Winter 2019 Envision, Water by Envision Magazine

ENVISION

W I NTE R 2 0 1 9 | WAT ER ED I T I ON

LETTER FRO M THE

EDITORS

Water is arguably the most valuable and precious resource in the world. Not only does it sustain life, but it is the driving force behind many of the tools, products, and resources we rely on every day. Many of us take water for granted and don’t think about the larger impact on the environment when we eat various foods, purchase new items, or simply turn on our faucets. It is our hope that the Water Edition will impart upon readers new ways to conserve water, the unlikely processes that utilize exorbitant amounts of it, and the members of our community who are working to bring awareness to water use. It can be difficult to see the bigger picture when it comes to our water consumption and how this relates to the greater environment, and this is something the writers, photographers, videographers, and designers of Envision work to address in the Water Edition.

- Alysa Wulf Editor in Chief

- Ma ri n St ua rt Managing Editor

TABLE CONTENTS OF

4 6 10

Protecting Purity

Life by the Water

Hydro Flask: What Caused Its Rise and What it Means for Our Earth

Urban vs Industrial Farming: How Agricultural Methods Affect Water Usage

20 22

Riding the Rapids of Opportunity

Lax Logging Laws Lessen Quality of Life in Rural Oregon

Get Your Feet Wet Water is Life

The Hidden Cost of Fast Fashion

g n i t c e t o r P PURITY

Preserving the McKenzie River, Eugene’s Only Potable Water Resource In the Oregon Cascades flows the magnificent McKenzie River. Stretching over 90 miles, this river is the sole potable water supply for the city of Eugene and its surrounding areas. The river is responsible for supplying over 200,000 residents with water that is safe to both drink and use in food preparation. Without maintained water quality, ecosystems in the region are at risk for toxins and waterborne illnesses caused by water pollution, such as cholera or dysentery. Eugene Water and Electric Board, EWEB, is Oregon’s largest customer-owned utility, providing water and electricity to the Eugene-Springfield area. According to EWEB’s 2018 Consumer Confidence Report, the water from the McKenzie River “travels to and around Eugene through over 800 miles of distribution piping” where the utility then “performs more than 12,000 tests every year from more than 100 dedicated sampling locations throughout Eugene to ensure that the tap water that reaches your home is the same high quality water that left the filtration plant.” John Brown is a strong advocate for clean water and healthy rivers, stating, “We have been working with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the DEQ, for the last 20-25 years on toxic waste in rivers as well as strengthening our connection with the city of Eugene.” He adds, “I think we’re doing a great job.” Evidence supports John Brown, as scientists refer to the McKenzie River as a high-quality, safe source for drinking water. In fact, Eugene’s drinking water has been rated among the best in the nation, 4

according to previous years’ annual quality reports. Once collected, the water pulled from the McKenzie is put through a strategic fourstep process within EWEB’s facilities. Initially, chlorine is added to the water to kill off any organisms, such as harmful algae and cyanotoxins, while alum and carbon are added to combine any soil particles and enhance the flavor. Afterward, the water travels through a multi-layered filter, removing any remaining material. Finally, more chlorine is added to maintain purity, along with sodium hydroxide to balance pH levels and reduce corrosion inside plumbing systems. The chemicals added are part of a cycle widely used in drinking water treatments. Because of the cycle, recipients have access to water free of physical, chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants, which can be found before filtration. In addition to the filtration process, ensuring safe and ample potable water for the area necessitates a protected watershed. With attention toward protecting the McKenzie River watershed, there are three programs put into action and backed by EWEB. The first is attentive watershed monitoring. With EWEB’s team taking samples from streams, rivers, and lakes, the water is checked for harmful pesticides, metals, nutrients and bacteria that may wash in from winter storms. In warmer months, reservoirs are sampled for harmful algae blooms. Jeannine Parisi, a spokeswoman for the Water and Electric Board, emphasizes this first step: “Really invest in the conservation and the restoration of health of the Coast Fork of the Willamette, and the Middle Fork of the Willamette, and the Long Tom — we’re going to need that

water throughout our community in the coming centuries,” says Parisi, “This is all one big network that we need to really care for and love.” The second program is the McKenzie Watershed Homeowner Program. This program has several features aimed at protecting our water systems with the help of homeowners by transferring wastewater correctly. This includes septic maintenance incentives, which reimburse $250 of the cost to inspect and pump out a homeowner’s septic every three years, as well as a zero interest loan program for septic systems, protective landowner rewards and viability in farmland. Lastly, the watershed emergency response is a program practiced by using geographic information system technology to retrieve information on threats, resources and equipment needed during any crisis that may affect the McKenzie River. National Geographic defines a geographic information system (GIS) as, “a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface.” This type of technology plays a crucial role in locating assets -- for example, hydrants and meters -- and allow users to update and display information about them.

