Cleaner Rivers for Oregon - Oregon Environmental Council · conditions of our major rivers and ALERT LEVELS Red Alert Columbia and Willamette These rivers have serious water quality

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Cleaner Rivers for OregonWhy Our Rivers Need Our Help

By Teresa Huntsinger

Copyright © 2007 by the Oregon Environmental Council

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Jubitz Family Foundation, the CleanWater Network, the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, and Bill and Julie Young, all ofwhich helped make this report possible.

Design by Jeff Gierer and Bryan PotterCover photos by Greg Zivney, Thomas O’Keefe and Patrick HansonIllustrations by Matt Wuerker

The Oregon Environmental Council safeguards what Oregonians love about Oregon –clean air and water, an unpolluted landscape and healthy food produced by localfarmers. For 40 years we’ve been a champion for solutions to protect the health ofevery Oregonian and the health of the place we call home. We work to createinnovative change on three levels: we help individuals live green, we help businesses –including agriculture and health care – thrive with sustainable practices, and we helpelected officials create practical policy. Our vision for Oregon includes ending globalwarming, building sustainable economies, protecting kids from toxins, cleaning upour rivers and ensuring healthy foods and local farms. We offer a variety of resourcesand events to help people make changes at home, at work and across the state. Jointhousands of Oregonians by becoming a member today at www.oeconline.org.

Printed on 100% recycled paper (30% post-consumer content) with soy-based inks.

Ten Oregon Rivers

Cleaner Rivers for Oregon 2

COLUMBIA RED ALERT306 miles longBasin area approximately 50,000 square miles

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DESCHUTES YELLOW ALERT245 miles longBasin area approximately 10,700 square miles

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JOHN DAY YELLOW ALERT284 miles longBasin area approximately 8,000 square miles

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GRANDE RONDE YELLOW ALERT174 miles longBasin area approximately 3,700 square miles

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SNAKE ORANGE ALERT270 miles longBasin area approximately 16,900 square miles

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MALHEUR ORANGE ALERT190 miles longBasin area approximately 4,700 square miles

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OWYHEE ORANGE ALERT186 miles longBasin area approximately 6,000 square miles

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UMPQUA YELLOW ALERT112 miles longBasin area approximately 5,000 square miles

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WILLAMETTE RED ALERT187 miles longBasin area approximately 11,400 square miles

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ROGUE YELLOW ALERT215 miles longBasin area approximately 5,000 square miles

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Cleaner Rivers for O

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We Oregonians love our rivers,and they need our help. From theWillamette to the Owyhee, everymajor river in Oregon is violatingClean Water Act standards. Thisreport seeks to make informationabout the health of our rivers moreaccessible to Oregonians. Learn whichpollutants are impacting the riversyou live nearby, play on, or even getyour drinking water from, and whatcan be done to clean them up.

In this report you'll find examplesof the great work that is happeningaround the state to clean up Oregon'srivers. Each of these projects makes adifference, and by working togetherwe can turn around the fate of ourrivers. The Oregon EnvironmentalCouncil (OEC) is working to ensure

that state policies protect waterquality and support these localefforts, and we're helping people findout what they can do to make sureour rivers are safe places forOregonians to swim, play and fish.

No matter where you are at thismoment, you are in a watershed.When a drop of water hits theground, if it is not absorbed by plantsor allowed to soak into the soil, it willeventually make its way downhill intoa river, bringing with it anypollutants it picks up along the way.Our actions impact water qualityeven when we are not right next to astream. You can help clean upOregon's rivers by using the tips inthis report, and additional tips areavailable in OEC's booklet “50 Waysto Love Your River,” available atwww.oeconline.org.

Sources of informationOur data comes from a governmentreport called the 303(d) list. Everytwo years, Oregon's Department ofEnvironmental Quality (DEQ)develops a list of streams and riversthat do not meet minimum waterquality standards (named the 303(d)list after the section of the FederalClean Water Act that requires it). Weused the most recent version, whichis the 2004/2006 303(d) list. You canfind the 303(d) list atwww.deq.state.or.us/wq/assessment/rpt0406/search.asp. Each time thelist is updated, additional miles ofrivers are added if they are found tobe exceeding pollution limits. Riversare removed from the list when waterquality improves, or when a plan isdeveloped to manage the culpritpollutants. The process of developing

such a plan can take several years.Every single one of Oregon's majorrivers is on the 303(d) list for onepollutant or another, most for manypollutants. OEC is especiallyconcerned about listings for bacteriaand toxics because of the dangersthey pose to human health.

The challenge we face ininterpreting the 303(d) list is that itis based on numerous data sourcesgathered in an ad-hoc way, and waterquality monitoring is not consistentfrom river to river. In some cases ariver segment may be listed for apollutant because it tested positive atone location several years ago, but ithas not been tested since, and otherrivers have never been tested for thatpollutant. Federal and state fundingfor implementing the Clean WaterAct and monitoring Oregon's watersis woefully inadequate, leading tothese data gaps. We supplementedthe information in the 303(d) list bycontacting local watershed groupsand reviewing scientific watershedassessments.

It is important to note that thestate of water quality in Oregon'slargest rivers is greatly impacted bythe tributaries that feed into them. Inmost cases, water quality declines asyou move from a headwaters streamdown a river to its mouth, becausepollutants are added and surroundinglands change from forested toagricultural and urban. But in somecases smaller streams have uniquewater quality problems that becomediluted once they reach a major river.Taking action to protect and restorestreams and uplands throughout awatershed can improve theconditions of our major rivers and

ALERT LEVELS

Red Alert Columbia and WillametteThese rivers have serious water qualityproblems, including toxics that aredangerous to human and aquatic health.

Orange AlertMalheur, Owyhee and Snake These rivers have significant water qualityproblems, often including toxics andbacteria.

Yellow AlertDeschutes, Grande Ronde, John Day,Rogue and UmpquaThese rivers have some water qualityproblems, but they do not violatestandards for toxics and they have somestretches that are in relatively goodcondition.

Green AlertNo major Oregon riversThese rivers have good water quality andthey do not violate Clean Water Actstandards.

Oregon


provide important habitat for fishand wildlife. Water quality isimpacted not only by pollution, butalso by water flow, streamsidevegetation, and changes to the streamchannel, and these factors areimportant for overall stream health.

What is polluting Oregon’srivers?

ArsenicIn Oregon, the principle source ofarsenic in surface water andgroundwater is believed to be nativerocks and soil. Arsenic residues alsocome from industrial processes,paints and pesticides. Arsenic hasbeen used as a poison for centuries,and at low levels over a long period oftime it can cause cancer.

Aquatic Weeds & AlgaeWeeds or algae can be so rampantthat they interfere with using astream or significantly reduce itssurface area. Excessive algae can alsocontribute to other water qualityimpairments, such as pH or dissolvedoxygen.

Biological CriteriaRivers are listed for biological criteriawhen there is significant damage tofish and it is suspected that the causeis pollution-related. For example,sections of the Willamette River arelisted due to skeletal deformities infish.

ChlorophyllChlorophyll is a green pigment foundin plants. It absorbs sunlight andconverts it to sugar duringphotosynthesis. High chlorophyll

levels indicate the excessive growth ofalgae. While chlorophyll levelsnaturally fluctuate over time, long-term persistence of high chlorophylllevels can indicate poor water qualityand excess nutrient levels.

DioxinDioxins are some of the most toxicand carcinogenic compounds known.In addition to causing cancer, they actlike a hormone in the body,disrupting the endocrine system (theglands that produce hormones) andsuppressing the immune system.Dioxins break down very slowly, sothey tend to accumulate in aquaticlife, from algae to fish. Dioxins areproduced as a byproduct from themanufacture of chlorinatedherbicides, the combustion ofdomestic and industrial wastes, andchlorine bleaching of wood pulp andpaper.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)Just like it sounds, this is the amountof oxygen dissolved in water.Dissolved oxygen (DO) is not apollutant; on the contrary, fish needoxygen to breathe through their gills.Streams are listed when dissolvedoxygen levels are dangerously low. Anumber of factors impact dissolvedoxygen levels. Aquatic plants produceoxygen through photosynthesis, andit is removed from the water by plantand animal respiration anddecomposition of organic material.Cold, fast-flowing water holds moreoxygen than warm, still water.Wastewater from sewage treatmentplants, storm water runoff, andfailing septic systems can cause lowDO levels.

POLLUTANTS IN TEN OREGON RIVERS

Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles on the mainstems of Oregon's tenlongest rivers that violate water qualitystandards for each pollutant, according toDEQ. Pollutants of greater concern for humanhealth are in red. Added together, these tenrivers make up 2,169 river miles.

