Tualatin river water quality - Ask Extension
Hello. I was hoping you could lend some insight into whether a crayfish caught in the Tualatin river in Hillsboro (specifically Rood Bridge park) woul...
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Tualatin river water quality #190221
Asked June 11, 2014, 12:56 AM EDT
Hello. I was hoping you could lend some insight into whether a crayfish caught in the Tualatin river in Hillsboro (specifically Rood Bridge park) would be safe to eat. I know there are Tualatin crawfish festivals where mass amounts of them are consumed, but my question is basically "where can one go in the Portland or Hillsboro area, or on the Tualatin, where the water quality would permit consumption of water dwellers?" Thanks in advance!
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
This was a good question.
Oregon Health Authority provides Fish Advisories for Oregon waterways. These include any concerns about consuming fish (including shellfish) from identified waterways.
https://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/Recreation/FishConsumption/Pages/index.aspx#fis... At this time, it doesn't appear there is an advisory on the Tualatin River. However, you could get up to date information directly from OHA at <personal data hidden>
On another note, it's quite unlikely that the large quantities of crawfish served at festivals are wild caught. They are most likely farmed. If so, they fall under the jurisdiction of Oregon Department of Agriculture for inspection and testing.
Hope this helps!
Jeanne
* I received additional information from a colleague.
Clean Water Services does a huge amount of work with the Tualatin River and adheres to EPA and DEQ water quality requirements. Rood Bridge Park is just very close to the outfall pipe of one of CWS wastewater treatment facilities, but with that said, the water coming out of the pipe actually has a higher water quality than the river itself. I would be very comfortable eating crawdad's out of the Tualatin-not as comfortable eating them from the northern Willamette River. I would recommend them contacting CWS about the Tualatin River crawdad question to get specifics, but I am sure the answer will be positive. http://www.cleanwaterservices.org/AboutUs/ContactUs.aspx Clean Water Services Administration Building Complex 2550 Southwest Hillsboro Highway Hillsboro, Oregon 9712<personal data hidden> Phone The Tualatin River Crawdad Festival, last I heard, the crawdads come in from Timothy Lake and Lake Billy Chinook, (they tend to be larger) but this might be different now. Good water bodies to collect these little bugs near Portland would be the Sandy River, Clackamas River, Columbia River, or small local creeks. OSU Extension Sea Grant has a nice crawdad fact sheet: http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/invasive-species/toolkit/crayfish.pdf
Oregon Health Authority provides Fish Advisories for Oregon waterways. These include any concerns about consuming fish (including shellfish) from identified waterways.
https://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/Recreation/FishConsumption/Pages/index.aspx#fis... At this time, it doesn't appear there is an advisory on the Tualatin River. However, you could get up to date information directly from OHA at <personal data hidden>
On another note, it's quite unlikely that the large quantities of crawfish served at festivals are wild caught. They are most likely farmed. If so, they fall under the jurisdiction of Oregon Department of Agriculture for inspection and testing.
Hope this helps!
Jeanne
* I received additional information from a colleague.
Clean Water Services does a huge amount of work with the Tualatin River and adheres to EPA and DEQ water quality requirements. Rood Bridge Park is just very close to the outfall pipe of one of CWS wastewater treatment facilities, but with that said, the water coming out of the pipe actually has a higher water quality than the river itself. I would be very comfortable eating crawdad's out of the Tualatin-not as comfortable eating them from the northern Willamette River. I would recommend them contacting CWS about the Tualatin River crawdad question to get specifics, but I am sure the answer will be positive. http://www.cleanwaterservices.org/AboutUs/ContactUs.aspx Clean Water Services Administration Building Complex 2550 Southwest Hillsboro Highway Hillsboro, Oregon 9712<personal data hidden> Phone The Tualatin River Crawdad Festival, last I heard, the crawdads come in from Timothy Lake and Lake Billy Chinook, (they tend to be larger) but this might be different now. Good water bodies to collect these little bugs near Portland would be the Sandy River, Clackamas River, Columbia River, or small local creeks. OSU Extension Sea Grant has a nice crawdad fact sheet: http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/invasive-species/toolkit/crayfish.pdf
It is a difficult one. I researched over the span of a week to no avail, but I appreciate your time and effort as well. Thank you!
