April 9, 2007—Oregon Environmental Council Publishes Cleaner Rivers Report
Water quality status report uncovers threats and opportunities, examines Oregonians’ necessary and complex relationship with our rivers
PORTLAND, Ore.—April 9, 2007—We Oregonians love our rivers, yet every major river in Oregon is violating Clean Water Act standards. This disconcerting fact is the first of many contained in “Cleaner Rivers for Oregon: Why Our Rivers Need Our Help.” The 32-page report, the first water quality survey of the state’s ten major rivers published by the Oregon Environmental Council, seeks to make information about the health of our rivers more accessible to Oregonians.
The report uses water quality information compiled biannually by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, as well as real life stories of Oregonians implementing solutions particular to their own watershed. The report includes information for Oregonians who want to know how their local river is doing, useful tips for river-friendly living, and resources to help people get involved in efforts to clean up our rivers.
“Most Oregonians have heard about the Willamette River’s pollution problems, but they are not aware that every major river in Oregon violates Clean Water Act standards,” said Teresa Huntsinger, the Oregon Environmental Council’s program director for clean rivers.
Since every square mile of the state is part of a watershed, the health of Oregon’s rivers and its people are intrinsically linked. By educating people about the pollutants that are impacting our rivers, and about the positive steps that can, and are, being taken to clean them up, the Oregon Environmental Council seeks to find solutions and enable Oregon’s citizens to take action.
“We need to pay close attention to the health of our rivers,” said Huntsinger, “and there is a lot that people in both rural and urban areas can do to help, including encouraging our elected officials to invest in water quality protection and stream restoration efforts.”
“Cleaner Rivers for Oregon: Why Our Rivers Need Our Help” is a key component of the Oregon Environmental Council’s clean rivers program. The simple goal of the program is to ensure that future generations of Oregonians will have the freedom to swim, boat, and fish in our rivers – and to eat what they catch – without being concerned about their health. The report demonstrates that many Oregonians do not currently have that freedom, but with cooperative partnerships, there is much that can be done to find both statewide and localized solutions.
Note to Editors:
The report is available online and upon request .
About the Oregon Environmental Council
Founded in 1968, the Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with members throughout the state. We bring Oregonians together for a healthy environment. Through creation of programs such as the Bottle Bill and curbside recycling, OEC has played a leadership role in helping Oregonians be part of the solution to environmental problems. Our current programs focus on protecting kids’ health from toxic pollution, cleaning up Oregon’s rivers, slowing global warming, and building a sustainable economy. For more information, visit www.oeconline.org.
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