0 500 1000 1500 2000

MILES OF POLLUTED RIVER

TEMPERATURE

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

FECAL COLIFORM

MERCURY

DIOXIN

pH

DDT &DDE

DIELDRIN & ALDRIN

SEDIMENT

IRON

MANGANESE

BIOLOGICAL CRITERIA

CHLOROPHYLL

AQUATIC WEEDS & ALGAE

PAHs

TURBIDITY

PENTACHLOROPHENOL

TOTAL DISSOLVED GAS

ARSENIC

PHOSPHORUS

PCBs

Fecal ColiformFecal coliform is a type of bacteria,including E. coli, which is found inthe intestines of mammals. Itspresence indicates that feces is inthe water, so it is used as anindicator of pathogens dangerous tohuman health. DEQ had beentesting for fecal coliform in general,and it is now switching to testingspecifically for E. coli as a bacteriaindicator. Most strains of E. coli donot cause serious illness, but whenE. coli is detected it may indicatethe presence of more harmfulbacteria, such as salmonella orgiardia. Sources of E. coli and otherfecal coliform include the fecalmatter of birds and wildlife,domestic dogs and cats, livestock,and sewer overflows.

Iron & ManganeseIron and manganese are naturalminerals dissolved from rocks. Theycan affect the taste, odor, color, andstaining properties of water, but donot cause illness or hazards toaquatic life.

Legacy Toxics (PCBs, DDT &DDE, Dieldrin & Aldrin)DDT and its byproduct DDE, andaldrin and its byproduct dieldrin arepesticides that were banned in the1970s and can still be found in riversediments. They have toxic effectson wildlife, take a long time tobreak down, and can have harmfuleffects on human health. Theselegacy pesticides are washed intorivers from agricultural soils wherethey were once used. PCBs werewidely used as coolants and

lubricants until they were banned inthe 1970s. Consumer products thatmay contain PCBs include oldfluorescent lighting fixtures,electrical devices or appliancescontaining PCB capacitors, andhydraulic fluids. DDT, DDE, PCBs,dieldrin and aldrin persist in theenvironment for long periods oftime and become concentrated asthey move up the food chain. Fishadvisories have been issued forPCBs in the Willamette andColumbia rivers.

MercuryMercury is a naturally occurringelement that has many industrialcommercial uses. However, it ishighly toxic, persists for years in theenvironment and can accumulate tohigher concentrations as it movesup the food chain. Mercury is aneurotoxin that can slow fetal andchild development and causeirreversible deficits in brainfunction. People are exposed tomercury primarily through fishconsumption, and mercury is thenumber one reason for fishconsumption advisories in Oregonand nationwide. A significantamount of mercury enters Oregon'swaterways from global airdeposition and erosion of nativesoil. It also comes from abandonedmines, mercury-added products(such as thermostats andautomotive switches) and dentalamalgam. Industrial sources such ascement plants and coal-fired powerplants emit mercury into the air,which eventually is deposited onthe ground and picked up by runoffwater.

Glossary

AnadromousAnadromous fish such as salmon and steelheadhatch in streams, swim to sea when they areyoung, and return years later to their freshwaterstreams to spawn and die.

BasinA basin is the area that a river drains. Generallythe word “basin” is used for larger rivers that havemultiple tributaries, and the word “watershed” isused for smaller rivers and streams, but bothwords convey the same concept.

FloodplainThe floodplain is the area alongside a stream orriver that is usually dry but becomes inundatedat least once a century when the river floods.Floodplains are often flat and highly fertile due tothe sediments deposited there by the river.

Instream water rightsInstream water rights establish flow levels toremain in a stream and they have the same statusas other water rights. Instream water rights arenot guarantees that a certain quantity of waterwill be present in the stream because they do nothave priority over other water rights that wereestablished before them.

RiparianRiparian areas are the areas immediately adjacentto streams and rivers. They can also be calledstreamside areas. Although they occupy a fairlysmall percentage of any watershed, riparian areashave large impacts on fish and wildlife. Theirvegetation controls water temperatures andscreens out pollutants.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)Total Maximum Daily Loads are plans DEQdevelops for reducing pollution in “impaired”bodies of water that violate water qualitystandards. They include an assessment of theamount of pollution coming from varioussources and an analysis of how much each sourceneeds to be reduced by in order to meet waterquality standards. They are sometimes calledclean water plans.

UplandUplands are lands at higher elevation thanriparian areas and flodplains. Land managementpractices in upland areas can have a substantialimpact on streams and rivers, even though theymay seem far away.

WatershedA watershed is defined as the area of land whereall precipitation drains to a common water body.Since water flows downhill, the boundaries of awatershed are determined by the contours of theland around it.

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Nutrients (Phosphorous &Ammonia)Phosphorous is an essentialnutrient for plant and animalgrowth, but too much phosphorous(or phosphate) can causeaccelerated plant growth, algaeblooms, low dissolved oxygen, andthe death of certain aquaticorganisms.

Ammonia is one form ofnitrogen, which is also an essentialnutrient for plant growth. Likephosphorous, nitrogen can causeexcessive plant growth and otherassociated water quality problems.Excessive nutrients can come fromwastewater treatment plants,fertilizer runoff, faulty septicsystems, livestock confinementareas or manure storage facilitiesand phosphate-containingdetergents.

PAHsPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) come from vehicleemissions, the smoke and soot frompower plants, or material leftbehind by tires. They also can leachfrom asphalt-based and coal tar-based sealants used on paved lots.PAHs are suspected carcinogens andthey have adverse ecological effectson aquatic organisms.

PentachlorophenolPentachlorophenol is a pesticideand wood preservative. Since 1984,the purchase and use ofpentachlorophenol has beenrestricted to certified applicators. Itis no longer available to the generalpublic, but it is still used

industrially as a wood preservativefor utility poles, railroad ties, andwharf pilings. Pentachlorophenolcan cause cancer, damage to thecentral nervous system,reproductive effects and damage toliver and kidneys.

pHpH is a measure of acidity oralkalinity on a scale from 0 to 14,with low numbers being more acidicand 7 being neutral. Exposure tovery low or high pH may causedeath or reproductive problems forfish and other aquatic life.Dissolved minerals from rocks andsoil contribute to pH, as dophotosynthesis and respiration ofplants. Sources of abnormal pHlevels include mine drainage,industrial effluent, acid rain,sewage, and livestock containmentareas. Fertilizers can indirectly leadto high pH levels by causingexcessive plant growth.

SedimentSedimentation is the formation ofsignificant bottom or sludgedeposits. Some sediment is natural,but high sediment levels areharmful to macroinvertebrates(such as crustaceans and waterinsects) and to fish becausesediment can smother fish eggs. Inaddition, sediment can bind with anumber of persistent, toxicpollutants. Soil erosion contributesto sediment, and common sourcesinclude exposed streambanks,roads, agricultural and forestrypractices, construction and urbanrunoff.

TemperatureThe most common impairment inOregon rivers is temperature. Highwater temperatures can be deadly tofish and other river critters, eventhough warm water may not soundscary if you're planning to take aswim. High water temperatures areoften caused by the removal ofshade-providing streamside treesand vegetation. Warm water canalso enter streams from industrialprocesses and urban stormwaterrunoff. Dam-created reservoirs canincrease river temperatures byholding water in place and allowingit to be warmed by the sun morethan it would if it were flowingnaturally. However, some deeperreservoirs discharge from thebottom and can be a source of coolwater.

Total Dissolved GasExtreme aeration of the river undercertain types of spillways on damscan lead to supersaturation ofdissolved gasses that can beharmful to fish.

TurbidityTurbidity is a measure of how clearthe water is. Suspended particlessuch as soil, algae, plankton andmicrobes contribute to turbidity.High turbidity levels may increasetemperatures, lower dissolvedoxygen levels, reducephotosynthesis, clog gills, andsmother fish eggs andmacroinvertebrates.


Columbia

The RiverThe mighty Columbia is one of the largest rivers in North America.It drains a 259,000 square-mile basin that encompasses parts ofseven states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,Wyoming, and Utah) and British Columbia. The Columbia begins inCanada and flows through eastern Washington before forming theborder between Oregon and Washington, and eventually reachingthe Pacific Ocean. It cuts through the Cascade Mountains, creatingthe 100-mile-long and 3,000-foot-deep Columbia River Gorge. Manyof Oregon's other major rivers flow into the Columbia, including theDeschutes, John Day, Snake, Umatilla and Willamette. There areeleven major dams on the mainstem of the Columbia, four of whichare on the section bordering Oregon. The hydroelectric dams are thefoundation of the Northwest's power supply, but they harmendangered salmon and significantly impact water quality. The lower146 miles of the river, up to Bonneville dam, are influenced by oceantides, and this entire area is considered to be an estuary.