“This is all one big network that we need to really care for and love.” - Jeannine Parisi

In addition to these three programs, there is the McKenzie River Trust. This trust is a nonprofit conservation group, created in 1989, with goals directed toward prevention and preservation of Eugene’s water source. These goals are carried out by protecting special lands, such as watersheds, restoring natural systems, and connecting people to places they care about with education on the threats of pollution. The McKenzie River may be in great shape, but the growing populations have an ongoing impact. This growth along watersheds conventionally suggests, “increased use of pesticides and fertilizers, contamination from septic systems, increased erosion and sediment from construction activities, and removal of native streamside vegetation,” writes the Freshwater Trust, from Karl Morgenstern, EWEB’s environmental management supervisor. With a 70 percent populated watershed, it is important for civilians to become involved with these programs and to do their own part in potable water assurance. “We need to find a balance between watershed health and human use,” says Morgenstern. The Eugene Water and Electric Board

works hard each year to protect and preserve Eugene’s sole water supply. With a proposed $329 million dollar budget for 2020, EWEB’s main focus this year will be on repairing aging infrastructure and building new facilities, to fortify water systems in the event of crisis, protect against possible leaks, and prevent lead contamination from corroded piping. Furthermore, EWEB dedicates itself to climate leadership within the community, greenhouse gas reduction goals, power sources, its climate change policy and sporting of its alternative energy in company vehicles, making EWEB one of the 31 sustainable fleets in North America — all as a benefit to the environmentally sustainable and stewarding community of Eugene. As stated by the Environmental Protection Agency, “We [as a nation] need clean water upstream to have healthy communities downstream.” Communities depend on potable water for healthy ecosystems and thriving economics, where clean water is used for farming, manufacturing and energy production. Although Eugene-Springfield comprises a majority of the population, areas such as Corvallis, Salem, and Portland also rely on the flow for their drinkable water. As

protecting Lane County’s water resources is one of the top priorities within the city itself, support from the public is critical. This means continuing to push back on pollution, toxic waste and personal waste, by engaging in responsible waste management as communities along the precious McKenzie continue to grow. Words by Alahna Staten Photo by Marcus Schwab

Gyeotur feet Wet

At the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, students from the University of Oregon can research and explore the ocean next door. It’s a Friday afternoon as I drive into Coos Bay. It’s the beginning of January and there is a light sea breeze in the air and, fortunately, the sun is shining. I am about 15 minutes outside Charleston where the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB) is located right on the water. Undergraduate, graduate and PhD students come from all over the country to study at one of the premier schools for marine biology in the country. The school offers small class sizes, distinguished instructors, and a convenient location right on the coast where students can explore the rocky shore to the deep sea. Across from the school is the Charleston Marine Life Center (CMLC), a public facility that showcases the research being conducted at the laboratory at OIMB. The CMLC hosts a variety of exhibits on nearby coastal ecosystems and marine organisms. The facility provides interactive activities for visitors such as the tide pool touch tank, drawers containing specimens representing the different

species found on the Oregon coast, and a telescope for bird-watching in the harbor only a few feet away. Though the facilities at the CMLC are relatively new — the center only opened in 2016 — University of Oregon has been conducting research on the southern Oregon coast since 1924. In the Loyd and Dorothy Rippey Library, students can see photographs of graduating classes dating back to the mid-1960s, when the University of Oregon first began using the former marine station as a year-round research facility. When I arrive at OIMB, I am greeted with enthusiasm from PhD student Caitlin Plowman. It’s clear from the beginning that she calls this place her home and I soon come to understand why. For almost 55 years, the institute has served as a place where students can get their feet wet and completely immerse themselves in marine biology. As Caitlin leads me on a tour around the campus, she shows me the deep sea lab where she is currently conducting a comparative reproductive study on amphipods. In the histology lab, OIMB professor and director Craig Young stores organisms from places all over the world such as Antarctica and Hawaii. We are invited out on the RV Pluteus where the

