Bear Creek Recovery

01/07/2025

Molalla discharges treated sewage effluent into the Molalla River and downstream Canby gets all its drinking water out of the Molalla River. Molalla is seeking to add May, June and Oct. to the Nov-April months it discharges into the Molalla River. Read the article and ask yourself if YOU would want to drink Canby's water?https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/06/climate/forever-chemicals-pfas-sewage-drinking-water.html?unlocked_article_code=1.nU4.6Jve.5vAEsEXXxWtp&smid=url-share

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12/29/2024

The City of Molalla is years behind on building a new wastewater treatment plant and is hedging on emptying biosolids aka sewage sludge from its leaking lagoons. Molalla is also seeking to add more months of treated sewage effluent to the Molalla River, including May and June when the River is used for swimming downstream from where the discharge occurs. Canby gets all its drinking water from the Molalla River downstream from Molalla's discharge. Read this article and ask yourself what kind of environmental harm is potentially done by all so-called "treated" sewage operations to our environment, let alone a system as broken as Molalla's?

The agency obtained research from 3M in 2003 revealing that sewage sludge, the raw material for the fertilizer, carried toxic “forever chemicals.”

09/02/2024

Bear Creek Recovery has followed the issues surrounding the use of sewage sludge - DEQ tries to make it more appealing by calling it biosolids - as fertilizer. We should all be alarmed that sewage sludge is allowed to be used on fields that provide food for us and farm animals.

Fertilizer made from city sewage has been spread on millions of acres of farmland for decades. Scientists say it can contain high levels of the toxic substance.

06/28/2024

The Molalla area is filled with seasonal waterways. They are very important and need to be protected.

Half of the water flowing through regional river basins starts in so-called ephemeral streams. Last year, the Supreme Court curtailed federal protections for these waterways.

12/31/2023

It looks like a potentially dire water year for the west. Locally, Molalla and Canby both totally depend on the puny Molalla River for drinking water. It will be a struggle to supply the growing number of residents in those cities with drinking water as global warming proceeds. This year's lack of snow pack is causing great concern around the west.

Some ski areas remain closed. But an even greater concern amid a changing climate is whether enough snow will fall to meet water needs for the summer.

12/12/2023

Pollution from sources like wastewater plants is listed as the number one threat to fish in this article. Yet the City of Molalla is two years behind on building a new wastewater plant and continues to violate its permit for discharge into the Molalla River, home to struggling native fish. In November 2023 Molalla discharged effluent that was above the ammonia limit every day of the month. And sadly, even the best wastewater plants fail to remove all the toxic chemicals that threaten aquatic life because we dump a host of unknown and known contaminates into our sewer systems that wastewater plants can't test for, let alone remove.

A global update from the leading authority on the status of species shows that climate change is compounding other threats to plants and animals.

12/02/2023

Yet another huge benefit of greenspaces, parks and trees in neighborhoods. It is sad to think of all the developments that have zero trees and land covered with parking lots. People everywhere need to lobby for codes that require preservation of trees and planting of trees. They also should lobby for adequate parks and greenspaces.

Greener neighborhoods can slow ageing process of human cells but effects of environmental racism can erase any benefits

08/30/2023

Our area is not exempt from concerns about ground water. This story informs about the danger of depleted water supply.

Unchecked overuse is draining and damaging aquifers nationwide, a data investigation by the New York Times revealed, threatening millions of people and America’s status as a food superpower.

07/29/2023

Global warming is affecting living things all over the planet. As our waterways shrink and warm to higher temperatures, the creatures that depend on them suffer. This is just one graphic example of the consequences of climate change.

Wild bears like Otis are supposed to return to the salmon run in late June, not July, but rising ocean temperatures and overfishing are in part delaying the arrival of the salmon.

07/18/2023

It is great to see Oregon DEQ and EPA are getting touch of wastewater violators. Let's hope it is a strong warning to other cities - like Molalla - that the Clean Water Act must be followed and heel dragging on wastewater upgrades will not be tolerated.

An official website of the State of Oregon Learn How you know » (how to identify a Oregon.gov website) An official website of the State of Oregon »

06/29/2023

The linked article has important information about toxic chemicals we should work to avoid to protect our health and the health of the planet. The chart is from the actual study (accessed via the link in the New York Times article). A water quality and the law conference years ago featured an EPA rep who told us that unless we embrace green chemistry we will increasingly endanger ourselves and our water supply. Consider printing this chart and work to avoid products that contain them. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/03/well/live/consumer-products-toxic-chemicals.html?unlocked_article_code=_q0SzE5i0D62mjkx9Zw1wTXDXXOFO03RnwOnCHJP4yxxizAo7qUox39Z2u5sl_imWhcmBn6tgkplp_wyIVDrHdTqxDKfwos1_uoAVW4lWg4vKrLKJyCdSw2fiqLLj1qOZAC54oQmCuejZTVNb3n3LkGRYcuj63r8wumsqpvJ4Lx3kZI068ZGyvOa5bGVxdcNRWWcTvHuTVENzqX6x2DvWf2Q6CQXFqx71oEwiwCgPlNBcVxELIzdZ-AgHq6uY_TVWHnVff5AoKFKbb74vyxsHnuhpENIfDikQoygqICjT8Sh8j41YzHO0hQr1ppZIb_96ci4NF8Zgc_GWg89UEl29iS-jtLeW83mItpiq9k&smid=url-share

06/24/2023

Another great article about the benefits of abandoning lawns in favor of plantings that can actually support life! Imagine the good we can do for the planet if we managed our properties with an eye to the food chain - without pollinators we are trouble not to mention the species that depend on insects for the food chain. Even part of a yard devoted to a meadow-like planting can do a lot to promote wildlife and pollinator survival.

Meadows are easier to manage than a traditional garden, and if you use native plants, they can be a haven for pollinators.