A Closer LookThe federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identifiedthe Columbia as one of its top water priorities and has named it oneof the Nation's Great Water Bodies. Because the Columbia and itstributaries drain an area about the size of France, "legacy pollutants"- chemicals banned in the 1970s such as PCBs, DDT and itsderivative DDE - still flush into the river from farms, roads,

Columbia Riverkeeper (Hood River)(541) 387-3030 www.columbiariverkeeper.org

Columbia River Inter-Tribal FishCommission (Portland)(503) 238-0667 www.critfc.org

Lower Columbia River EstuaryPartnership (Portland)(503) 226-1565 www.lcrep.org

The Columbia is one of Oregon's mostpolluted rivers, second only to theWillamette. Stretches of the Columbia arecontaminated with toxics such as dioxinand PCBs, and the river has problemswith high temperatures and numerousother pollutants.

POLLUTANTS IN THE RIVER

LOCAL RESOURCES

TEMPERATURE

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

DIOXIN

pH

PCBs

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ARSENIC

DDE

PAHs

Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Columbia River that violate waterquality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

50 100 150 200 250 306


FECAL COLIFORM

RED ALERT

construction sites and stormwater systems. Thesetoxins are primarily found in sediment and fishtissues, and they accumulate in fish at some of thehighest levels in the Northwest. The EPA hassuggested that for some Native Americans, who eatup to eleven times more fish than other Americans,the risk of cancer from toxins in Columbia River fishmay be as high as 1 in 50 for sturgeon and 7 in10,000 for salmon. According to the EPA, pollutantsare generally of concern if they exceed a "one in amillion" risk of cancer. Newer chemicals for whichwater quality standards have not yet beenestablished are found at increasing levels in theColumbia, such as certain pesticides and flameretardants.

Dioxins, some of the most carcinogenicsubstances in the world, are also present in theColumbia River. They come from the chlorinebleaching of paper at pulp and paper mills along theriver's shores. A plan has been developed forreducing Columbia River dioxins, but no testing hasbeen done yet to see if it is working.

Water temperatures in the Columbia have beenslowly climbing over the last 65 years, andtemperatures are highest in August and September.Large reservoirs behind the Columbia's dams absorbthe sun's heat and make temperatures warmer thanthe natural snowmelt waters fish are adapted to. TheColumbia's dams also contribute to the river's highdissolved gas levels due to the turbulence caused bytheir spillways. The loss of streamside vegetation ontributary streams and the impacts of stormwaterrunoff from developed areas also harm the river.

Clean Water Plans, known as Total MaximumDaily Loads, have been completed by the OregonDepartment of Environmental Quality for dioxin andtotal dissolved gas in the Columbia River. Efforts areunderway to develop clean water plans fortemperature and toxics.

Filling in the Data GapsIn 2001, there were only five ongoing water qualitymonitoring sites on the mainstem of the lower

Columbia River between Bonneville Dam and theriver's mouth. Four were monitored by DEQ and oneby the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Although thesesites provided a great deal of water quality data, thecondition of this 146 mile stretch of river could notbe adequately characterized and there was notenough data to identify localized problems. To helpfill some of the gaps and educate and involvestudents and the public in water quality issues andmonitoring, the Lower Columbia River EstuaryPartnership began organizing an annual WaterQuality Monitoring Event. Each September the eventengages hundreds of students and volunteers inmonitoring water quality on the lower ColumbiaRiver and its tributaries.

In 2003, the Estuary Partnership was awardedfunding through Bonneville Power Administration'sFish and Wildlife Program to expand monitoring onthe lower river. They worked with USGS to collectand analyze water quality samples that will providedetailed data on over 130 emerging contaminantssuch as pharmaceuticals, estrogen compounds, andpersonal care products; over 180 pesticides; nearly 20trace elements including chromium, copper, and lead;and more than 25 suspended organic contaminants.This data will be available August 2007.

These important monitoring efforts will help allorganizations working in the lower Columbia Basinfocus their restoration and pollution preventionefforts where they are most needed to protect theenvironment and human health.

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Staff and middle school students from Whitford Elementary School in Beaverton,Oregon monitored water quality at Sauvie Island in September 2006. During thetwo-week event, 1,088 students and 46 volunteers monitored water quality at 61sites along the lower Columbia River and its tributaries.

Buy Organic Foods and Unbleached Paper Products: By supporting farmers who use sustainable or organic practices, you are reducing pesticide use. Look for theUSDA organic label, Food Alliance, or Salmon Safe certifications. When you need paper products, look for unbleached or chlorine-free products. Bleachingpaper with chlorine can release a highly toxic chemical called dioxin into rivers.

10 Ways to Love Your River

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Jackson

Deschutes

The RiverIn the early 1800s, the Deschutes River was known by French furtraders as the "Riviere des Chutes" - the "river of falls." Today theDeschutes is known for its rugged scenery, and it is a populardestination for whitewater rafting, hiking and sportfishing forsteelhead and trout. Much of the Deschutes River is designated as aNational Wild and Scenic River.

The Deschutes flows through Central Oregon and is a majortributary to the Columbia River. The Deschutes Basin encompassesroughly 10,000 miles, making it the second largest river basin in thestate. The Deschutes begins in Little Lava Lake in the CascadeMountains, flows through two reservoirs and the city of Bend, andheads north through a deep gorge. The river forms Lake BillyChinook at the Pelton Round Butte Dam Complex, where it is joinedby the Metolius River and the Crooked River. Natural flows in thelower Deschutes have less seasonal variation than most U.S. riversbecause much of the lower river's water comes from groundwater. Itpasses through the Warm Springs Indian reservation, and a popularwhitewater stretch near the city of Maupin, before ending at itsconfluence with the Columbia.

A Closer LookWater quality on the Deschutes is highly variable from one part ofthe river to another, from season to season, and from year to year.The most significant factor contributing to degraded water quality in

Crook County Soil and WaterConservation District (Prineville)(541) 447-3548

Crooked River Watershed Council(Prineville)(541) 447-3548

Deschutes Basin Land Trust (Bend)(541) 330-0017 www.deschuteslandtrust.org

Deschutes River Conservancy (Bend)(541) 382-4077 www.deschutesriver.org

Jefferson Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (Redmond)(541) 923-4358 ext. 101

Upper Deschutes Watershed Council(Bend)(541) 382-6102ww.restorethedeschutes.org

While parts of the Deschutes are relativelyclean and healthy, and it is not known tobe contaminated with toxics or bacteria,sections of the river are severely impactedby low water levels. Water quality in theCrooked River is generally worse than inthe rest of the Deschutes Basin.

Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Deschutes River that violate waterquality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

YELLOW ALERT


LOCAL RESOURCES

50 100 150 200 245


TEMPERATURE

pH

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

SEDIMENT

TURBIDITY

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the Deschutes is low streamflows. Downstream ofBend in the summer, nearly 98% of the river's watersare diverted for irrigation. This leaves very littlewater in the middle Deschutes River in the summermonths, resulting in significant water qualityproblems and habitat degradation. In the winter,streamflows are low in the upper Deschutes, definedas the reach from below Wickiup Reservoir to Bend,because water is being held in the reservoir forirrigation season.

Central Oregon is experiencing rapid urbangrowth and changes in lifestyle and land uses.Population in Central Oregon grew by 20% in the lastfive years. More and more farmland is beingconverted to urban uses or hobby farms. These landuse changes will undoubtedly impact the DeschutesRiver, and whether those impacts are positive ornegative depends on choices being made today. Asdemand for irrigation water decreases, there is thepossibility of transferring that water to urban uses orleaving it in the river for fish. Urban stormwaterrunoff and agriculture can both negatively impactwater quality if improperly managed. But they canalso create opportunities for restoration and waterquality protection when done right.

Noteworthy steps are being taken to restorewatershed health in the Deschutes Basin. Soil andwater conservation districts, watershed councils andothers are working with landowners to improvefarming and conservation practices, and water usersare allocating significant energy and funds towardwater conservation and efficiency. The City of Bendhas become a leader in water conservation andstewardship. Through an aggressive program ofwater metering, conservation incentives andpartnerships, and public education, the citymaintained the same peak summer demand in 2003as compared to 2002, despite 1,000 new serviceconnections. In addition, the Oregon Department ofEnvironmental Quality is working with local partnersto develop a Total Maximum Daily Load for theDeschutes River.