(left page) Knute Nemeth has been working at OIMB for over 3 years as the boat captain. A strong advocate for keeping Oregon green, Nemeth believes OIMB offers a way for students to create positive change through science. “We can make the world better when these students are out on the boat,” says Nemeth. (top) A wolf eel swimming in its tank at the Charleston Marine Life Center. .

captain Knute Nemeth excitedly describes the plans for the new oceangoing vessel at OIMB; the vessel will have two times the deck space and dynamic positioning to help the ship remain steady in the changing winds and waves. As we walk back to the main campus, Caitlin points out a seal in the harbor that pokes its head out from the water. A few seagulls fly above us and a little ways away I can hear the waves crash against the shore. With miles of beautiful coastline and the ocean right at your fingertips, the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology is the perfect place for learning and discovery. Words & Photos By Isabel Kristensen (left) A seahorse under a microscope at the Charleston Marine Life Center across from OIMB. Visitors can explore the various collections at the CMLC and zoom in on the specimens with microscopes. “Working here is a labor of love. As a part of OIMB, the CMLC informs the public about ongoing research being conducted next door,” says director of the CMLC Trish Mace (top) Tube worms in the deep sea lab at Oregon Institute of Marine Biology that grow in hydrothermal vents in the deep sea. (bottom) PhD student Lauren Rice collects dungeness crab shells for her dissertation on barnacles living on the crabs.

Water is Life Exploring the importance of water conservation and what one of the richest water resource areas is doing to maintain the the water that is essential to the life of plants, animals and us. Water conservation is one of the most important environmental actions in which a community can partake. A is a finite resource that will not be around forever, water is required to grow our food, maintain our lands, and hydrate both plants and animals. Unfortunately, droughts have plagued the United States for many years and continue to do so in the Western and Southern United States. Droughts are due to a drier climate where there is a lack of precipitation. Without effective mechanisms to conserve the minute amount of precipitation that affects these areas, this water. The population in the United States has doubled over the past 50 years, and with that has come the need for more water. States expect to have water shortages by 2024, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Meaning that cities and states around the US will see an increase in price for water, and drought-like conditions affecting agriculture and livelihoods. One of the most influential droughts in US history was in the Dust Bowl era. As stated in Environmental Science Magazine, “The Dust Bowl drought ushered in an era that revolutionized the agricultural community with new cultivation and land management techniques.” The Dust Bowl was crucial in the creation of soil and water conservation districts within states put in place by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help preserve water and protect agricultural practices. Water conservation is a priority within the Willamette Valley according to Dave Downey, District Manager and Watershed Specialist with the Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District (UWSWC). Which was created as the Western Oregon branch of the USDA. Western Oregon is in the unique position of having a huge amount of annual pre1012

cipitation and water resources surrounding it, feeding into many of the rest of the states’ aquifers and water systems. The Mckenzie River, which runs from the base of the Cascades and feeds into the Willamette Valley, is the sole source of drinking water for much of the area. The Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District (UWSWC), was created through the Department of Agriculture, protects and maintains the soil and water within the Willamette Valley as a federal . “We are involved in networking to protect water quality in eastern Lane County, working with farmers and agriculture workers,” said Downey. “We also work on soil health projects and remove invasive species from the riparian of a river zone.” The mission statement of UWSWC is “To encourage and promote the responsible stewardship of our natural resources through conservation, restoration, and protection, to enhance the health, economic benefits and quality of life for the citizens within the District.” “Water is a finite resource and extremely important. The process of natural collection of water here is top notch, flowing from the Cascades into the Willamette Valley, and it is important to maintain that resource,” Downey said. The UWSWC does most of the work in the upland of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers and in the riparian zone. The riparian zone is the interface between the land and a river. This area is also a habitat for many animals and plants, who in turn, help keep the river systems healthy with oxygen, and soil turbulation. Without a healthy stream and river system, animals would not have a habitat Here, is where a lot of stream overflow is stored in the soil. So the UWSWC works a lot in the riparian zones of rivers measuring water content and soil ph to help better understand the area’s natural water storage techniques while also figuring out a way to preserve it for use. Water has the potential to be preserved if proper mechanisms are put in place to conserve it, and the UWSWC is hoping to put those things in place in the Lane County district in order to preserve a resource that is consistently available to the area. The most important thing to Downey and the UWSWC is education. They have an impressive amount of education outreach programs which work with landowners on how to effectively farm and use agriculture to their advantage while still protecting their water resource. In these programs, the UWSWC goes out to agriculture sights and works with the people on the land using its water to better teach them about the effects of farming. While also putting in mechanisms such as wa-

