Download a pdf copy of the Willamette River Report Card here!

A true working river, the Willamette is essential to our people, communities and wildlife.

• Tens of thousands of people visit the Willamette every year to swim, boat, and fish. 
• The Willamette River is home to two-thirds of the state’s population. Here in the Luckiamute Watershed, most of us live within minutes of the river. We use the Willamette and tributaries to drink, irrigate cropland, and as a place to play, exercise, and experience nature.
  
• 75% of Oregon’s economic output comes from the Willamette Valley. Fertile farmland, growing cities, a thriving beer and wine industry, the
  busy Portland harbor—all rely on the Willamette and its tributaries.
  
• Humans aren’t the only ones who need the river. Bald eagles, beavers, otters, great blue herons, frogs, turtles, salmon, trout—these are just
  a few of the fish and wildlife species whose very survival depends on the river.
  

The Willamette River is much cleaner today than it used to be, but there's more work to be done

• The Willamette is a river that flows only in Oregon, and its care is our responsibility.
  
• Only 50 years ago, cities and factories were still dumping untreated waste into the Willamette, making large sections of the river lethal to
  fish and virtually unusable by the public.
  
• Former Governor Tom McCall led the charge to clean up the river starting back in 1962. Today, the work of non-profits, governments,
  landowners, and thousands of volunteers continues this legacy.
  
• The Luckiamute Watershed Council is working to improve water quality and habitat conditions in the Luckiamute and Ash Creek watersheds, as well as many of the surrounding small streams and sloughs that drain into the Willamette River. As a volunteer, nongovernmental advisory group, we work hand-in-hand with our partners and supporters including local agencies, schools, landowners, industries and businesses.
  
• ​The Willamette River Basin is one of the few western watersheds where water supply still meets current demand, but that could
  change in the future. In the face of increasing drought and significant population growth, which will put more stress on water usage and
  increase sources of pollution, we need to continue addressing problems and make sure the current trend continues in a positive direction.

What a B- grade means and how it affects our community.

• The Willamette earned an ‘A’ for Swimmability, which means it is clean enough to swim in along its entire length.
• Native fish species are found in fairly good numbers in the upper Willamette, but numbers dwindle moving downstream. The river still
  contains more native than non-native fish species overall; even in the lower reach, 78% of total fish species are native.
• Resident fish like carp and bass are not safe to eat very often due to the toxins they accumulate over time. The Oregon Health Authority
  recommends a limit on resident fish eaten throughout the river’s length. However, migratory fish species such as salmon and steelhead are
  considered safe to eat because they move more quickly through the system, giving them less long-term exposure to toxins.
• Bald eagle populations are thriving, and juvenile Chinook salmon populations are doing well in the upper and middle sections of the river.
  However, the lower river gets a failing grade for juvenile Chinook, and significant fish and wildlife habitat improvements are needed
  throughout the river.
• Much of the forest that once lined the river has been lost, along with complex and branching side channels that provided important fish and
  wildlife habitat and helped keep water clean and cold. The Willamette is too warm for healthy salmon and steelhead populations and received
  a D- overall for water temperatures.

We can all protect the river, everyday.

Whether you live on a farm or in a city, your actions make a difference to the health of the river and nearby streams.

Protect Streamside Vegetation

• Keep existing streamside vegetation to improve water quality and provide habitat
• Remove weeds and plant native vegetation in their place
• Plant streamside vegetation where it is bare

Prevent Water Pollution

• Reduce bacteria: maintain septic tanks, pick up after pets, and keep farm animals and manure away from streams
• Reduce toxic chemicals: use chemicals efficiently, choose non-toxic or less-toxic alternatives, and follow the label for use and disposal
• Reduce soil erosion and runoff: plant ground cover on bare areas near streams, don’t overuse fertilizers, and plant a rain garden to reduce
  runoff from your home
• Dispose of unused medications responsibly: Drop off your unused medications at an appropriate site instead of flushing them down the
  toilet or tossing them in the garbage

Protect River Channel and Floodplain Connections

• Give the river room to move where possible and avoid placing structures in the active floodplain
• Protect the connection of side channels to the river
• Protect known cold water habitats and tributary confluence areas

Conserve Water

• Irrigate wisely – Use the most efficient form of irrigation available for landscaping and for crops
• Consume wisely – Use less water at home and at work
• Landscape appropriately - use native plants that are adapted to the Northwest climate

Get Involved and Make a Difference!

• Join us! Learn more and get involved with the Luckiamute Watershed Council to protect the Luckiamute River, Ash Creek, and the waterways that flow into the Willamette River. Click here to find out how you can get involved!
• Be a Doer: Volunteer with a local organization to plant trees, clean up a river, or remove invasive species.
• Be a Citizen Scientist. Get involved in local bird counts, monitor water quality—the opportunities are endless!
• Be Heard: Contact your local elected officials when they are working on issues that will impact Willamette River health and express
  your opinion.