Understanding and Reporting Work Near Water

Sometimes work near rivers, streams, wetlands, or floodplains may cause erosion, remove protected vegetation, or impact water quality and fish habitat.

If you see activity that appears to be damaging a waterway or occurring without proper protections, you can contact the appropriate agency to ask questions or report concerns.

A serene creek surrounded by greenery, with a red gas can and a dirt path nearby. Peaceful nature scene.

Examples may include:

  • Stripping away all streamside vegetation, revealing bare ground
  • Dumping soil, gravel, or debris near or in water
  • Heavy equipment operating in a stream
  • Severe erosion or sediment entering the water
  • Removal of large healthy trees near streams
  • Work occurring directly within a stream channel

Not all work near water requires a permit, and some activities may already be approved. When in doubt, it is okay to ask questions.

When possible, documenting the following can help agencies better evaluate concerns.

  • the location
  • photos
  • timing of the activity
  • and what you observed

Who should I contact?

Contact list for questions regarding creeks, water rights, impacts to riparian vegetation, and stormwater in Jackson and Josephine Counties. Revised 06/01/26

Download the entire contact list here:

RogueBasinWaterContacts.DEQ_26-06-01.pdf
General Water Quality Questions. 

Rogue Valley Council of Governments
Greg Stabach, RVCOG Program Manager
gstabach@rvcog.org
(541) 423-1370

Oregon DEQ
Bill Meyers, Water Quality Basin Coordinator
Bill.MEYERS@deq.oregon.gov
(503) 621-6817

Is the riparian area protected – can I put in a structure or remove the trees along a stream? Put in a boat ramp? 

Jackson County
Alicia Brown, Jackson County Code Enforcement
BrownAA@jacksoncountyor.gov
(541) 774-6942

Josephine County
James Black, Planning Manager
jblack@josephinecounty.gov
(541) 474-5418

City of Ashland
Scott Fleury, Water Resources
scott.fleury@ashland.or.us
(541) 552-2410

City of Central Point
Mike Ono, Environmental Services/GIS Coordinator
Mike.Ono@centralpointoregon.gov
(541) 664-7602 ext. 243

City of Jacksonville
Debbi Perkins, Public Works Clerk
pwclerk@jacksonvilleor.us
(541) 899-1231

City of Medford
Planning Department
(541) 770-3960

City of Phoenix
Chris Stephenson, Public Works
chris.stephenson@phoenixoregon.gov
(541) 535-2226

City of Talent
Gaoying Zhang Vigoa, Public Works
gvigoa@cityoftalent.org
(541) 535-1566

City of Eagle Point
Aaron Prunty, City Administrator
aaron@cityofeaglepoint.org
(541) 538-5137

City of Shady Cove
Dale Shaddox, Front desk at city hall
(541) 878-2225

City of Rogue River
Mike Bollweg, Public Works Director
mbollweg@cityofrogueriver.org
(541) 582-4401

City of Grants Pass
Wade Elliott, Assistant Public Works Director
welliott@grantspassoregon.gov
(541) 450-6114

City of Gold Hill
Lily Morgan, City Manager
lily.morgan@cityofgoldhill.gov
(541) 855-1525

City of Cave Junction
Ask for planning department
cjplanning@cavenet.com
(541) 474-5405

Can I use water in the stream or ground water to water vegetation on my property? Can I build a pond? 

Jackson County
Shavon Haynes, Jackson County Water Master
Shavon.L.HAYNES@water.oregon.gov
(541) 774-6880

Josephine County
Scott Ceciliani, Josephine County Water Master
Scott.C.CECILIANI@water.oregon.gov
(541) 476-1288 ext. 5

Can my animals graze in the riparian area or stream? What is proper manure storage? 

Department of Agriculture

Elizabeth Pietrzak, Agricultural Water Quality
Beth.PIETRZAK@oda.oregon.gov
(541) 414-8797

Chris Anderson, Animal Feedlots
Christopher.ANDERSON@oda.oregon.gov
(541) 955-9873

Do I have access to water in the irrigation canal? 

Rogue Valley Irrigation Districts

Talent Irrigation District
Wanda Derry
tid@talentid.org
(541) 535-1529

Medford Irrigation District
Jack Friend
jack@medfordid.org
(541) 899-9913

Rogue River Valley Irrigation District
Brian Hampson
rrvid@rrvid.org
(541) 773-6127

Eagle Point Irrigation District
David Ford
deford@centurylink.net
(541) 826-3411

Grants Pass Irrigation District
Debbie Tarr
gis@gpid.com
(541) 660-4227

Gold Hill Irrigation District
Maureen Smith
goldhillirrigationdistrict@gmail.com
(541) 659-2070

My neighbor’s property has a lot of bare dirt due to construction and I am concerned it is getting into the creek or stormdrain. 

