Rogue Basin Toxics Monitoring SummaryOregon Department of Environmental Quality

Sample Collection:

Water60 samples17 locations

Sediment14 samples13 locations

Chemical groups included:

Key Objectives:

Tissue21 samples5 locations 

Key Findings:DEQ did not find evidenceof toxics that pose animmediate risk to humanhealth or the environment 

It is safe to fish, boat, andotherwise recreate in theRogue River

Oregon Health Authority hasissued fish consumptionadvisories for locations in thebasin

Findings support 2018/2020 Integrated Report 303(d)Category 5 listings for iron andmethylmercury across the basin

This summary combines results from DEQ’s Toxics Monitoring Programsampling in the Rogue River Basin from 2011 and 2015 in three mediatypes: water, sediment and fish tissue. This is the first comprehensivereport on DEQ’s toxics sampling in the Rogue River Basin.

Get a snapshot of pollutants in the Rogue River to help understandtrends 

Use this information to identify potential sources

Make this information available to the public

Work with internal DEQ groups, community groups, and Oregonresidents to identify opportunities for reducing these pollutants

Current-use pesticides, consumer use products, combustion by-products, dioxins and furans, flame-retardants, industrialchemicals, legacy pesticides, PCBs, and metals

Next Steps:

A continuation of thissampling on a yearly,

statewide basis that aims toidentify trends in chemical

concentrations

Toxics MonitoringNetwork

Data from this report will helpinform and direct projectsin the TMDL, NPDES, and

stormwater programs

Permitting andRegulatoryPrograms

The strategy complementsand supports ongoing effortsin DEQ’s air, land and water

quality programs byimproving integration, sharingbest practices and filling any

identified gaps

Toxics ReductionStrategy

A  reporting of the status ofOregon's waters and a list of

water bodies that do not meetwater quality standards

IntegratedReport 303(d) list

To view the full report or for more information on DEQ's Water Quality Toxics Monitoring Program visit:https://www.oregon.gov/deq/wq/Pages/WQ-Monitoring-Statewide.aspx

Findings by Matrix:

Results from this study will be used to inform the programsand projects below, which may include additional sampling

Seven chemicals found above humanhealth and aquatic life criteria in watersamples.The number of PCBs and flameretardants found in sediment droppedfrom 2011 to 2015. Overall, PCBs droppedfrom 23 in 2011 to 0 in 2015. Flameretardants dropped from 14 in 2011 to 1 in2015.

Bear Creek atKirtland Rd.

Across thebasin

In 2015, Less than 30%contaminants included in theanalysis were detected. Mostof which were within safe foraquatic life, wildlife, andhuman health.

Across thebasin

Mercury concentrations in fishtissue exceeded the DEQHuman Health criterion at allfive tissue monitoring locationsincluded in the study.

*DEQ's human health criterion for mercuryassumes a consumption rate of 175 grams per day. *

Iron exceeded the DEQ AquaticLife Criteria at two locations(Rogue River at Lobster Bridgeand Bear Creek at Valley ViewRoad). These results are reflectedin the 2018/2020 IntegratedReport 303(d) Category 5 listings.

IronExceedances