Returning Water to the RiverRivers need water. This fact seems obvious, yetOregon water law permits landowners and irrigatorsto own rights to more water than our rivers actuallycarry, causing parts of the Deschutes and many otherrivers to nearly run dry during the summer months.The Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC), a non-profit organization in Central Oregon, is working toaddress this issue. The DRC Leasing Program payswater rights holders who are not using all of theirwater to lease the water back into the river, or topermanently purchase the water for in-stream waterrights. This can provide an incentive for waterconservation and irrigation efficiency projects. Todate, the DRC has restored 111 cubic feet per second(cfs) of stream flow through conservation, 6 cfsthrough water transfers, and in 2006 they restored93 cfs of stream flow to the Deschutes and itstributaries through water leases. Of course, buyingwater rights requires funding, and grants from theColumbia Basin Water Transactions Program and thefederal government have been critical to the DRC'ssuccess.

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Jim and Deb Marshall sold their Central Oregon Irrigation District water rightsto the DRC, keeping 0.5 cfs of water in the middle Deschutes during the peaksummer months. They participated in the first permanent water right transferbetween the DRC and an irrigation district, laying the groundwork for futureagreements.

Stay Engaged in the Political Process: Vote. Research candidates before elections and support those with proven commitments to a healthy environment. Let yournational, state and local representatives know that you care about our rivers. Write, call, or email them about proposals you think they should support oroppose.


Grande Ronde

The RiverThe Grande Ronde River, in northeastern Oregon, drains parts ofthe Blue Mountains and the Wallowas. Major streams flowing intothe Grande Ronde are Catherine and Joseph creeks and the Wallowaand Wenaha rivers. The river flows through the agricultural GrandeRonde Valley in its middle course and through a series of sceniccanyons in its lower course. The last approximately 38 miles of theriver are in Washington, where it joins the Snake River. On a mapthe river traces the pattern of a large circle, hence the name GrandeRonde. 44 miles of this river are designated as part of the NationalWild and Scenic Rivers system. The Grande Ronde Basin is sparselypopulated, and agriculture, livestock production, and forestry playsignificant roles in the local economy. Until the mid-1800s, theGrande Ronde Basin was inhabited solely by the Cayuse, Umatilla,Walla Walla and Nez Perce tribes, and the tribes retain treaty rightsto harvesting salmon and other resources on their former lands. TheGrande Ronde is host to threatened Chinook salmon, steelhead andbull trout.

A Closer LookThe relatively low elevation (7,700 ft.) of the Blue Mountains canresult in early snowmelt, which leads to low flows in the GrandeRonde River in late summer. These low flows significantly impactwater quality. Elevated water temperatures are a significant problem,and improved streamside vegetation along tributary streams could

Grande Ronde Model Watershed(La Grande) (541) 663-0570www.grmw.org

Union Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (La Grande) (541) 963-0724 ext. 109

Wallowa Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (Enterprise) (541) 426-4588 ext. 3

The Grande Ronde has some seriouswater quality problems, but it is notknown to be polluted by toxics.

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LOCAL RESOURCES

SEDIMENT

TEMPERATURE

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

pH

WEEDS/ALGAE

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Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Grande Ronde River that violatewater quality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

50 100 150 174


PHOSPHOROUS

YELLOW ALERT

dramatically reduce the river's temperature, reduceerosion, improve water quality, and increase wildlifehabitat. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) planto reduce water temperatures has been developed.Improperly managed livestock grazing, cumulativeeffects of timber harvest and road building, waterwithdrawals for irrigation, and agricultural activitiesimpact water quality. The Grande Ronde has hadproblems with fecal coliform in the past, but itcurrently meets the standard.

Restoration on a Working RanchWater quality and fish habitat were the key drivers ofa large, multi-year project to restore wetlands andstream channels in Longley Meadows, along theupper Grande Ronde River. Historically the wetmeadow held and slowly released the cold, clearwaters of Bear Creek, providing habitat for summersteelhead and spring Chinook salmon. Since earlysettlement, land management activities such asconverting the meandering creek to a straightenedditch, constructing roads and railroads, and replacingnative vegetation with livestock forage had alteredthe meadow, disconnected it from the river, andincreased water temperatures. It no longer providedviable habitat for salmon and steelhead.

The restoration project, initiated in 1999 andcompleted in 2003, involved a diverse group ofpartners, including Alta Cunha Ranches (thelandowners), the Confederated Tribes of the UmatillaIndian Reservation, Oregon Department of Fish andWildlife, the Grande Ronde Model Watershed and theNatural Resources Conservation Service. The projectpartners established conservation easements topermanently protect more than five miles of creeksand the river, and built a fence to keep livestock out.They reconstructed a meandering channel for BearCreek, planted more than 50,000 native plants, andplaced large woody debris to improve fish habitat.Two new wells, ten water troughs and 9,800 feet ofpipe provide water for livestock on the uplandportion of the site, eliminating the need for thecattle to access the creek and improving the utility

of the ranch. In 2006, Eastern Oregon University professor

Karen Antell began involving her biology students inmonitoring improvements on the site. As vegetationgrows and water quality improves over time, theyshould begin to see changes in the aquatic insectspecies composition. “This is a perfect projectbecause students are learning how to follow specificsampling protocols and collect field data whileproviding a service to the watershed and thelandowners,” said Antell.

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Eastern Oregon University students in Karen Antell's Principles of Biology classcollect samples in Bear Creek at Longley Meadows to help monitor water qualityas the restoration project progresses.

Keep Your Car In Good Condition: Drips of oil and other automotive fluids are washed into rivers with each rain. Remember to fix any leaks promptly. To findan automotive shop in your area that is committed to pollution prevention, visit www.ecobiz.org/autolist.htm. If your auto mechanic is not on the list,encourage them to join the program.


John Day

The RiverUndammed along its entire 284-mile length, the John Day is thesecond longest free-flowing river in the United States. It drains theStrawberry Mountains, flows through the town of John Day, acrosssparsely populated parts of northeastern Oregon, throughexceptionally scenic canyons, including the John Day Fossil BedsNational Monument, and finally enters the Columbia River east ofthe Columbia Gorge. Major tributaries flowing into the mainstemare the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork John Day rivers.The John Day provides excellent habitat for diverse fish species,including salmon, steelhead, bass, redband trout, bull trout, andcutthroat trout.

Historically, the John Day Basin was used by Native Americans,fur trappers and homesteaders. Gold mining fueled settlementstarting in the late 1850s, and mining continued as a significantactivity into the early 20th century. Today over 95% of the landswithin the John Day Basin are zoned for agriculture and forestry.Cattle and sheep ranching, and hay and wheat farming are theprimary agricultural uses, and water from the river is used forcropland irrigation on ranches in the basin. Timber production inthe area has significantly decreased over the last fifteen years, andmany communities have been hard hit by sawmill closures and thedecline in forestry jobs. Tourism and recreation are growingindustries. Parts of the John Day are designated as a National Wildand Scenic River, and it is an excellent destination for steelhead andbass fishing and whitewater rafting.

Gilliam County Soil and WaterConservation District (Condon)(541) 384-2672

Gilliam - East John Day Watershed Council(Condon)(541) 384-2281 ext. 111

Grant Soil & Water Conservation District(John Day) (541) 575-0135 ext. 3

Mid-John Day Watershed Council andWheeler Soil & Water Conservation District(Fossil) (541) 468-2990 www.oregonwatersheds.org/

Monument Soil & Water ConservationDistrict (Monument)(541) 934-2141

North Fork John Day Watershed Council(Monument)(541) 934-2188 www.oregonwatersheds.org/

The John Day is one of Oregon's cleanestmajor rivers, but it suffers some waterquality problems that need attention.

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Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the John Day River that violate waterquality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

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A Closer LookThe John Day's water is fairly clean, but waterquality is reduced in the summer when watertemperatures are higher, there is less water in theriver, and pollutants become more concentrated.Disturbance of streamside areas causes the greatestdamage to the river. These areas are typicallymanaged as part of agricultural operations, andmany streamside areas have been altered from theirnatural state by water diversions, channelization, andvegetation changes. Runoff from improperagricultural and forestry practices reduces waterquality because it carries sediments, fertilizers, andmanure. Wastewater treatment plants, faulty septicsystems, and urban runoff also impact the river.Historical mining also contributes to water qualityproblems.

Efforts have been taken to restore streamsideareas and improve agricultural practices, which hasimproved water quality. A number of cooperativeprojects and landowner initiatives have improved theriver's health, and existing efforts should beexpanded upon. They include successful incentiveprograms using federal and state funds. The OregonDepartment of Environmental Quality (DEQ) iscurrently developing a Total Maximum Daily Load(TMDL) plan for the John Day River.