Construction Erosion

Rogue Valley Sewer Services
Ben Poaster
bpoaster@rvss-or.gov
(541) 727-6876

Oregon DEQ
LeeAnn Gates
LeeAnn.GATES@deq.oregon.gov
(541) 686-7930

Within Medford City limits
Michael Ribeiro, Construction Erosion
michael.ribeiro@cityofmedford.org
Office: (541) 774-2107
Cell: (541) 890-8321

I need to put in a septic system or make changes to an existing system in Jackson or Josephine County. 

Oregon DEQ Onsite Program

Jackson County
Andrew Forbes, Onsite Wastewater Specialist
Andrew.FORBES@deq.oregon.gov
(541) 776-6289

Josephine County
Josh Daley, Onsite Wastewater Specialist
Joshua.Daley@deq.oregon.gov
(541) 776-6029

Do I have wetlands on my property? What can I build in a wetland? I am losing land because the stream banks are caving in. Can I stabilize the stream banks with rock or re-route a creek? 

Department of State Lands
Ben Carson
Jackson, Josephine, Douglas County – Permitting and Enforcement
Ben.Carson@dsl.oregon.gov
(971) 720-0121

US Army Corp of Engineers
Alex Holecek
Alexandra.Holecek@usace.army.mil

Harmful Algal Blooms – that lake, pond, waterway is green – it looks like spilled paint. I wonder if it is safe for me or my animals? 

Oregon Health Authority
Tim Heider, Public Health Communications

Lead agency for HABs health advisories.
timothy.heider@oha.oregon.gov
(971) 599-0459

OHA HABs website has more information on current advisories and identifying HABs.

Oregon Department of Agriculture
Andrea Cantu-Schomus, Communications Manager

Questions about crops, forage, livestock exposure to HABs.
andrea.cantu-schomus@oda.oregon.gov
(503) 881-9049

ODA has more information on the website, “Caring for Animals during a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB).”

Questions about suction dredge and other gold mining in stream (below Ordinary High-Water Level of state waters). 

Soil and Water Conservation District

Jackson SWCD
Jackson SWCD Front Desk
https://www.jswcd.org/contact-us-b2f14f4
(541) 423-6159

Illinois Valley and Josephine County SWCD
John Bellville
conservation@ivstreamteam.org
(541) 415-6077

I want to log my property. 

Oregon Dept of Forestry

Jackson County
Marcus Havniear
Marcus.HAVNIEAR@odf.oregon.gov
(541) 664-3328

Josephine County
Doug Thackery
Douglas.V.Thackery@odf.oregon.gov
(541) 474-3152

Questions about impacts from a cannabis or hemp grow in Jackson and Josephine County. 

Josephine County
James Black, Planning Manager
jblack@josephinecounty.gov
(541) 474-5418

Oregon State Police
Trooper Damion Hillyer
OSP contact for both JoCo and JaCo. Call OSP general number in Central Point.
(541) 776-6236

Department of Agriculture
Aisha Young
Michael Williams

General correspondence and information:
hemp@oda.oregon.gov
(503) 986-4652

For complaints:
https://www.oregon.gov/oda/hemp/Pages/hemp-complaint-form.aspx

Aisha Young: (503) 983-6633
Michael Williams: (503) 983-3341

Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission – Medford Office
Questions about licensing and complaints regarding cannabis
marijuana.licensing@olcc.oregon.gov
(541) 776-6191

Other important contacts in the Rogue River Basin. 

Rogue River Watershed Council
Brian Barr
(541) 423-6187
www.rogueriverwc.org

Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council
Janelle Dunlevy
(541) 899-9982
www.applegatepartnershipwc.org

Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District
(541) 423-6159
https://www.jswcd.org

Illinois Valley Soil & Water Conservation District
John Bellville, District Manager
Office: (541) 592-3731

The Freshwater Trust
Katelyn Detweiler
katelyn@thefreshwatertrust.org
www.thefreshwatertrust.org

Lomakatsi Restoration Project
lomakatsi.org

DEQ Complaints Hotline
1-888-997-7888
http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ/

DEQ Asbestos
Jason Stinger
(541) 776-6107
jason.stinger@deq.oregon.gov

DEQ Solid Waste
Jason Zanni
(541) 776-6148
Jason.ZANNI@deq.oregon.gov

DEQ Burning
ODEQ

Pesticide Application Questions
OSU Extension
(541) 776-7371
extension.oregonstate.edu/sorec/

Larger distributors such as Grange Co-Op, Helena Chemical, and Ewing Irrigation have licensed consultants who can recommend products and provide application advice.