Tualatin River - Pollution

Pollution

The drainage area of the river is approximately 712 square miles (1,840 km2) with 27 creeks feeding into the Tualatin. Its watershed is 15% urbanized, 35% agricultural, and 50% forested. the river drops 1,800 feet (550 m) in elevation during its first 12 miles (19 km) and then only an additional 250 feet (76 m) for the remainder of its course. This creates a slow river for the majority of the course, creating problems with pollution. Pollution reached a point that in 1989 local agencies were forced to begin cleaning up the river after the Tualatin failed water quality standards outlined in the Clean Water Act of 1972. It was the first river in the state to fail overall pollution limits.