Water Quality Trading

What is The Freshwater Trust doing here?

Due to climate change and human activity, temperatures in the Rogue River are rising, which are putting cold water fish at risk and significantly reducing water quality within the region.  

To address rising water temperatures, The Freshwater Trust (TFT) and partners started one of the first water quality trading programs in the country in the City of Ashland in 2012, and then a second program in the City of Medford a few years later.

Simply put, a water quality trading program allows businesses and municipalities to take responsibility for negative environmental outputs caused by their services and do something to mitigate them.  

For example, wastewater facilities often release cleaned and treated water into the river, which increases the river's temperature. To mitigate this impact, the facility could enter into a water quality trading program contract to fund environmental actions that will help lower the river’s temperature.

TFT promotes such environmental actions as planting native trees and other plant species near riverbanks, which is known as riparian restoration. Many of these restoration projects create an umbrella effect that blocks sunlight from overheating river water, which supports water quality trading programs.

 

Why is this important?

Human actions have significantly contributed to rising water temperatures, especially in the Rogue, so it is our responsibility to address that problem sustainably. For TFT, sustainability is about finding a balance between keeping our economy strong while also protecting the environment and our precious resources.

Nature-based actions, like planting trees and vegetation along rivers, provide multiple benefits. Some of those benefits include:

Water quality trading programs that leverage environmental actions, such as the ones TFT manages, are also more cost-effective and longer-lasting than industrial methods for lowering water temperatures.

 

How can you support these efforts?

One key way to support our efforts is through donations. TFT ensures that every dollar you give delivers measurable results that will make a difference in a timeline that matters. You can make a one-time gift or become a regular monthly donor today.  

You can also support us by staying connected through our regular newsletter and emails. Sign up today to get the latest TFT news.

Following our social media accounts and sharing our posts with friends, family, and colleagues can also help support freshwater conservation and get more people involved.

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

Want to take a deeper dive?

Check out these resources to learn more about riverbank restoration and our work throughout the Rogue River basin.