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Columbia River Basin: Action Plan Focuses on Reducing Toxics, Restoring Basin Health
Salmon need a healthy river habitat
to thrive and reproduce
(5) Develop a data management system to share toxics
information around the Basin
•	Convene scientists to discuss options for managing
Columbia River Basin toxics data
•	Evaluate how other large aquatic ecosystems
manage data
•	Ensure inclusion of spatial component (latitude,
longitude) in new and available data, conduct
spatial analysis,
•	Create data stewardship program hosted and
managed by a single entity
	Background	
The Columbia R iver Basin, one of the world's great river
basins, covers about 260,000 square miles of the North
American landscape. However the Basin is contaminated
with many toxic pollutants, and public and scientific
concern about the health of the Basin is increasing. Toxics
in air, water, and soil threaten the health of people, fish,
and wildlife living in the Basin as these contaminants
move through the food web. The Columbia River tribal
people have depended on salmon and lamprey for
thousands of years for human, spiritual and cultural
sustenance. Recent studies have shown that tribal people
consume more fish than average fish consumers, and those
fish contain many contaminants, some pose a significant
risk to human health.
In 2005, EPA joined with federal, state, tribal, local,
industry, agriculture and non-profit partners to form
the collaborative Columbia River Toxics Reduction
Working Group and identified a goal to reduce toxics
in the Columbia River Basin. In 2006, EPA recognized
the Columbia River Basin as one of EPA's priority Large
Aquatic Ecosystems for priority protection and restoration.
In January 2009, the Columbia River Basin State of the
River Report for Toxics www.epa.gov/regionlO/columbia
was completed by EPA and our partners. The report
focused on four toxic contaminants found throughout the
Basin at levels that could adversely impact people, fish, and
wildlife: Mercury; DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane);
PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls); and PBDEs
(Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers). The report committed
to an Action Plan with a comprehensive strategy to reduce
toxics in the Basin which was collaboratively developed by
the Columbia River Toxics Reduction Working Group.
Learn More, Get Involved
Reducing toxics in the Columbia River Basin continues
to be a comprehensive, coordinated effort tapping into
the expertise of many partners. EPA and its partners are
committed to reducing toxics and care deeply about the
Basin. We know our mission is not easy and will take
many years. The involvement of all levels of government,
nongovernmental organizations, and the public is critical
to restore the Basin's health for now and for future
generations.
Mark Your Calendars
Next Columbia River Toxics Reduction
Working Group meeting:
March 8, 2011 -- Portland, OR
For More Information:
Mary Lou Soscia
Columbia River Coordinator
soscia.marylou@epa.gov
503-326-5873
Debra Sherbina
Community Involvement
sherbina.debra@epa.gov
800-424-4372 x0247
www.epa.gov/regionlO/columbia
https://twitter.com/EPAcolumbia
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