The Tualatin Watershed resources—its streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, and the Tualatin River—play an important role in the quality of life we enjoy. They provide us recreation, irrigation and drinking water; support tourism and salmon; and are used by business and industry. These waters, however, are vulnerable to pollution from a wide variety of human activities. Many of our water pollution problems are due in large part to pollutants that are washed off the land by rainstorms. The quality of stormwater from public facilities, commercial and industrial businesses, and agricultural lands is an increasing concern nationwide. Many people believe that stormwater is clean and does not harm water quality. This perception is understandable since the amount of pollution from any one spot is not usually significant by itself. But when all these small amounts are combined, they can cause significant water quality problems.
