I am utterly disgusted and disappointed with the treatment of Oregon’s Willamette River. Physically, the river only takes up 12 percent of Oregon’s land, but many species make their home in or around it, including us. The river has great potential. However, because of our lack of awareness and concern, the river has progressively become the most polluted river west of the Mississippi.
Toxins such as lead, arsenic, benzene and dioxin have been found in fish living there. These are tremendously harmful to humans, with effects ranging from kidney and brain damage to cancer. Fish were also found to have skeletal deformities.
Because of the millions of pounds of industrial toxic chemicals being released yearly by surrounding factories and companies, a five-and-a-half-mile stretch of the river was declared a federal Superfund site, including another 22 miles that are also eligible for this.
These parts are heavily concentrated with chemicals, making them dangerous for fishing or swimming. The companies have refused to stop dumping, and the situation is getting increasingly more hazardous for the environment. Even after chemicals stop being dumped, the current pollutants need to be removed. It’s not fair for taxpayers to have to spend their money. We need to force the people who have polluted our river to not only stop adding more toxic waste, but to clean it up.
It’s time for us to take a stand.

Katie Mart
freshman
undeclared