Region 10- Pacific Northwest

Region Ten is located in the American Pacific Northwest bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Canada to the north, California, Nevada and Utah to the south and Wyoming and Montana to the east. The region consists of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

This region is home to a diverse range of landscapes and presents unique water protection challenges. Important water resources in this region include the Puget Sound and the Columbia River.

Issue(s):

Agriculture

Clean Water Act Jurisdiction

Coast / Oceans

Enforcement

Funding

Global Warming and Water

Green Infrastructure

Impaired Waters (TMDL)

Pollutants (toxins, pharmaceuticals, etc.)

Water Quality Standards

Columbia River Restoration Act Introduced in Congress

February 25, 2010

Legislative Update

Region(s)/State(s):

Region 10

On February 24th, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Columbia River Restoration Act (H.R. 4652) that will fund the clean-up and restoration of the Columbia River, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest. The Columbia River is plagued by habitat loss and degraded with dangerous PCBs and chemical pollutants that are detrimental to fish and wildlife, including many species of salmon and steelhead that are listed as threatened or endangered species.

CWN Board Member Fired (from Alaska Science Panel on Cruise Ship Wastewater Treatment)

January 29, 2010

Member News

Region(s)/State(s):

Alaska

On January 16th, CWN Board member Gershon Cohen was kicked off the Alaska cruise ship wastewater treatment science advisory panel. The group is intended to advise the Department of Conservation (DEC) on how the ships can meet strict pollution discharge limits by 2015. Cohen was initially invited to join the panel on December 23, 2009, but then received a phone call on January 16, 2010 from DEC Commissioner Larry Hartig disinviting him.