Healing Historic WoundsIn Clear Creek, located in the headwaters of theNorth Fork John Day River, historic dredge miningactivity had destroyed the floodplain and made thecreek virtually uninhabitable for fish. The dredgemining left piles of river rock over ten feet high insome places and hundreds of feet wide at somepoints. The consolidated rock has been unmovable bycreek flows for over a half century and it constrictedabout a mile of the channel and made it unnaturallystraight. The rock piles were devoid of soil and haveremained unvegetated for decades, leaving the creekunshaded. Water velocities were high in theconstrained channel, flushing silt and gravelsthrough the reach and making it nearly

uninhabitable for fish. In 2006 the Grant Soil and Water Conservation

District (SWCD) began a project to restore ClearCreek's floodplain. They are re-creating a functioningfloodplain by progressively redistributing the historicdredge tailings back from the stream banks. This willallow the creek to overflow its banks when the wateris high and deposit silt in the floodplain, creating soilso that vegetation can re-establish itself. Three JohnDeere 230 excavators, one Caterpillar D8 dozer andthree dump trucks redistribute the tailings rock.

Phase I of the project was completed this year,which included redistribution and shaping of168,640 cubic yards of rock along 0.75 miles of ClearCreek and Beaver Creek. Planned work for 2007 willrelocate 93,000 cubic yards of dredge tailings andrestore an additional 2,100 linear feet of stream-floodplain reconnection. When completed, theproject will have moved an estimated 261,500 cubicyards of dredge tailings to restore just under 1.2miles of stream.

Additional partners in the project include theUmatilla National Forest, the Confederated Tribes ofthe Umatilla Indian Reservation, the OregonWatershed Enhancement Board, U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and three private landowners.

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Grant SWCD Hydrologist Ed Calame assesses a stretch of Clear Creek beforebeginning a project to reshape the rock piles left behind by historic miningoperations.

If You Have Leftovers: Have leftover paint, pesticides, prescription drugs, or other chemicals? Always dispose of them safely. Dumping chemicals or drugs down thedrain or toilet is not a safe option. Throwing full bottles of potentially hazardous substances into the garbage is dangerous as well. To find out about pick-up

days for leftover hazardous chemicals in communities around the state, call 1-800-732-9253.


Malheur

The RiverMalheur means "bad fortune" or "unhappiness" in French. The riverwas named in 1826 by fur trappers who lost a stash of furs they hadcached along the river. It drains a high desert plateau region south ofthe Blue Mountains and is a tributary of the Snake River. Despitethe similar name, the Malheur River does not flow from or toMalheur Lake, which is located in an enclosed basin to the southwestand is fed by small streams. Property in the Malheur River Basin isprimarily publicly owned, with almost half managed by the FederalBureau of Land Management, and only 35% of property in privateownership. Livestock and agricultural production and processing arethe primary economic activities within the basin. Residential andcommercial/industrial areas make up only 0.1% of the entireMalheur Basin. The climate is semi-arid, and the river is fed bywinter and spring snowmelt and occasional intense thunderstormsin the summer.

A Closer LookThe most distressed stretch of the river in terms of water quality isthe lower 67 miles, where it is impacted by agricultural runoff.Multiple dams and reservoirs significantly alter the river, at somepoints diverting all of its water for irrigation or storage. Streamflows below the reservoirs are now extremely low from fall throughspring and unnaturally high during the summer irrigation season.The primary method of irrigation is flood irrigation through ditch

Malheur Watershed Council (Ontario)(541) 881-1417www.oregonwatersheds.org/oregoncouncils/malheur

Malheur Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (Ontario) (541) 889-2588

The Malheur River suffers from low levelsof dissolved oxygen throughout, bacteriaand legacy pesticide contamination in itslower reaches, and high summer watertemperatures in the upper stretches.


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Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Malheur River that violate waterquality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

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systems, which can be highly inefficient. Someinstream water rights to protect water for fish exist.But because most of the river's water has beenappropriated for other uses with earlier prioritydates on their water rights, the instream water rightsare not usually met. High water temperatures arelikely caused by the arid desert climate and a lack ofriparian vegetation. The Oregon Department ofEnvironmental Quality is working with local partnersto develop a clean water plan for the Malheur River.

Additionally, the lower portion of the MalheurBasin is designated as a Groundwater ManagementArea due to nitrate contamination.

Helping Farmers Help the RiverWillow Creek, a tributary of the Malheur River, wasplaced on the DEQ 303(d) list in 2002 for violatingwater quality standards for chlorophyll and bacteria.Excessive chlorophyll can indicate that the water hashigh levels of nutrients, particularly phosphorous,which can be brought to the creek through irrigation-induced erosion. Runoff from irrigated pastures andanimal feeding operations is also a likely source ofbacteria contamination.

To address these problems, the MalheurWatershed Council helped 22 farmers convert fromflood irrigation to sprinklers, eliminating nutrient-heavy irrigation return flow from more than 2,000acres. They also worked with the Vale OregonIrrigation District to bury 38,872 feet of pipe infarms and animal feedlots, eliminating animal accessto surface water and preventing bacteriacontamination. The irrigation pipes also reduceseepage and evaporation from open ditches, savingover 2,500 acre feet of water per year. Weekly waterquality monitoring will enable the partners todocument the positive impacts of the project.

All of the involved landowners, with assistancefrom the Lower Willow Creek Working Group, havemade substantial personal and financialcommitments to the project, demonstrating theirdesire to be good watershed stewards. This project'ssuccess is inspiring still more progress. The Lower

Willow Creek Working Group was recently awarded a$1.9 million grant from Oregon WatershedEnhancement Board (OWEB) for comprehensiverestoration of the watershed, and the irrigationdistrict continues work on piping irrigation canals.

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The Vale Oregon Irrigation District and the Malheur Watershed Council workedwith local farmers to install 38,872 feet of irrigation pipe on local farms. Theelimination of seepage and evaporation from open ditches resulted in a watersavings of over 2,500 acre feet per year.

Landscape for Healthy Rivers: Instead of growing grass and exotic plants, consider landscaping with native plants, which require less water and chemicals. If youprefer grass, remember that a lawn needs only 1 1/2 inches of water each week (that's only as deep as a tuna can). Remember to water in the morning or theevening and not in the middle of the day when water evaporates quickly.


Owyhee

The RiverThe Owyhee River was named in the 1800s for three Hawaiian furtrappers. It drains 11,049 square miles in Nevada, Idaho, andOregon. The Owyhee begins at its headwaters in Nevada, flowsthrough Idaho, and crosses into southeastern Oregon, where iteventually flows into the Snake River. From the Oregon/Idahoborder to the Owyhee Reservoir (formed by the Owyhee Dam), theriver flows through deeply incised canyons in a remote, arid andalmost unpopulated area. The Owyhee is classified as a NationalWild and Scenic River. Recreational use is increasing despite thedifficulty of access. The desert canyons of the Owyhee basin supportan ecologically significant and unique diversity of wildlife and plantspecies, including large populations of California bighorn sheep andsage grouse. Currently, 49 species of fish inhabit the Owyheesubbasin, including 25 native and 11 sensitive species. Anadromousfish (such as salmon) have been extinct in the Owyhee since theOwyhee Dam was completed in 1933. The area downriver of the damsupports irrigated agriculture. Ranching is a primary economicactivity in the basin.

A Closer LookWater quality impairment on the Owyhee can be linked to historicand present land use activities as well as to the natural geology ofthe area. The arid climate, sudden storm events and cyclic droughtcycles lead to natural erosion, which is compounded when cattle and

Owyhee Watershed Council (Adrian)(541) 372-5782 www.owyheewatershed.com

Malheur Soil & Water ConservationDistrict (Ontario)(541) 889-2588

The Owyhee has some significant toxicpollution, including arsenic, mercury,bacteria and legacy pesticides, in additionto high temperatures.

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Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Owyhee River that violate waterquality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

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wildlife concentrate in riparian areas and aroundseeps and springs. Improper management of livestockgrazing and agricultural activities have impactedwater quality and resulted in the removal of riparianvegetation. Historic mining operations still impact theriver today through elevated concentrations of heavymetals, such as mercury, in sediments. The state hasissued fish consumption advisories for the OwyheeReservoir due to high concentrations of mercury.Legacy pesticides and their breakdown products havebeen detected at sites along the Owyhee River belowirrigated farmland and in drain water return canals.

