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2005 Targeted Watersheds Grants:
Willamette River Basin
Oregon
WHY IS THIS WATERSHED SPECIAL?
The 11,478-square-mile Willamette River Basin is home to 72% of Oregon's citizens. The state's
three largest urban areas are located within its boundaries. Its population is expected to nearly
double by 2050. Yet it remains 70% forested and 22% agricultural. The agricultural lands within
the watershed are very productive, providing about half of Oregon's agricultural output. Wetlands
in the basin have been severely impacted, now covering only one percent of the watershed.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Industry, agriculture, shipping, hydroelectric power generation, waste treatment, recreation, and
development all place heavy demands on the Wllamette River and its watershed. Pollution from
point sources and non-point sources degrades water quality. The Targeted Watersheds Grant will
focus on:
• Rising water temperatures that result from the diverse uses of the watershed and that harm
salmon and other wildlife.
• Moving beyond traditional regulatory and voluntary approaches to achieving water quality
goals.
RESTORATION ACTIVITIES
The Wllamette Partnership will use the Targeted Watersheds Grant funds to develop new ways of
meeting temperature standards TMDL (total maximum daily load) by:
• Developing a temperature credit trading and banking program.
• Conducting a market appraisal to determine the supply, demand and costs of credits.
• Creating a temperature credit portfolio, a credit marketplace and a functional prototype.
Five of Oregon's largest cities including Portland are located along the Willamette,
relying on it for shipping, wastewater disposal, recreation and, in some cases,
drinking water. Photo credit: US Army Corps of Engineers
EPA840-F-07-001H
www.epa.gov/twg
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A STRONG PARTNERSHIP FOR CHANGE
The Willamette Partnership is a strong coalition of
members from diverse interests within the Willamette River
Basin who seek to retain and restore the natural processes
that provide and sustain western Oregon's quality of life.
Partners include:
• Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies
• Associated Oregon Industries
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
• Clean Water Services
• Wllamette Riverkeeper
• Oregon Environmental Council
• Defenders of Wldlife
• Cities of Albany, Salem, Eugene and Portland
• Oak Lodge Sanitary District
EPA's Targeted Watersheds
Grants
EPA's Targeted Watersheds Grants program is
a competitive grant program designed to
encourage collaborative, community-driven
approaches to meet clean water goals.
Photo credit: James Yuskavitch
Planting a wide buffer of shade trees along streams and rivers is one of the
best ways to reduce water temperature while improving habitat.
For More Information Contact:
David Primozich
The Willamette Partnership
primozich@verizon.net
(503)434-8033
www.willamettepartnership.org
Funding: $779,000
2005 Targeted Watersheds Grants - Willamette River
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