Pesticide Reduction

Thank you for your interest in our pesticide reduction efforts! With your help, we can cut back on the amount of chemicals used in our lawns and gardens, which is a growing concern in our watershed. A multi-year study recently released by the US Geological Survey emphasizes the increasing presence of pesticides in the Clackamas River basin.

Residential pesticide use is on the rise -- every year, American homeowners apply over 90 million pounds of chemicals to their lawns and gardens. That’s equivalent to the weight of over 5000 school buses! Unfortunately, these chemicals often end up affecting plants and animals that aren’t the intended target. Sensitive salmon are especially hard hit.

For information on how you can reduce your pesticide use, visit our Fact Sheets page!

Pesticide Occurrence and Distribution in the Lower Clackamas River Basin, Oregon, 2000–2005

A study performed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in conjunction with the Clackamas Watershed Management Group, found a variety of pesticides present within the Clackamas watershed. From 2000 to 2005, water samples were collected from various locations on the lower Clackamas River main stem, as well as Eagle, Clear, Deep, Richardson, Rock, Sieben, Carli, and Cow Creeks. A total of 119 samples were analyzed, detecting the presence of 63 different pesticide compounds. Ninety-seven percent of samples collected from tributaries contained 2 or more types of pesticides, and the highest pesticide concentrations were found in Deep and Rock Creeks. Seven of the 8 tributaries sampled had pesticide levels that exceeded standards set to protect aquatic life. And, although the current levels of pesticides are well below US EPA drinking water benchmarks and other human health standards, they serve as a warning sign that the health of our waterways is threatened.

The pesticides detected in the Clackamas River watershed come from an variety of different sources. The exact source is hard to pinpoint because many pesticides have multiple uses, but common applications include nursery and floriculture crops, yards, golf courses, parks, forestlands, and along fences, roads, and other right-of-ways.

Often, pesticides are applied in residential areas to control weeds and insects in lawns and gardens, and in houses to kill pests, such as ants and fleas. One of the most frequently detected pesticides in the USGS study was glyphosate, the active ingredient in many urban, agricultural, and forestry herbicide products, including RoundUP™, Rodeo™, and Accord™.

Click here to view the 15 easy tips to keeping your lawn and garden healthy and happy