Improving Water Storage for Water Resilience: Developing a Train-the-Trainer Program on Best Practices for Agricultural Ponds and Reservoirs

Completed needs assessment to inform content focus using various extension methods, including surveys, interviews, data collection from current technical assistance platforms (e.g., Ask an Expert, phone calls, emails, training requests), networking among county-based extension faculty located around the state, and interactive presentations to the target audience (i.e., future trainers, peer collaborators). While the initial proposal indicated that the team would collaborate with the OSU Survey Center to construct a more general needs assessment survey to distribute broadly in the four main regions, the replication of stakeholder input from the above assessment pathways indicated that an additional survey was not required. 

The three interactive presentations delivered by the team served as both an assessment and educational opportunity. Team members presented information from their area of expertise (e.g., hydrology, design and permitting, water quality, ecosystem services) to stakeholders and peer collaborators. The audience was then asked to provide responses on what information would be of most value to them in an in-depth workshop, as well as what topics were missing/needed. Questions were also provided to assess desired formatting (e.g., documents, website, field days, online courses, etc.) as well as interest in collaborating on material development in the future. 

The team facilitated three workshops/meetings in coastal, Willamette Valley, and south-central Oregon with representatives of our Ag Pond and Reservoir Management (Ag PaRM) train-the-trainer target audience (i.e., farm service providers from Soil and Water Conservation Districts, watershed councils, government agencies, private companies, and non-profit organizations). We shared our training outline of topics and future workshop plans, and we discussed what needed to be modified to best meet their needs. We also discussed how to work with them to expand our network of partners for serving farmers through this project and in the future. In addition to the three regional meetings, we shared our project progress and asked for feedback via video conference and phone with representatives of our target audience in north-central and eastern Oregon. We plan to hold at least one regional meeting with them prior to delivering Ag PaRM trainings in their areas. In summary, we met with just over 40 future participants in person and engaged an additional 15 in remote discussions to help our project planning.

The second objective is to create the curriculum, learning materials, and hub (statewide pond management learning website) to train and support local service providers including Soil and Water Conservation Districts, watershed councils, land trusts, and other agriculture service providers, who can then deliver these trainings to local farmers. The intended audience may also include regional staff from federal and state agencies working closely with farmers, such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Oregon Departments of Agriculture, Water Resources, State Lands, and Forestry.

We have formed regional teams in three parts of the state and are in the process of finalizing our remaining team(s) (see Objective 1). We are incorporating feedback from 2025 meetings and finalizing training materials to deliver the regional train-the-trainer workshops in 2026 (spring through fall). The learning modules of highest priority include water rights and pond regulations, pond siting, construction, and maintenance, managing for different uses (irrigation, livestock, fire control, fisheries) and pond health (water quality, quantity, plants, fish, and wildlife), while preventing and controlling pests (e.g., harmful algal blooms, invasive aquatic plants and animals, mosquitoes, rodents). Our trainings will include a combination of presentation and discussion, followed by visits to local ponds to diagnose problems and generate solutions that help farmers/operators meet their management objectives. Trainings will be tailored to region-specific challenges and ecosystems. Training experiences and feedback through 2026 will inform the development of the learning website and future support services (fall 2026 to spring 2027).