AIR, LAND & WATER

Oregon DEQ announces 2022 Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grant recipients

Diesel trash trucks are eligible for DEQ’s Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grants.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recently announced recipients of nearly $7.5 million in funding for projects designed to reduce diesel emissions across the state and among vulnerable populations. Under the Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grant Program, eight selected projects will help eliminate air contaminants affecting public health and climate by retrofitting or replacing older medium- and heavy-duty diesel equipment with new, cleaner alternatives.

Cleaner Air Oregon team celebrates significant milestone

The Cleaner Air Oregon team is celebrating a significant milestone as companies that were among the first to be subject to the program are wrapping up the risk assessment and permitting processes.

DEQ staff greet and inform the public at two weekend events

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality staff and managers participated in two significant and successful public outreach events over the weekend of July 9-10: tabling at an Active Bethel Community event in Eugene and staffing a booth at The Big Float in Portland.

Enforcement at work: Owens-Brockway installs pollution controls at glass recycling plant

Bigstock photo of a row of glass bottles ready to be filled up in a beverage factory

After DEQ issued the Owens-Brockway glass recycling plant a $1 million fine in June 2021 for air quality violations, the company signed an agreement in October 2021 resolving the enforcement action and giving Owens-Brockway two options: install pollution controls or shut down.

Oregon DEQ launches new Lab web page

^{Harris Beach State Park Beach Monitoring Program, Shane Bennett, 2021}

Did you ever want to learn more about the part of DEQ collecting the data that produces the Air Quality Index or analyzing drinking water samples for Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms? Well, head on over to our new web page and meet the Laboratory and Environmental Assessment Division, a.k.a. the Lab!

Harmful Algal Blooms

Summer is here and we’ve already experienced some hot days in Oregon, and people seeking out local lakes and rivers to play in. While enjoying all of Oregon’s beautiful waterways, it’s important to watch out for what are called cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms, or cyanoHABs for short. A mouthful to say, but don’t get a mouthful of this stuff, it contains harmful toxins.

Lauren and Dylan talk to staff with DEQ and Oregon Health Authority about how to be stay alert when it comes to cyanoHABs. Step 1: sign up for alerts for when OHA confirms there are cyanoHABs in the water.

Congratulations to the EPA Brownfield Grant recipients in Oregon

After going through an incredibly competitive grant process, eight of the nine Oregon applicants prevailed and will receive $4.4 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s brownfield grants and loans program. These grants will support these applicants in doing environmental assessments, sampling and cleanup of brownfields in their communities.

Community Smoke Response Plans

Prescribed burning and wildfire can send smoke into communities around Oregon, which may impact public health. So, the Department of Environmental Quality has been working with communities around Oregon to develop community smoke response plans.

Lauren and Dylan talk with people from Smokewise Ashland, a local collaborative working group ground in Southern Oregon, which has been operating a community smoke response plan for years.

2022 Earth Month Photo Contest Winners

Our photography contest features more than 50 images created by DEQ staff who work daily to protect Oregon’s air, land and water. The contest drew entries of stunning images from around the state —whether a shot from their travels or a selfie with a beloved creature or critter. Browse this gallery to see the judges’ top picks. We hope these inspire you.

