The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s governing body, the Environmental Quality Commission, adopted six different sets of rules at their November meeting last Thursday and Friday. Why do rules matter? Rules determine how DEQ regulates. When the legislature passes laws, they’re often very general. The agency responsible for implementing the law has to write theContinue reading “Closing out the year with new rules”
Category Archives: Water quality
Oregon DEQ releases 2021 Oregon Water Quality Index
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has released the 2021 Oregon Water Quality Index. It assesses water quality at 160 ambient monitoring stations across the state. The goal is to determine the status and identify trends in waters of the state for ambient water quality conditions. The OWQI is the only water quality key performanceContinue reading “Oregon DEQ releases 2021 Oregon Water Quality Index”
Personal Essay: Integrating Regional Solutions to DEQ’s Mission
Earth Day 2022 has come and gone, but I still think about the iconic “Earth Rise” image. Because I am a geographer, I recognize the collective and sweeping focus and perspective on air, land and water all Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s employees share in our common mission. For me and my own niche, it is such a privilege to work alongside dedicated DEQ professionals, and through the variety of ways the Regional Solutions program compliments and extends our work.
Encouraging Green Infrastructure in Oregon
An innovative program is helping restore streambank vegetation across Oregon. The program, one of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s many, is called “water quality trading,” and trading is one of several forward-thinking efforts used by the DEQ to boost investment in green infrastructure. Green infrastructure is the practice of using natural ecosystems to deliver specific services. Planting trees and other vegetation along streams to shade waterways is just one example of green infrastructure.
Your DEQ Online technology fee takes effect in July
Starting in July, a 4% technology fee will be charged on all financial transactions in Your DEQ Online, except agency-issued penalties. The fee, which was authorized by the 2021 Oregon Legislature, is necessary to pay for annual operation and maintenance costs of Your DEQ Online
The three most important ways Oregon is fighting climate change
cent headlines warn that the window is quickly closing to protect our future and preserve a livable planet. In Oregon, we have seen the effects of the climate crisis first-hand: hundreds of deaths from extreme heat waves; thousands of homes destroyed by wildfire; lakes and rivers drying up before our eyes; farmers without water to grow food; and the toxic algal blooms that shut down the city of Salem’s drinking water system for weeks in 2018.
DEQ tackles questions about so few women in STEM fields
For anyone who works in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, all you have to do is look around to see there are very few women scientists, lab technicians, researchers, etc. In fact, according to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Institute for Statistics, fewer than 30% of the world’s researchers are women.
DEQ Thanks our Veterans and Active-Duty Military
As we commemorate Veterans Day, we appreciate how the many veterans and active-duty military working at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality are continuing the call to service in their current jobs. In fact, DEQ is proud to currently have 48 military service members on staff. We honor them for their sacrifices and thank them for always saying “yes” when called upon to support our country and Oregonians.
Two Decades of Work Result in Meeting Water Quality Standards for Bacteria in the Lower Columbia Slough
ou might not know this, but keeping poop out of the water is a lot of work! The Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for keeping Oregon’s waters safe and healthy and restoring streams and lakes from sources of nonpoint source pollution, such as bacteria from human and animal waste. This is a long-term investment that takes a combination of resources, partnerships and time.
Oregon awards Oregon Green Schools $10,000 grant
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has awarded Oregon Green Schools $10,000 to help the nonprofit transition from a fully volunteer organization to establishing a more formal structure, including a small, paid professional staff. This shift will strengthen and expand OGS’s activities with schools across the state. Photos: Students complete the Oregon Green Schools GreenContinue reading “Oregon awards Oregon Green Schools $10,000 grant”