Landowners Leading the WayJesse and Pam White are cattle ranchers who took aninterest in the way their cattle operation affects theenvironment. The Whites came to Oregon WatershedEnhancement Board (OWEB) in 2001 with $69,000 oftheir own money to invest in a project to move theirfeedlot a mile away from the banks of the OwyheeRiver. The project would allow the Whites to restorethe riverbank and reduce the risk of nitrates andbacteria entering the river. OWEB provided a $91,000grant. The Whites, with the assistance of the OwyheeWatershed Council, the Malheur Soil and WaterConservation District, state and federal agencypersonnel, and the Boy Scouts, relocated their feedlotand installed piping to deliver stockwater to troughsat the new location. The Whites then fenced off theriparian area along the river, including the old feedlot,and reseeded the land with native grasses and willowtrees to filter sediment, utilize nutrients, controlerosion, provide shade, and retain water in the soils.Revegetating the stream bank will not only improvewater quality in the Owyhee River and helpimplement the Agricultural Water QualityManagement Area Plan, but also restore fish andwildlife habitat. People like the Whites are leaders intheir community, and by restoring their own landthey demonstrate to their neighbors that successfulranching operations can contribute to goodstewardship of the valuable natural resources in theOwyhee Basin.

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This riparian area was once the site of a feedlot. With assistance from numerousorganizations and government agencies, Jesse and Pam White moved theirfeedlot away from the Owyhee River and restored the riverbank.

Plant a Tree: Participate in tree plantings in local neighborhoods, parks and riverbanks. Trees and shrubs always help filter water and clean the air. Along rivers,they also stabilize the banks with their roots, provide habitat for wildlife and provide much-needed shade to cool waters for fish.


Rogue

The RiverThe Rogue River's headwaters begin at Crater Lake in the CascadeMountains, and the river runs through Grants Pass and numeroussmall towns before cutting through the Coast Range and reachingthe Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach. It drains the relatively populatedMedford-Ashland area with its orchards and irrigated agriculture.Mining and forestry are also significant economic sectors in thebasin. The river provides habitat for Chinook and Coho salmon,steelhead, brown trout, cutthroat, golden trout, catfish andsturgeon. 84 miles of the Rogue is a designated National Wild andScenic River, and its exciting class IV rapids are popular amongwhite-water rafters; it is also heavily used by jet boats. Both areregulated, with a permit system in place for rafters. French furtrappers called this area the “Riviere aux Coquins,” or Rogue River,after the Native Americans who lived along its shores.

A Closer LookThe Rogue is the cleanest river of its size in the state of Oregon.Even so, sections of the Rogue River violate standards fortemperature and fecal coliform bacteria. Parts of the river haveviolated pH standards in the past, but in 2006 the pH was withinacceptable levels. The upper Rogue watershed is largely undevelopedand has very good water quality. Other parts of the watershed areimpacted by agriculture and urban uses. Agricultural practices infloodplain areas have led to over-allocation of water, increases in

Curry County Soil and WaterConservation District (Gold Beach)(541) 247-2755

Jackson Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (Medford)(541) 734-3143 Ext. 3www.jswcd.org

Josephine Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (Grants Pass)(541) 474-6840

Lower Rogue Watershed Council (GoldBeach) (541) 247-2755www.currywatersheds.org

Middle Rogue Watershed Council (GrantsPass)(541) 474-6799

Rogue Basin Coordinating Council(Central Point)(541) 890-3107www.restoretherogue.org

Upper Rogue Watershed Council (ShadyCove)(541) 878-3710www.upper-rogue.org

Aside from some problems with bacteriaand high temperatures, the Rogue River isfairly clean.


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Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Rogue River that violate waterquality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

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water temperature and the input of chemical andbiological wastes to streams. Urban runoff andwastewater from the cities of Medford, Ashland andGrants Pass also contribute to the river's waterquality problems. The Oregon Department ofEnvironmental Quality is working with partners todevelop a clean water plan for the Rogue River. Allanadromous fish species in the Rogue are listed orbeing considered under the Endangered Species Act.

The Power of OneLandowner Joan Kostelnik was concerned about theerosion occurring along Cooksie Gulch, which runsthrough the middle of her property and directly intothe Rogue River. She was also having a heck of a timemanaging the invasive blackberry growing along theedges of the creek. So she contacted the MiddleRogue Watershed Council, and they helped herdevelop a restoration plan and obtain a small grantfrom the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.

The restoration plan called for eradicating theblackberry, bioengineering to reduce erosion, andplanting native grasses, trees and shrubs along theedges of the creek to provide shade and stabilize thestreambanks. One year has passed since Joan beganworking on the project in early 2006, and she hasused some creative techniques to make it successful.She hired local school youth to eradicate theblackberries (providing them with job skills and a fewextra bucks). She used heavy black landscaping fabricto prevent re-growth of the blackberries, andthrough online research she discovered coconut fibermatting for erosion control. She worked with localnurseries and grass seed banks to identify nativeriparian grasses, trees and shrubs. And she even keptthe birds from eating the native grass seeds by tryingout the concept of "Fukuoka balls.” She mixed theseeds with mud, rolled them into golf ball sized balls,and threw them into the area where she wanted thegrass to grow. Amazingly, it has worked wonders!

The initial project is nearly complete, and thecreek is well on its way to being restored to naturalconditions. Through her own efforts, research, and

never say die spirit, Joan Kostelnik is proving thatone person can make a difference to improve ourrivers.

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Property owner Joan Kostelnik proudly displays some large blackberry rootsshe removed while restoring the creek on her land.

Be A River Watchdog: Boaters and fishers are in a unique position to keep an eye on the river. If you see things that are wrong, from garbage to eroded banks topollution from pipes, investigate the problem and notify someone who can help. If you spot a potential environmental threat on the river, contact the OregonDepartment of Environmental Quality at 1-800-452-4011.


Snake

The RiverThe Snake River is the 10th longest river system in the UnitedStates, extending over 1,000 miles from its headwaters inYellowstone National Park, Wyoming, to its confluence with theColumbia River near Pasco, Washington. Oregon's Grande Ronde,Powder, Malheur and Owyhee rivers are tributaries of the Snake, andit is the Columbia River's largest tributary. About 270 miles of theriver forms the border between Oregon and Idaho, where it flowsthrough Hell's Canyon, one of the deepest gorges in the world. Hell'sCanyon has been inhabited by Native Americans for the last 7,100 to10,000 years, and the Nez Perce tribe maintains treaty rights to fishand other natural resources. Many competing demands are placed onthe river, including agriculture irrigation, hydroelectric powergeneration, water-based recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.

A Closer LookFlow on the Snake River is heavily controlled by dams, distributingwater volume more evenly throughout the year than would naturallyoccur. The dams impact water quality because pollutants accumulatein sediments behind dams (which can reduce pollutantconcentrations downstream). They also impact water temperatureswhen slow moving water is warmed by the sun, and cool watergathers at the bottom of deep reservoirs.

The state has issued fish consumption advisories for the SnakeRiver due to high concentrations of mercury in fish tissues. The

Baker Valley Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (Baker City)(541) 523-7121 ext. 100

Malheur County Soil and WaterConservation District (Ontario)(541) 889-2588

Wallowa Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (Enterprise)(541) 426-4588 ext. 3


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The Snake River is troubled by two majorproblems throughout its length inOregon: toxic mercury and high watertemperatures. The river also violatesnumerous other water quality standardsaccording to the state of Idaho.

Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Snake River that violate waterquality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

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primary sources of mercury are air deposition, legacymining activities and natural geologic materials. Airdeposition of mercury comes from cement plants,coal-fired power plants, and is blown in from placesas far away as China. Reducing erosion can helpcontrol mercury that is transported to the river insediment.

In addition to mercury and temperature, the stateof Idaho lists the Hells Canyon portion of the SnakeRiver, which borders Oregon, for bacteria, dissolvedoxygen, nutrients, pH, sediment, DDT and dieldrin.In 2004, the two states developed a Total MaximumDaily Load (TMDL) for all these parameters exceptmercury. Practices in both states need to be managedin order for the river to achieve water qualitystandards.

Putting Nature to WorkIn 2004, the Malheur County Soil and WaterConservation District partnered with landowners,local, county, state and federal organizations tocreate a 12.8-acre, 5-pond constructed wetland tofilter the agricultural drain water from 850 acres ofirrigated farm land. The five ponds were speciallydesigned to filter sediment, nitrates, phosphates andbacteria from the agricultural drain water beforereturning it to the Malheur River. Monitoring hasdemonstrated that the constructed wetlands areeffective at cleaning the water and will help achievewater quality targets in the Malheur and Snakerivers. In two years, the project treated an estimated310 million gallons of water. In addition, wildlifesuch as migratory birds, quail, pheasants, mule deerand pelicans are making use of the new wetlands.

