Watershed Management Plan: Portland, Oregon Portland, Oregon is one of the most sustainable cities in the U.S and is well-known for its urban appeal. Various bureaus within the city have consistently found ways to incorporate sustainability at a time when managing economic pressures and increased demands for natural resources have otherwise been challenging. It comes as no surprise then, that efforts in restoring watershed health play a large role in the city’s overall agenda. Every watershed within Portland’s jurisdiction serves an important purpose; and, while individual management plans do exist, a comprehensive plan has been created to give perspective of watershed health on a city-wide scale. Not only does this allow the city to meet multiple objectives but it also helps focus on the actual sources and causes of environmental problems (City of Portland Environmental Services, 2005). Portland is considered to be a large metropolitan area, encompassing 130 square miles (City of Portland Environmental Services, 2005). It is very urbanized and while it may be one of the most sustainable cities, it is certainly not without problems. More specifically, pollution has significantly degraded Portland’s watersheds and the city’s growth is exceeding the capacity of its sanitary sewer infrastructure (City of Portland Environmental Services, 2005). Across five watersheds – Columbia Slough, Johnson Creek, Fanno Creek, Tryon Creek, and the Willamette River – numerous issues exist. For the purpose of this paper, each watershed will be discussed separately and briefly to determine whether goals are achievable. Columbia Slough The Columbia Slough Watershed is vital to the city’s overall well-being. It is home to almost 160,000 people,... ... middle of paper ... ...ria shows that watersheds as a whole serve a vital purpose. Student Learning Points I found it unique that Portland has addressed their watershed individually and collectively. It really shows that the city has taken it upon itself to target city-wide issues that result from poor watershed health. This appears to be a major factor as to how this plan will prove to be effective. During major projects and in formulating plans, each bureau has kept in mind that improving watershed health is directly linked with positive outcomes. Aside from funding which was not addressed, there is no doubt that using this strategy will prove to be effective in meeting goals. It also provides new opportunities for the city to grow into one that leads in the area of sustainability when compared to other cities that are struggling with urbanization and high rates of pollution.
Currently, over half of the world’s population lives in urban based areas (Owrangi et al, 2014), and this increase in population is expected to contribute to further increases in flood risks (ibid). Vancouver has achieved rapid socioeconomic development due to the increased employment opportunities and growth rates, directly stressing local natural resources by increasing population and urbanization (Owrangi et al, 2014).
... piece of wildlife within a city. The purpose of the project is to restore the refuge into a place that it really meant to be, an ecosystem fit to support the refugees within. It will bring back a real slice of nature back to everyone backyard. The improvement to water quality of the lake can finally support the organisms that used to live there. The improvement can be sighted with the appearance of the river otter and the disappearance of the smell. The smell that once drive away joggers and children will be gone enabling them to experience the beauty of the lake within its blemishes causes by humans. Children can finally experience the true of an actual sanctuary for all creatures both aquatic and terrestrial when the return of aquatic life recovers. This project is a small step to bring back the former glory of Oakland’s main aspect of attraction to the world.
There are many causes and solutions to the deterioration of the Colorado River. The Colorado River is not the great river it used to be, with an abundant amount of healthy water, thriving wildlife and abundant plant life. With climate change, water salinity, pollution, and natural runoffs, the river’s water quality has deteriorated immensely. However, if communities and environmental groups join forces to research and raise money to find ways to help improve the Colorado River, it can get back to its original condition. This issues affects those who live by the river, concluding that I live somewhere near the river, I would love to see a change in the rivers condition to not only help the nature around it, but to help myself and others.
People have been drawn to the big and beautiful Columbia River Basin for thousands of years. During the last century, natural resource-based industries supported small, growing communities. Today, people still appreciate the basin's rural flavor and quality of life.
The beginning of the millennium saw more steps to improve the River. Nonprofit organization such as FoLAR, Local, state and federal agencies all played key roles in determining the restoration plans for the Los Angeles River. Example of events include: California passed Proposition 13 (which embraces watershed protection), the city adopted the Revitalization Master Plan, the River is chosen for Federal Waters Pilot Program, the U.S. Army Corps of engineers recommends Alternative 20 (which is the most comprehensive restoration), and more. The River continues to improve as activists, citizens and government forces keep pushing through to restore it closer to its natural state. Below is a time line of events that highlight the River’s history.
