Interested in Watershed Issues?A recently released draft state Department of Ecology (Ecology) report says the Deschutes River and its tributaries need major shoreline revegetation efforts to cool the water and improve oxygen levels that violate water-quality standards. The five-year, $500,000 study describes water-pollution problems in the 186-square-mile watershed and suggests ways to remedy them. (Source: The Olympian, Oct. 21, 2008) The Ecology link to the study is: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/ An aerial survey of water temperatures studies taken at different locations along the Deschutes can be found at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/watersheds/temperature/tir/deschutes/index.html More Deschutes information can be found at: http://deschuteswatershedcenter.org According to its website: The Deschutes Watershed Center is a proposed Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon-rearing facility along the Deschutes River in Tumwater. It will include improvements to existing hatchery operations at Tumwater Falls Park and a new facility upstream at Pioneer Park. The project will also include an environmental learning center, interpretive exhibits and programs, and a Deschutes River corridor trail that eventually will link Pioneer Park to Puget Sound. The Washington State Legislature has provided funding for design and permitting of the project. Construction of the project, dependent upon continued legislative funding is expected to begin in 2009. Other local groups that serve as national role models for watershed protection include the Nisqually River Council, http://www.nisquallyriver.org and the Chehalis River Council, http://www.crcwater.org
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