Malheur County landowners have been workingfor years to reduce the water quality impacts ofagricultural drains. Due to the economic strugglestoday's farmers face and the limited availability offunding, only 5-10% of landowners in the countyhave been able to convert to more efficient sprinklerirrigation systems. While the cost of converting to asprinkler system is about $700-1,200 per acre, thecost of installing the constructed wetland was $294

per acre, creating a more cost-effective solution. Thesuccess of this project led the Malheur Soil and WaterConservation District to plan five other constructedwetlands in the Snake and Malheur basins, which arein varying stages of completion today. Theconstructed wetlands are a new best managementpractice for water quality in Eastern Oregon.

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When the Malheur County Soil and Water Conservation District constructed awetland to improve water quality from agricultural drains, they found that itprovided additional environmental benefits. Within weeks of its initial filling,pelicans began using the new wetland.

Consider Upgrading Your Boat To A Four-Stroke Engine: Two-stroke engines, commonly used in boats, are inefficient and cause unnecessary pollution. In additionto contributing to water pollution, operating a typical 50 horsepower two-stroke outboard engine for one hour causes air pollution equal to driving a new carover 8,500 miles.


Umpqua

The RiverOne of the principal rivers of the Oregon coast, the Umpqua drainsan expansive network of valleys west of the Cascade Range andsouth of the Willamette Valley. It is one of only two Oregon rivers(the Rogue is the other one) that begin in the Cascades and cutthrough the Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean. The Umpqua Basin isa timber-producing area, and 90% of the basin is federal, state andprivate forestland. “Umpqua” is the native name for the countryaround the river and it became used as a word for both the river andlocal tribes. The river provides habitat for a number of species ofanadromous fish, including coho salmon, fall and spring chinooksalmon, summer and winter steelhead, and seagoing and residentcutthroat trout. A major tributary, the North Umpqua River, isworld-famous for salmon fishing.

A Closer LookTemperature and fecal coliform bacteria are the primary waterquality problems on the Umpqua River. High stream temperaturestypically occur during mid to late summer. The removal ofstreamside vegetation in some areas contributes to warmertemperatures. In addition, stream flow has been modified bystraightening, diking, and constriction due to management anddiversion structures. Studies by DEQ indicate that sources of fecalcoliform bacteria in the Umpqua may include wildlife, livestockwastes, failing residential septic systems, wastewater treatment

Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers(Roseburg)(541) 673-5756www.ubwc.org

Douglas Soil and Water ConservationDistrict (Roseburg)(541) 957-5061www.douglasswcd.org

Almost the entire length of the UmpquaRiver has high water temperatures andbacteria contamination.

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Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Umpqua River that violate waterquality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

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plant malfunctions, and stormwater runoff. While the Umpqua's water quality is fairly good,

its tributaries - the North and South Umpqua rivers,Elk Creek and Calapooya Creek - have more waterquality problems. For example, the Umpqua Basin ishome to the abandoned Formosa and Bonanzamines, which leach mercury and arsenic intotributary creeks and create fish-killing acidic waters.Additional pollution problems in the tributariesinclude sediment, phosphorous, chlorine,chlorophyll, weeds and algae, plus fecal coliform andtemperature. The Department of EnvironmentalQuality (DEQ) is currently developing a TotalMaximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan to reducepollution in the Umpqua Basin.

Water for Fish and FarmsIn 2000, a diversion structure was removed fromSouth Myrtle Creek, a tributary of the SouthUmpqua River, allowing passage of salmon and troutto a stream that had been blocked for nearly acentury. The dam spanned the entire creek and wasfourteen feet high in the summer, diverting waterinto a 2-1/2 mile irrigation ditch. It contributed tothe creek's high stream temperatures and low flows.

The project was initiated by a landowner whocontacted the Oregon Water Resources Departmentand recruited all the other landowners who usedwater from the diversion. The Umpqua BasinWatershed Council received funding for the projectfrom numerous sources including DEQ, OregonWatershed Enhancement Board, U.S. Fish & WildlifeService and the Umpqua Fisheries EnhancementDerby. All the landowners contributed to the project,donating services and supplies. They worked withthe watershed council to remove the dam, install amore efficient sprinkler system with individualpumps drawing from the stream instead of the ditch,and plant vegetation alongside the stream. Theimproved irrigation efficiency removes less waterfrom the creek during the summer, which helps withflows and water temperatures.

The landowners discovered that by working

together and mobilizing available resources, theywere able to restore their local creek, improve waterquality and fish habitat, and continue to irrigatetheir lands.

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Mike Danielle, landowner of the site, stands proudly on the spot where a localirrigation dam had once blocked South Myrtle Creek.

Get To Know Your Watershed Council or Conservation District: There are 64 volunteer watershed councils in Oregon and 45 Soil and Water ConservationDistricts. They provide technical assistance to landowners, and could use your help with stream restoration and education projects. Visitwww.oregonwatersheds.org and www.oacd.org to find your local groups.


Willamette

The RiverThe Willamette River is the 13th largest river by volume in theUnited States. The Willamette Basin is more than 11,000 squaremiles in area, and it is home to more than 70% of all Oregonians.The Willamette begins in the Cascade Mountains, and flows throughEugene, Corvallis, and Salem, before ending in Portland at itsconfluence with the Columbia River. The river's flow is modified bysome 13 dams on its tributaries, 11 of which produce hydropower.The Willamette Valley has some of the richest farmland in thenation and produces about half of Oregon's yearly farm sales.Population in the Willamette Basin is expected to double to nearly4.0 million by 2050.

A Closer LookOver the past 80 years the Willamette River has been polluted byindustry, agriculture, and cities. In the late 1960s Governor TomMcCall led a cleanup effort that reduced industrial pollution. Theriver is significantly cleaner today than it was then, but it still has along way to go. In 2006 American Rivers listed the Willamette as thethird most endangered river in the United States. Industriescontinue to discharge wastes into the river under authorizedpermits. Attention is being drawn to permits that allow “mixingzones” - areas where pollution is allowed to exceed water qualitystandards until it mixes with the receiving stream and becomesdiluted. A six-mile stretch of the river in the Portland harbor is now

Willamette Riverkeeper (Portland) (503) 223-6418 www.willamette-riverkeeper.org

Willamette Basin Explorerwww.willametteexplorer.info

The Willamette is a river in crisis. Theriver touches many Oregonians' lives andis worthy of renewed efforts to restore it.

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ivianJohnson


LOCAL RESOURCES

IRON

FECAL COLIFORM

TEMPERATURE

DIOXIN

MERCURY

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Each bar on this graph shows the number ofmiles in the Willamette River that violatewater quality standards for each pollutant,according to DEQ. Pollutants of greaterconcern for human health are in red.

50 100 150 187


MANGANESE

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

BIOLOGICAL CRITERIA

DIELDRIN & ALDRIN

DDT & DDE

PCBs

PAHs

PENTACHLOROPHENOL

ARSENIC

RED ALERT

a federal Superfund site. This area is highly pollutedwith toxins, heavy metals and other substances, andthe cleanup will likely take a decade.

Human uses have dramatically altered land in theWillamette Basin from its natural state, removingforests, grasslands, prairies, and wetlands, andconverting them to agricultural and urban uses,including nearly four miles of road for every squaremile of land in the basin. The stream channel hasbeen altered and confined by Army Corps ofEngineers projects designed to control flooding,which has destroyed fish and wildlife habitat. Springchinook and steelhead, the Willamette's nativesalmonids, are listed as threatened under the federalEndangered Species Act. The state advises againsteating any species of resident fish due to mercuryand PCB contamination. Resident fish include mostfish except salmon, lamprey and sturgeon, whichleave the river for the ocean during much of theirlifespan.

Runoff from agricultural land and urban areascontributes more to the Willamette's pollution thanindustrial sources. There is a need to reducepollution from agricultural runoff throughout thebasin, and a portion of the Southern WillametteValley is designated as a Groundwater ManagementArea due to nitrate contamination. Urban runoff is aparticular problem in the Portland area because ofthe city's Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system.Parts of the city have an old sewer system wherewater that enters storm drains is mixed into thesame pipe with raw sewage as it all makes its way tothe treatment plant. When it rains, there is too muchwater for the pipe to hold and it overflows, sendingraw sewage into the Willamette. The City of Portlandis addressing this problem by investing in a “big pipe”project so overflows will occur much less frequently.But the pipe will still have limited capacity, so theCity must continue to promote downspoutdisconnects and other techniques that keeprainwater from entering the sewer system.

