Water Quality Articles

Ship dumping ballast water.

Rule Amendments Proposed for Ballast Water

Ship dumping ballast water.\Photo courtesy of National Invasive Species Information Center. Ballast water carried by ships into the estuaries where ports are located can have serious environmental impacts. If not carefully handled, it can introduce invasive species and pollutants to the estuary. Many years ago, Oregon Shores played a leading role in advocating...Read more

State's Water Strategy under Review

Stream near Cape Perpeuta.\Photo by Heron Marychild. Oregon’s statewide plan for water management and allocation is known as the Integrated Water Resources Strategy. It is currently up for review and updating. A survey and series of public meetings have been conducted to give the public an opportunity to weigh in on how we manage water for people, plants,...Read more

Speak Out on Forest Plans and Water Quality

Clearcut in the Siuslaw River watershed.\Photo by Rena Olson, with support from Lighthawk. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is accepting comments about both its Forest Management Plan (FMP) and its Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Our colleagues with the North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection are asking for the public’s help in calling for...Read more

Public Invited to Help Guide Beach Monitoring Program

Short Sand Beach in northern Tillamook County, one of the beaches proposed for monitoring.\Photo courtesy of ODFW. The Oregon Health Authority’s Beach Monitoring Program is the public’s means of learning whether the waters washing our beaches is polluted. All too often, the water quality testing provided by this program demonstrates that it is. As the program...Read more

Beach Water Quality Monitoring Continues to Reveal Pollution

Frolicking in ocean waters--check to make sure they aren't polluted.\Photo by Sonja Peterson. The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program , based at the Oregon Health...Read more

State Adopts Plan to Address Ocean Acidification

Oregon's ocean off Netarts, Cape Lookout in the background.\Photo by Dale Harmer. Mandated by the 2017 Oregon Legislature, the state developed a plan to address the growing problem of ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH). The Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH), a body composed of scientists and agency leaders, with...Read more
Helicopter spraying of pesticides.\Photo courtesy of Oregon Wild.

Online Resource Can Help to Trace Spray Impacts

Aerial spraying by helicopter.\Photo courtesy of Oregon Wild. We are at least 50 years into the battle against the aerial spraying of toxic herbicides that damage ecosystems and threaten human health and water supplies. Long-time Oregonians will remember the struggle in the Coast Range against the use of sprays containing dioxin (2,4,5-T). Herbicide opponents...Read more
Nestucca River scene.\Photo by Dennis White.

Fish and Wildlife Priorities Will Be Subject of Town Halls

Nestucca River scene.\Photo by Dennis White. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is offering a series of “town halls” around the state, to give members of the public an opportunity to weigh in on the agency’s priorities as it develops its proposed 2019-2021 budget. A particular concern is the lack of funding in the department’s initial plans for...Read more
The beach at Rockaway.\Photo by Sonja Peterson.

Bacteria Findings Show Need for Water Quality Monitoring

The beach at Rockaway.\Photo by Sonja Peterson. The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program , based at the Oregon Health Association Public Health Division , began its annual, regular evaluation...Read more
Photo of two orca whales off the coast of Oregon.

World Oceans Day is June 8th

Video of world_oceans_day_youtube_2017 World Oceans Day is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a cleaner, healthier future. This year, on June 8th, individuals from across the globe will particpate in numerous ocean and water conservation events focusing on finding solutions to plastic pollution. There are multiple reasons why the oceans are important: They provide us food...Read more