New website promotes clean rivers and streams
From the Regional Coalition for Clean Rivers and Streams:
Do you clean up after your dog? Watch the chemicals in your garden? Take your car to an automated car wash that recycles wash water? All of these ideas and more will help keep rivers healthy. The Regional Coalition for Clean Rivers and Streams will launch a new website the week of July 7, 2008 that presents lots of information in a fun, interactive way about how we all can keep rivers healthy. CleanRiversandStreams.org provides detailed information about how to keep our daily activities from polluting local rivers and streams.
The Regional Coalition for Clean Rivers and Streams website is categorized into four groups: lawn, auto, garden and home. Each section includes helpful hints on how to prevent waste and harsh chemicals from entering storm drains or sewers. Some of the useful suggestions include using biodegradable soap to wash a car, planting trees to help reduce watering needs and leaving grass clippings on the lawn to allow the nutrients to act as a fertilizer. The website offers easy navigation to nearly 100 outside sources, which further explain a variety of environmental hints:
• Stop or contain oil leaks from your car. Stormwater runoff containing just a pint of oil can create a slick larger than a football field.
• Cut use of fertilizers. Fertilizers with high levels of quick-release phosphorus and nitrogen pollute streams, rivers and other waterways, impacting the health and habitat of water-dwelling creatures like fish and amphibians.
• Clean up after your dog and cat. Fecal bacteria pollutes our waterways and puts people (especially children) at risk.
• Insecticides, herbicides and fungicides are toxic and can pose a threat to people and pets if overused or carelessly applied. They can also kill beneficial insects, earthworms, birds and other organisms, disrupting the ecological balance of your lawn and garden.
“Clean water and healthy rivers and streams are important to the quality of life,” said Megan Callahan, public information manager for the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services. “We created the site so that it would be fun and appeal to all ages and all walks of life. It is easy to navigate and has lots of good information for all users.”
The area waterways are important for recreation, scenery and drinking water for people and wildlife. The new Regional Coalition for Clean Rivers and Streams website is one component of the group’s efforts to inform the community of the harmful waste and chemicals that pollute local waterways.
The Regional Coalition for Clean Rivers and Streams is a partnership of eight public agencies in the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area: City of Portland, City of Gresham, City of Vancouver, Water Environment Services of Clackamas County, Clark County, Clean Water Services, Metro, Multnomah County. The group’s goal is to educate the public about stormwater runoff pollution and its impact on the health of our rivers and streams.
Posted on July 10, 2008
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