What's Up Willamette: Water

An environmental watchdog group has backed off its threat to sue the operators of a Halsey pulp mill over pollution in a Willamette River mixing zone after the company took steps to remedy the problem.

A mixing zone is a spot where pollution enters into a river, and it's legal for it to be there. These mixing zones exist throughout the Willamette River, and last fall, Travis Williams of Willamette Riverkeeper found himself floating over a dark, murky patch of water in the Willamette near Halsey.

The Tualatin Valley Water District voted 4-0 Wednesday to tap the Willamette River as the district's need for water grows in the next 30 years and beyond. The district will partner with Hillsboro, which voted in February to adopt the same long-term strategy for water supply.

As summer begins and the temperature rises, the cool waters of the Willamette River and nearby water bodies are looking more and more appealing. But hidden dangers to public health sometimes lurk below the surface - toxic algae blooms or high levels of fecal bacteria.

Nearly 2 1/2 years ago, the Portland City Council decided to spend $6 million from sewer and stormwater funds to help buy a 146-acre hillside, overlooking the Willamette River, for a new nature park.

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Dams have been vilified for detrimental effects to water quality and fish passage, but a new study suggests that these structures provide "ecological and engineering resilience" to climate change in the Columbia River basin.

SWEET HOME - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is alerting boaters, anglers and other visitors on the South Santiam River that Foster Reservoir water levels will drop more rapidly than usual in October as the Corps draws the reservoir down to its winter flood control elevation.