Riverkeepers in Action
Recently, Jeff Kohne and his son Mason (Mason is a first grader and a cub scout) were enjoying a rare sunny Saturday morning in November by paddling upstream from Fields bridge. In addition to admiring the many hawks and cormorants, they started picking up small pieces of litter (a bottle, a styrofoam cup), and before you know it, they had a canoe full of junk. The attached picture shows some of our prized catches: a tire, a boogie board, a large piece of lumber, and a "Measure 49" sign.
Jeff and Mason exemplify the caring commitment our members have to the Tualatin River. The Kohne family has been TRK members since 2002. If you share their commitment to our river and streams, become a member and join forces with hundreds of others working to protect and restore our Tualatin River System.
Tualatin River Cleanup and Business Partners"
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GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Clean water in the Tualatin River for drinking, recreation and wildlife are essential to the quality of life we expect as Oregonians. Tualatin Riverkeepers members and volunteers make a difference in their community by working to support clean water and healthy habitats. The success of Tualatin Riverkeepers is dependent on you, everyone who lives, works and plays in the Tualatin watershed. Please join us as a member and a volunteer. Together we can ensure clean water and wildlife for future generations.
Support Tualatin Riverkeepers' mission to protect and restore the Tualatin River system witha secure online donation through I Give Where I Live.
HOW TO REDUCE RUNOFF POLLUTION
Rain running off of streets, parking lots, lawns and fields is the biggest threat to America’s streams. In a nationwide survey, only 22% of Americans understood that runoff is our leading water quality problem. Learn more about runoff pollution below.
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When it rains, stormwater washes over streets, roofs, lawns, and parking lots. On its way, stormwater picks up oil, sediment, bacteria, grease and chemicals that can pollute our local streams and the Tualatin River.
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Contrary to what you might think, stormwater runoff in the Tualatin Basin does NOT flow into the sewer and to the wastewater treatment plant for treatment (clean up). Polluted stormwater flows directly into our fresh water creeks and river.
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Four quarts of oil can cause an eight-acre oil slick if spilled or dumped down a storm drain.
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Just one quart of motor oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of drinking water.
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Pet waste is a major source of bacteria that ends up in our streams. It contains as many as 75 diseases and viruses that may make our water unsafe for fishing, swimming and other types of recreation.
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Leaves and grass clippings that get blown into storm drains deplete the oxygen levels in our rivers, streams and lakes harming aquatic life.
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Litter not only looks bad along our streams and rivers, but also can be ingested by fish and waterfowl.
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Water runoff from washing cars on pavement carries detergent and chemicals directly into our storm drains and our water sources, harming our water quality, wildlife and recreation areas.
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Polluted stormwater runoff has been identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as the nation’s main cause of water quality problems.
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274 stream miles in the Tualatin Basin fail to meet federal water quality standards due to storm water pollution.
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Nutrients from fertilizers- usually phosphates- enter rivers and streams and stimulate the growth of algae. Excessive algae growth harms oxygen levels in lakes and ponds, thus killing fish.
Top 12 things you can do to be a solution to stormwater pollution:
1. Never dump anything that you wouldn’t want to drink or swim in on the ground, onto the street, down a storm drain or into a drainage ditch.
2. Recycle motor oil and other vehicle fluids.
3. Throw litter in its place.
4. Clean up after your pet – even in your own yard.
5. Check your vehicles for leaks and repair them.
6. Minimize the amount of hazardous wastes (such as excess paint, bleach, fertilizer) generated at home.
7. Compost yard clippings and leaves. Don’t blow them into the street.
8. Use fertilizer and pesticide appropriately and only when needed.
9. Wash your vehicle on your lawn rather than on pavement or better yet, go to a commercial car wash where they recycle water and collect hazardous waste for proper disposal.
10. Plant native plants. Create natural landscaping that needs less watering and chemicals, and is resistant to pests and diseases. Attract birds, butterflies and beneficial wildlife to your yard. Reduce erosion and protect water quality.
11. Tell a friend or neighbor about how to prevent stormwater pollution and join Tualatin Riverkeepers in advocating for public policies that fight surface water runoff pollution.
12. Click to learn about Low Impact Development
Sources: www.cleanwatercampaign.com www.cleanwaterservices.org www.rivernetwork.org