Brought to you by the following Sponsors: Metro, Clackamas County Soil and Water, Clean Water Services, Clark County, Washington; West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Water Environment Services, Environmental Services City of Portland, City of Lake Oswego, City of Gresham

When properly designed and constructed, rain gardens drain rapidly with surface water present for only 1-2 days.

Rain Gardens are simply shallow depressions that allow storm runoff from roofs, driveways, patios, etc. to slowly soak into the soil.

a plant chart that covers light, water needs and the wildlife that use the plants

Here’s where a streamside property owner can really shine! A stream or riparian buffer is the vegetation along a stream. Natural, undisturbed streams are lined with a community of native plants that shade and stabilize the streambanks.

Well-maintained vehicles are less likely to pollute waterways with oil, antifreeze, brake pad and tire wear.

Oh, yeah. Even "natural" materials pollute the water by adding excess nutrients. As organic matter decomposes under water, it uses oxygen that fish and other water creatures need to survive.

Pets and livestock trample stream banks, kill the plants and create harmful erosion. Animal waste contains bacteria and parasitic organisms that can infect people and animals that drink or touch the water.

Where does the soap, grease and dirt go? Pressure washing your home, deck, sidewalk, driveway and vehicles can wash pollutants into storm drains and ditches that lead to waterways.

Chemicals that kill roof moss and lichen often contain copper, zinc and iron sulfate that may wash into waterways. Use alternatives to chemical treatment to help protect our water resources.

Natural landscapes absorb rain slowly. The built environment’s hard surfaces, roofs and paving tend to speed and increase the volume of runoff.

In hot summer months some households put nearly half their water on the lawn. Over-watering is a common mistake that wastes precious water, money, time and effort.

Think about children, pets and wildlife before using pesticides and fertilizers on the lawn. Excessive pesticide use may pollute streams, eliminate natural predators, encourage resistance to pesticides, and kill beneficial insects, earthworms and other organisms.

For starters, try to reduce the amount of hazardous materials in and around your home. Buy only the chemicals you can use or share with a neighbor.

All watershed residents should care for our precious water resources, but people who have streams on their property have a greater responsibility than others. We created this guide especially to help streamside property owners make stream-friendly choices for home and yard care.

Point source pollution is pollution that comes from one source, such as a factory pipe outlet. Nonpoint source pollution is pollution that comes from many different sources, such as overfertilized lawns, trampled streambanks, or eroding pastures.

What is a watershed? Wherever you go, there you are, in a watershed. A watershed is simply all the land area that drains to a specific point. Browse a map and you can find your watershed by finding the closest stream.

When you see pollution, report it. The Environmental Services Spill Protection Citizen Response team is available 24 hours a day to investigate spills, slicks and suspicious discharges.

Did you know...that our local rivers and streams have fecal bacteria that exceed clean water standards? According to Clean Water Services' DNA study, dog waste alone accounts for almost 15% of E.coli bacteria sources.

Building storm water management systems that mimic nature by using plants and soils to filter pollutants and allowing storm water to soak into the ground to refresh groundwater supplies

More than 17,000 small acreage farms cover 298,000 acres in Oregon. Singly, one farm may cause little pollution. But added together, small acreages can significantly impact a watershed. A stream reflects your management of the land and water.

These days, the major threat to water quality is pollution from people’s day to day activities—road dirt, soap, fertilizer, pet waste, pesticides, erosion, etc. Simple changes in home, yard and auto care really count.

Many of our common, everyday activities can affect the health of our urban watersheds. When it rains, storm water runoff that isn’t properly managed can wash over streets and other hard surfaces and carry pollutants into our rivers, streams and groundwater. We can all work together to keep our watersheds healthy and our rivers and streams clean.

Remember, when you’re washing your car, you’re not just washing your car. Find out about a free and easy way to make your community car wash "fish-friendly."