We held a 100-day public comment period from May 22 to Aug 29, 2025. Comments recieved can be viewed online. Also we held a public informational webinar on June 11 to share about the plan and updates. Read the comment period blog for more information about our process.  

Draft materials 

• Plan to Control Nonpoint Sources of Pollution
• Reading guide - This is an overview of the plan and highlights recent updates

Finalizing the Plan

Following the the close of the public comment period, we will prepare a response to comments and describe any changes we made to the draft plan. We will submit the 2025 Nonpoint Plan update to EPA by Dec. 31, 2025.

Clean Water Guidance

We are developing the Voluntary Clean Water Guidance for Agriculture alongside the current Nonpoint Plan update. This guidance document is a technical resource for agricultural producers that recommends site-specific best management practices (BMPs) to protect water quality. It is intended to support healthy farms while helping producers meet clean water standards.

Chapters are developed using best available science and through a collaborative process design in coordination with our advisory group. Read our focus sheet to learn more.

Provide feedback on the Clean Water Guidance

We are currently developing the remaining eight chapters to be submitted alongside the 2025 Nonpoint Plan. To provide as much time for review as possible, we continue to post the draft chapters online as they are ready.  We encourage everyone to begin their review as soon as possible given the volume of material. You can provide comments on the chapters at any time between now and Nov. 21, 2025. The remaining two chapters on Pesticide management and Suites of practices will be available by the week of Oct. 20

Review draft material:

• Runoff Control for Agricultural Facilities
• Sediment Control: Soil Stabilization & Sediment Capture (Vegetative)
• Water Management: Irrigation Systems & Management
• Nutrient Management
• Subsurface Drainage Management
• Crop Systems

How to comment

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

Finalizing chapters

After the comment period, we review all comments, make necessary changes, and will provide a response to comments when we submit the final chapters to EPA. 

Keeping the guidance up-to-date

To ensure the guidance uses the best current science, we anticipate updating chapters as needed in the future.