First place: Whitehorse Falls. Photo and caption by Aaron K., vehicle inspector
Second place: Fancy meeting you here! On the edge of 7,000 feet, McNeil Point. Photo and caption by Grecia L., Human Resources Assistant
Third place: Fresh snow dusts Smith Rock on a quiet late-December evening. Photo and caption by Eileen N., agency toxics coordinator
Runner-up: Neowise over the Willamette. Photo by Steve S.,Senior Water Quality Permit Analyst
Climate change….fact or fiction? Photo of my backyard in Portland, Oregon (April 2022). Photo and caption by Kimberlee V., senior emergency response coordinator
What I love about Oregon; its wildness and beauty, with all its surprises and variability. Photo and caption by Michele T., web designer
Little Cultus Lake. Quiet gem of Central Oregon. Photo and caption by Randy J., Eastern Oregon Regional Solutions Program
One of my favorite things about Oregon is exploring the natural abundance of remote high-gradient streams, fly road in-hand, seeking wild, native fish with people I love. Photo and caption by Peter D., Sherwood Clean Air Station manager
An urban Earth Day. Scene from my bike commute near Hawthorne Bridge, Portland. Photo and caption by Harry E., communications manager
Playing disc golf at Rooster Rock, our Beagle’s “playground.” Photo by Corin Salnave, Heating Oil Tank Program, duty officer
Heron and hazy Rainier. Photo by Owen R., Air Quality Modeler in the Air Quality Technical Services section
Transgression. Regression. Photo and caption by Owen R., Air Quality Modeler in the Air Quality Technical Services section
McKenzie River headwaters at Clear Lake. Photo by Sarah M., Cleanup Project Manager
Sahalie Falls. Photo by Sarah M., Cleanup Project Manager
Rejoicing in the environment we are trying to protect and promote; view from Stacker Butte overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. Photo and caption by Spencer Bohaboy, Hazardous Waste Permit Writer
The Hoyt Arboretum in Portland is an investment in our planet as it provides a habitat to many animals, helps clean our water and air, and it’s a beautiful place for people to decompress and enjoy nature. Photo and caption by Sophia C., chemist, DEQ laboratory
Feathered friend at the Hoyt Arboretum, Portland. Photo by Sophia C., chemist, DEQ laboratory
Scenic drive on Hwy 224 along the banks of the Clackamas River, pre-fires. Much has changed there in two years. Photo and caption by Lee B., Northeast and Scappoose Clean Air Station Manager
Great view near the top of Banshee Hill in Winchester Bay. – our favorite place to go ride our quads and enjoy being outside! Photo and caption by Lee B., Northeast and Scappoose Clean Air Station Manager
Taking in the view at Painted Hills Observation area in northeastern Oregon during a a motorcycle and camping trip. Photo and caption by Lee B., Northeast and Scappoose Clean Air Station Manager
Silver Falls State Park with fog in the foothills. Photo and caption by Angela R., Water Quality Permitting Operations & Policy Analyst
Sunbeam at Cannon Beach/Photo and caption by Angela R., Water Quality Permitting Operations & Policy Analyst
Cape Lookout beach sunset. Photo and caption by Angela R., Water Quality Permitting Operations & Policy Analyst
Silver Falls in the early morning. Photo and caption by Angela R., Water Quality Permitting Operations & Policy Analyst
Rockaway Beach sunset reflection with Rosie. Photo and caption by Angela R., Water Quality Permitting Operations & Policy Analyst
Mt. McLoughlin reflection in Willow Lake. Photo by Aaron K., vehicle inspector, Vehicle Inspection Program-Medford
Lone Ranch Beach near Brookings. Photo by Aaron K., vehicle inspector, Vehicle Inspection Program-Medford
Mt. McLoughlin in the snow at sunset. Photo by Aaron K., vehicle inspector
Pearsony Falls in Prospect, Oregon. Photo by Aaron K., vehicle inspector
Camping in Lost Forest Natural Research Area where investing to conserve this remnant Ponderosa Pine forest, isolated by arid desert, pays back dividends in unique ecosystem benefits!/Photo and caption by Alex L., watershed program analyst
Springtime in Portland’s Waterfront Park/Photo and caption by Jennifer K., former program analyst, Clean Water State Revolving Fund
After a short but steep trek on a well-traveled path, you can follow a creek until it emerges into the basalt bowl that cradles Abiqua Falls. Photo and caption by Eileen N., agency toxics coordinator
As dusk fell over the Alvord Desert, we startled a covey of Greater Sage-Grouse and followed their flight path over the ice-crusted dry lakebed. Photo and caption by Eileen N., agency toxics coordinator
The meadows surrounding Todd Lake are bursting with wildflowers even into late summer and early fall. Photo and caption by Eileen N., agency toxics coordinator
In Siuslaw National Forest on a trail dominated by Bigleaf Maple, Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock at lower elevations, we climbed towards an old burn at higher elevation where ashy soil gave rise to late-summer goldenrod blooms. Photo and caption by Eileen N., agency toxics coordinator
Good morning, Mt. Hood/Photo by Jennifer F., public affairs specialist
Sea foam on kelp, Oregon coast/Photo by Greg C., water quality specialist, DEQ Lab
Top of Paulina Peak with a views of Paulina Lake, Mt. Bachelor, and Three Sisters. Photo and caption by Alex S., air quality permit writer and inspector
East side of Steens Mountain, view from Fields-Denino Road. Photo by Alex S., Air Quality Permit Writer and Inspector
Haystack Rock – A popular spot that Oregonians and visitors alike hold “deer” to their hearts. Photo and caption by Alex S., Air Quality Permit Writer and Inspector
Bandit on the Willamette. Photo and caption by Steve S., Senior Water Quality Permit Analyst
Sisters make best friends, Wahclella Falls. Photo and caption by Steve S., Senior Water Quality Permit Analyst
A girl’s best friend – Mary’s Peak. Photo and caption by Steve S., Senior Air Quality Permit Analyst
A girl’s best friend, Road’s End Beach. Photo and caption by Steve S., Senior Air Quality Permit Analyst
Mink Lake. Photo by Sara S., Eastern Region Watershed Manager
Lake Billy Chinook. Photo by Sara S., Eastern Region Watershed Manager
Riley Ranch. Photo by Sara S., Eastern Region Watershed Manager
Day dreaming above the clouds at McNeil Point. Photo and caption by Grecia L., Human Resources Assistant
Shocking and invitingly blue/ Slushie blue, but all true! Tamolitch Blue Pool, McKenzie River Trail. Photo and caption by Grecia L., Human Resources Assistant
Tucked away but not overshadowed, a beach full of natural splendors in Brookings, Oregon/Photo and caption by Grecia L., Human Resources Assistant
A bridge of sunlight to the heavens, Columbia River Gorge. Photo and caption by Grecia L., Human Resources Assistant
Mountain Inception, Crater Lake. Photo and caption by Grecia L., Human Resources Assistant
Take a stroll with me, Florence Dune. Photo and caption by Grecia L., Human Resources Assistant
Pre-historic and grand creations, McNeil Point, Mt. Hood. Photo and caption by Grecia L., Human Resources Assistant
Tom McCall Waterfront in Portland. Photo by Lauren R., Operations and Policy Analyst

DEQ submits comprehensive water quality report to EPA

DEQ Natural Resource Specialist Lesley Merrick looks for aquatic critters, a sign of a health stream.

Warm water continues to be the top source of pollution in Oregon’s rivers and streams, according to the latest and most detailed report produced by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The 2022 Integrated Report on state water quality, as it is called, is now in the hands of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which must approve its findings before it becomes official.