DEQ has recently completed a Total MaximumDaily Load (TMDL) assessment for temperature,

bacteria, and mercury in the Willamette Basin. TheTMDL is an important step in the implementation ofthe Clean Water Act because it codifies how muchpollution is too much for the river, and where thepollutants are coming from. The TMDL does notprescribe a specific plan for cleaning up the river.Instead, it includes general ideas and requires localgovernment agencies to develop implementationplans by next year. The DEQ estimates it will take 20years before the Willamette meets water qualitystandards for bacteria, 20 to 50 years to reduceinstream temperatures to make them cold enough forendangered salmon, and 50 to 100 years to reducemercury to low enough levels that resident fish areno longer hazardous to eat. Continued on page 27


Minimize Pavement: Pavement covers 50% to 75% of most urban areas, and it has a huge impact on rivers and streams. Everywhere you have any influence such asat home, at work, and in neighborhood parks, advocate for porous alternatives. Pervious asphalt and concrete are available, and bricks and pavers allow waterto seep into the ground around them.


Water filters through the pervious asphalt installed on all the roadsin Salem's Pringle Creek Community, reducing the streets' impact onthe nearby creek.

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Pervious Pavement (Pringle Creek Community, Salem)

The SeQuential Biofuels retail station, located just off Interstate 5 inEugene, was built with a “living roof ” containing thousands of plantsand five inches of soil to help to control rainwater runoff and cool theconvenience store during the summer.

Green Roof (SeQuential Biofuels, Eugene)

Street runoff flows into these curb extensions on NE Siskiyou Streetin Portland. They are landscaped with plants to filter pollutants,improve water quality, reduce stormwater flow, and look great.

Stormwater Curb Extension (NE Siskiyou St, Portland)

Greener Cities for Cleaner RiversContinued from page 26. The Willamette River is more severely impacted byurban stormwater runoff than any other Oregonriver because so much of the land in its basin isurbanized. When rainwater hits impervious surfacessuch as streets, sidewalks, and roofs, it flowsoverland instead of soaking into the ground as itwould in a natural area. Most stormwater systemswere not designed with water quality in mind. Theysend untreated stormwater directly into streams orpump it underground at high volume and velocity,carrying all the pollutants picked up along the way.Common stormwater pollutants include eroded soil,oil, metals, bacteria, pesticides and fertilizers. Urbanrunoff can change stream flows, increase flooding,scour out stream banks and channels, and destroyfish habitat.

Today, builders are using new techniques toreduce impervious surface and filter stormwaterbefore it ends up in our rivers. These “low impactdevelopment” techniques use soil and plants to filterand slow down rainwater, creating an urban systemthat functions more like a natural one. You can nowfind examples of pervious pavement, ecoroofs,raingardens, vegetated swales, and stormwaterplanters in cities around the state. They can be usedin commercial and residential developments and onstreets to change stormwater from a problem into anamenity and create attractive landscapes. Rainwatercan also be harvested in rain barrels or cisterns andused for irrigation. Many of Oregon's localgovernments are leading the way in promoting lowimpact development and river-friendly cities. TheOregon Environmental Council is working to buildupon these efforts to make sustainable stormwatermanagement standard practice in cities and townsaround the state.

©Pringle

Creek

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EnvironmentalServices,C

ityofPortland

Helping our riversClean, healthy rivers are necessary for our survival.Rivers provide water for drinking and irrigation, helpsustain our economy, provide essential habitat forfish and wildlife, and offer opportunities forrecreation. Healthy rivers are an integral part of theenvironment that supports human life.

This report provides tips on how you can help ourrivers. The collective impact of our individual actionscan make a huge difference. But it is imperative thatwe also have strong policies in place to protect ourrivers, that private and governmental institutionswork together effectively to improve watershedhealth, and that we use our resources wisely.

State agencies that work to protect and restore ourrivers include the Oregon Watershed EnhancementBoard (OWEB), the Oregon Department ofEnvironmental Quality (DEQ), the OregonDepartment of Agriculture (ODA), the OregonDepartment of Fish and Wildlife, the OregonDepartment of State Lands, and the OregonDepartment of Forestry. Soil and water conservationdistricts, watershed councils, and independentnonprofit organizations such as riverkeepers groups,“friends of the creek” groups, and the OregonEnvironmental Council help clean up our rivers aswell.

The Federal Clean Water Act, which requires DEQto track water quality, develop Total Maximum DailyLoads (TMDLs), and issue stormwater permits forcities, and Oregon's Senate Bill 1010, which requiresthe ODA to develop Water Quality AgriculturalManagement Plans, are key tools in the effort toprotect and clean up our rivers. Citizens need to getinvolved in these efforts to make sure these agenciesare doing their job well, and that they are receivingadequate funding.

Federal and state funding for natural resourceprotection agencies has been declining steadily. DEQdoes not currently have adequate staffing levels toissue water quality permits, update standards basedon current scientific data, or monitor our rivers forwater quality problems. DEQ's budget is a very small


portion of the entire state budget; making increasesto bring the agency's budget back up to at least 2003levels would make a significant difference forOregon's rivers. Watershed councils and soil andwater conservation districts, which bring localcommunities together to protect and restorewatersheds, are critical leaders in efforts to clean upOregon's rivers. They rely on funding from the stateof Oregon and need adequate support for theirimportant work to continue.

In addition to the information included in thisreport, many chemicals are entering our rivers thatare not currently being tracked for the 303(d) list.These emerging concerns include several pesticides,pharmaceutical products, endocrine disruptors, andtoxic flame retardants. We are releasing thousands ofchemicals into the environment every day with verylittle knowledge of their impacts on human health oraquatic ecosystems. We must do a much better job ofmonitoring water quality and preventing pollutionfrom entering our rivers in the first place.

This report focuses on Oregon’s longest ten rivers,all of which need help. Even those with fewerpollution problems still violate Clean Water Actstandards. All Oregon's rivers need people,businesses, and governments to care about them andtake steps to make them clean and healthy for peopleand fish.

ReferencesBastasch, R., 1998. Waters of Oregon: A Source Book on Oregon's Water and Water Management. Oregon State University Press

Deschutes Coordinating Group, 2004. Deschutes Subbasin Plan. Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Deschutes Water Alliance, 2006. Growth, Urbanization And Land Use Change: Impacts On Agriculture And Irrigation Districts In Central Oregon.

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, 2005 Report on the Estuary: Assessing Trends in the Lower Columbia River. <http://www.lcrep.org/pdfs/Estuary%20Report%202005%20Final.pdf>

Malheur Watershed Council and Burns Paiute Tribe, 2004. Malheur River Subbasin Assessment and Management Plan for Fish and WildlifeMitigation.

Northwest Power and Conservation Council, 2004. Mainstem Lower Columbia River and Columbia River Estuary Subbasin Plan.

Nowak, M. C., 2004. Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan. Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Oregon Department of Agriculture, 2001. Malheur River Basin Agricultural Water Quality Management Area Plan.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, 2006. Assessment Methodology for Oregon's 2004/2006 Integrated Report on Water QualityStatus.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, 2006. Oregon's 2004/2006 Integrated Report Assessment Database.<http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/assessment/rpt0406/search.asp.>

Oregon Department of Human Services, 2002. Technical Bulletin: Arsenic Health Effects Information.<http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/dwp/docs/fact/arsenic.pdf>

Oregon Department of Human Services, Fish Advisories: Consumption Guidelineshttp://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/envtox/fishconsumption.shtml

Pearson, A., 2006. Public views sought on Milltown Dam revival. News-Review. August 16. Roseburg, OR.

Perkins, S., 2004. Paved Paradise: Impervious surfaces affect a region's hydrology, ecosystems - even its climate. Science News Online. September4.

Rogue Basin Coordinating Council, 2006. Watershed Health Factors Assessment.

Shoshone-Paiute Tribes and Owyhee Watershed Council. 2004. Owyhee Subbasin Plan. Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Turner, D. et al., 2006. Draft Umpqua Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. Columbia River Basin Fish Contaminant Survey 1996-1998.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. Consumer Factsheet on: PENTACHLOROPHENOL<http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/dw_contamfs/pentachl.html>

Weiss, L. and Wright, S. 2001. Mercury: On the Road to Zero. Oregon Environmental Council.

Welch, C. 2006. Columbia River toxins moving up food chain. The Seattle Times, July 10.

Willamette Riverkeeper, The River. <http://willamette-riverkeeper.org/river1.htm>

Willamette Restoration Initiative, 2004. Draft Willamette Subbasin Plan. Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Willamette Riverkeeper, Water Quality Monitoring Handbook <http://willamette-riverkeeper.org/programs/WQvol/documents/WQManual.pdf>

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Documents

Cleaner Rivers for Oregon - Oregon Environmental Council · conditions of our major rivers and ALERT LEVELS Red Alert Columbia and Willamette These rivers have serious water quality