Dear Friend, Located in northeastern Oregon, the Powder River cuts canyons of up to 500 feet into the surrounding Columbia plateau along its route to the Snake River, with 11 miles of its length protected under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Powder River also flows through a major agricultural region, with livestock ranches and fields of grains, oilseeds, dry beans, dry peas, melons, potatoes — even cotton and tobacco. Because of the volume of agricultural operations, the flow of the Powder is high in contaminants and pollutants that can affect the river's health cumulatively, and in bursts of toxicity. To limit the amount of contaminants, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has undertaken a rulemaking process for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TDML), a legal mechanism that determines the maximum amount of pollutants the river may be able handle without risk to native species or recreational use. Unfortunately, the agency is receiving considerable pushback against the TDML process from interests that would prefer little, if any, restrictions on the amount of contaminants that would enter the river. Among other things, they are arguing the river should be protected for agricultural use only, and NOT for public recreation, fish and wildlife. That's why we need your help now. |
|
