Columbia River Basin State of the River Report for Toxics
The State of the River Report for Toxics is a summary of what we know about four widespread contaminants in the Columbia River Basin: mercury, DDT and its breakdown products, PCBs, and PBDE flame retardants. The report also highlights many important efforts to reduce toxics already underway in the Basin. Read more...
Columbia River: A National Priority
The Columbia River Basin was designated a member of the EPA's Large Aquatic Ecosystem Council (LAE) in 2008. The Columbia River Basin joins nine other geographic-based efforts that focus on protecting and restoring the health of critical aquatic ecosystems. The LAE Council seeks to merge geographically-based efforts with national water programs to advance the health of the Nation’s large aquatic ecosystems and strengthen national water programs. Read the fact sheet (PDF) (2pp, 2MB)
In EPA’s 2006-2011 Strategic Plan, the Columbia River Basin was elevated to one of our Nation’s great water bodies, joining the Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, South Florida Ecosystem, Long Island Sound and Puget Sound. As the Agency’s road map for future work efforts, the strategic plan sets environmental targets which will help to move toward a healthier river.
- Protect, enhance, or restore 13,000 acres of wetland habitat and 3,000 acres of upland habitat in the Lower Columbia River watershed.
- Clean up 150 acres of known highly contaminated sediments.
- Demonstrate a 10% reduction in mean concentration of contaminants of concern found in water and fish tissue.
Columbia River Baseline Document (PDF) (5 pp. 60K)