About 80% of the State’s surveyed freshwater rivers and streams have good water quality that fully supports aquatic life uses, 17% have fair water quality that partially supports aquatic life uses, and 3% have poor water quality that does not support aquatic life uses. Ten percent of the surveyed rivers do not fully support swimming. The major sources of impairment are agriculture (responsible for 53% of the impaired river miles), urban runoff (responsible for 16%), and construction (responsible for 13%). These sources generate siltation, bacteria, and organic wastes that deplete disssolved opxygen.
The Colorado River is on a path that will take it to its end. The river is running out of water and cannot keep up with the high demand. New technology and growing industries require more water and more power. Organizations are attempting to solve the problem through public policy but the task may prove too large. Humans have changed the coarse of nature and it is up to us to come together and fight for change.
The pollution of Lake Macatawa has reached a point where both government entities as well as local people need to do their part to clean it up. Through my research it is clear that Lake Macatawa has a clear pollution problem. The pollution problem is an underrated issue because its lack of coverage and its potential significant impact. Lake Macatawa is connected to Lake Michigan, which is a massively valuable natural resource. Lake Macatawa’s pollution is an issue of which needs to be taken care. Even though there are city ordinances, state-wide laws, and federal laws in place, Lake Macatawa still manages to remain incredibly polluted. The proof of the pollution can be shown through the clean-up effort that is going on now. The research includes
Then the documentary tackles Puget Sound. The Duwamish River is the largest hot spot in the nation. In 2001, the Duwamish River was classified as a “Super Fund” site. This is given to a site that will receive federal assistance for clean up. But yet, it may be too late. Puget Sound in contaminated with PCP, lead and mercury. The threat comes from the giant industrial polluters of old and from chemicals in consumers’ face creams, deodorants, prescription medicines and household cleaners that find their way into sewers, storm drains, eventually into America’s waterways and drinking water.
One of the major themes throughout this book is the need for more collaboration, coalitions, and alliances at the regional level dealing with major political, economic, social, and environmental problems our metropolitan regions face. One example the book provides for increasing collaboration between regional actors is to create a dialogue to establish “mutual understanding through a process that suspends judgment, reveals assumptions on both sides, and includes diverse perspectives..” A dialogue replaces the inefficient process of debate with a collaborative one that builds trusts and helps to reconcile difference between seemingly competing interests. In San Diego for example, in the 1980’s civic leaders had UCSD set up an organization to spell out all the regions problems and bring the community together to help work at solving the region’s challenges. The San Diego dialogue was noted for helping to build connections that broke down borders between different groups and the shift in focus from individual grievances to community solutions.
Conflict between residents in northern Nevada and SNWA has risen (Brean, 2015). In 2012 the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced its support of SNWA wanting to build a pipeline from rural Nevada to Las Vegas, rural Nevada being primarily in the northern portion of the state (Larsen et al., 2015). Residents including farmers who depend on water for their crops argue that redirecting water supplies would harm the environment and wildlife that inhabit northern Nevada (Brean, 2015). There is also an issue of oversubscription, this is due to the Colorado River not only supplying water to Nevada but neighboring states which include “Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah” (Wockner, 2014). Both Arizona and California are expecting water shortages in the future as they too depend on the Colorado River (Wockner, 2014).
Between 300 and 400 million people worldwide live in areas near wetlands and depend on them. Wetlands are mechanisms for treatment of wastewater are extremely efficient because they absorb chemicals and filter pollutants and sediments. Half the world's wetlands have disappeared due to urbanization and industrial development. The only way to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction will be through better management of rivers and wetlands, and the land they drain and drain as well as through increased investment in them.
"Water Pollution." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 May 2014.
Water is essential for humanity’s survival, and even though the world is largely covered by water, only a small percentage is only usable for human consumption. Approximately, on average, 120,000 gallons of water are used annually for a single-family household (Galbraith). This alarming number could be reduced dramatically for the efforts of water conserving and lower water bill prices for families and subsequently saving money that could be used for other expenses. Thus, conserving water would prove beneficial and advantageous to not just Texas, but for everyone else as well. Although environmental policies have been not as popular with Congress and the state legislature, it is still an important problem to consider since there are only a limited amount of resources for public use, such as water.
Wetlands serve many purposes and are considered one of the most productive natural systems in the world. They serve as crucial "pit-stops" for migratory bird, house several species of plants and animals, cleanse and purify water, as well as providing utilitarian needs such as flood control (Allen, p.13). If fifteen percent of the wetlands destroyed in Ohio and Iowa would have been saved (over the history of wetland destruction), then two-thirds of the destructive flooding that happened throughout 1993 in the Midwest could have been prevented saving the U.S. a great deal of money. Maintaining the protection and restoration of the nation’s wetl...