The Ogden Valley Watershed Action Group (OVWAG) is a community of neighbors who care deeply about the water that sustains all of us. We live, work, and recreate in a beautiful valley where rivers, springs, wetlands, and Pineview Reservoir connect every home, farm, trail, and community gathering place. Protecting these waters isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a shared responsibility and an act of stewardship for future generations.

We work at the intersection of science and community, helping residents understand watershed health, providing practical tools to take action, and bringing people together to protect the valley we love. Our efforts are guided by the Ogden River 9-Element Watershed Plan, and strengthened through a federal grant dedicated to education, outreach, and community engagement.

To preserve, protect, and restore the Ogden Valley watershed through science-based education, collaborative partnerships, and meaningful community action.

The Ogden River 9-Element Watershed Plan- facilitated by the Weber River Partnership with extensive local input—identifies the primary pollution sources affecting Pineview Reservoir and the Ogden River system. These include:

• Sediment and stormwater runoff from construction and development

• Nutrient loading and pathogens from aging or failing septic systems

• Recreational impacts, including high levels of trash and debris around Pineview Reservoir

• Land-use pressures that increase irrigation demand and introduce pollutants
  

In addition to identifying pollutant sources, the plan identifies control measures and identifies measurable targets.

OVWAG translates this science-based plan into tools, education, and community-driven action.

Through our Education & Outreach grant, OVWAG provides residents, landowners, recreators, and local partners with the knowledge and tools needed to safeguard the watershed. Our work includes:

✓ Community Education & Outreach

We develop accessible education on pollution sources—including stormwater, septic systems, litter, erosion, and land-use impacts—to empower residents to make informed decisions.

✓ Workshops, Incentives & Hands-On Learning

We host workshops, provide webinars, distribute informational materials, and support programs that encourage septic testing, erosion control, and responsible land management.

✓ Citizen Science & Reporting Tools

We create simple systems for residents to report concerns such as stormwater issues, failing BMPs, or trash accumulation—giving the community a voice and a mechanism for accountability.

✓ Litter & Recreation Impact Reduction

Trash and debris at Pineview Reservoir and surrounding recreation areas are a major water-quality threat identified by residents. OVWAG develops outreach, volunteer events, and awareness campaigns to reduce litter and its downstream impacts.

✓ Youth & Community Engagement

We partner with the Ogden Nature Center and local schools to deliver watershed education to youth—helping the next generation understand and protect their water resources.

✓ Supporting the 9-Element Plan’s Implementation

Our work directly advances its Information & Education goals, strengthens community stewardship, and builds the foundation for long-term restoration projects.

Three waterbodies in Ogden Valley—the Middle Fork, South Fork, and Pineview Reservoir—are impaired for nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and eutrophication.

With ~2,600 septic systems over the aquifer (and an estimated 15% failure rate), nutrient loading and contamination are real risks to drinking water.

Heavy recreation use adds trash, debris, and plastics to the reservoir, affecting water quality for Ogden City’s municipal supply.

Rapid development increases stormwater, sedimentation, and land-use pressures.

OVWAG exists because residents care deeply about these challenges—and want scientifically supported information they can use to guide decisions, work with developers, and advocate effectively within the community.

We believe watershed protection works best when it is:

• Science-informed

• Community-driven

• Locally relevant

• Collaborative

• Adaptive and transparent

• Rooted in a shared sense of place

We work alongside residents, HOAs, water districts, Weber County, local nonprofits, landowners, and recreation groups—building bridges, sharing resources, and turning concern into action.

Our Vision

A watershed where:

• Water is clean and abundant

• Streams flow clear and healthy

• Pineview Reservoir is protected from trash, sediment, and nutrient loading

• Septic systems function safely

• Development respects the valley’s natural systems

• Youth and families feel connected to the land

• Downstream communities benefit from upstream stewardship

• And residents feel empowered, not overwhelmed, by the responsibility of caring for their home

This is the Ogden Valley we are working toward—together.