The Freshwater Problem

Our rivers and streams are in a race they cannot win. There are hundreds of thousands of miles of degraded rivers and streams throughout the United States in need of repair. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in Oregon – a state knows for being a leader on environmental issues – a quarter of our streams miles are unable to fully support aquatic life. And another 44 percent of stream miles are threatened. That means that only a third of Oregon’s stream miles are considered healthy. This is simply unacceptable. Further, predictions of climate change impact only paint a darker picture, placing Oregon’s freshwater ecosystems under even more stress.

Oregon’s freshwater resources are vitally important for industry, agriculture and recreation. They are essential to our economy and our quality of life. The importance of freshwater combined with its scarcity – streams, lakes and rivers account for just 0.3 percent of global freshwater – means the stakes are high. Improving the health of our rivers and streams is a vital social need facing everyone, not just simply a matter of a “green” or “eco-friendly” lifestyle choice for some.

Anyone involved in the restoration world knows that restoration work benefits freshwater health. Although stream restoration remains an evolving field, we already have the technology and know-how to achieve predictably positive results with the type of restoration projects associated with StreamBank. And we have plenty of these shovel-ready restoration projects ready to go. A major problem in Oregon and across the United States lies within the permitting and funding process, which is mired in bureaucratic red tape. While funding for restoration exists, it is difficult and time-consuming for private landowners and restoration professionals to access. Further, instream work cannot happen without permits, which is yet another cumbersome process that slows the pace of restoration projects. Indeed, under the current manual system of funding and permitting, it is not uncommon for a project to take up to 30 months from inception to completion. Compounding the problem is local restoration professionals lacking the capacity to effectively address the restoration opportunities in their basin, project delays due to institutional barriers and landowners who avoid restoration due to perceptions of an excessively frustrating or burdensome system. Given the tens of thousands of Oregon stream miles already in need of work to restore habitat health and water quality, and with pressures mounting, we must do better.