“Water is a finite resource and extremely important. The process of natural collection of water here is top notch, flowing from the Cascades into the Willamette Valley, and it is important to maintain that resource,” ter level measurement tools and effective storage techniques. “The cost of treatment for water is expensive, so we try and work with landowners to be able to conserve water based on their own financial and agricultural situation,” said Downey. “We try and teach to source water as naturally as possible.” said Downey. Oftentimes landowners call the UWSWC for assistance with figuring out the best way to effectively change their habits to protect the water that remains. These changes include moving livestock, assisting in a grazing plan, soil health and concerns on crop land. Landowners must try to reduce the potential of water runoff due to farming and feeding livestock where a lot of water tends to be wasted. “We work on what filtrates into the river system, and maintain the riparian alongside the river,” said Downey. Dave Downey and the rest of the UWSWC are determined to promote education on how to preserve one of the most essential life resources. Especially within the Willamette Valley, their mission is to create a healthy environment by maintaining a healthy riparian and river zone for animals, humans, and the waterways themselves that are so precious to Oregon’s landscape. Without a healthy stream and river system, animals would not have a habitat, plants wouldn’t grow promoting a healthy system, and water wouldn’t be able to be as well conserved as it is. Words by Cieli Cornelius Illustration by Daisy Jones

LIFE by the WATER

(left) The brush becomes hatchery employees’ best friends as they spend a good amount of time cleaning ponds. 14

(top) Employees can spend 45 minutes cleaning the sediment out of the bottom of ponds.

(right) “The best part of working here is being able to work in nature every day,” Withalm says, “It’s great to work with animals on a daily basis.”

(left) Employees can spend 45 minutes cleaning the sediment out of the bottom of ponds.

With the increase in water temperature and damage to natural hatching ground, fish hatcheries try to mitigate this problem by giving fish a safe area for them to grow. The state of Oregon dragged their feet on giving funding to the Leaburg Hatchery, located on the McKenzie River. The state has questioned whether or not it should remain open because of the outdated state. Although the state waited until the last moment to fun the hatchery for the last two years, employees still continue to passionately work to take care of the fish in their ponds. The purposes of hatcheries in Oregon stem from the dams that produce hydroelectric power in the surrounding areas of the McKenzie River. The damns hampered the habitats of fish the resided in those sections of the river. The hatchery was meant to mitigate the loss of those habitats. Erik Withalm started working at the Hatchery in 2006 and began managing it in 2011. While he works as the manager of the hatchery, Withalm wears many hats around the hatchery. All the employees who work at the hatchery live on-premise, Withalm is their landlord. If mechanical problems arise on the hatchery, Withalm becomes the handyman. On top of that, his main responsibility is the wellbeing of 1.2 million fish. This is what he and his employees do on a daily basis.

Words and Photo by Lucas Warner

(top) Erik Withalm’s main responsibility as Hatchery Manager is taking care of the 1.2 million Rainbow Trout and Summer Steelhead.

HYRDO FLASK: What Caused its Rise and What it Means for Our Earth An exclusive interview with the Public Relations and Communications Manager at Hydro Flask, a look into BPA contamination in our oceans, and whether or not single-use plastic consumption has decreased at the University of Oregon. Hydro Flask. If you are a student at the University of Oregon, you likely know just how popular these reusable water bottles are. But what has made them so successful and trendy amongst Gen Z-ers and Millennials? Is it the fact that they are good for the environment, or how they keep water hot/cold for hours on end? Is it the fact that everybody else has one, they come in fun colors, and can be easily personalized with stickers and keychains? Furthermore, when a student purchases a Hydro Flask, are they hoping to reduce their single-use plastic water bottle consumption… and do they really? Taking a stroll through the Erb Memorial Union, you may notice Hydro Flasks at every table, personalized with stickers defining its owner: their values, interests, places traveled, and more. According to Lucas Alberg, Hydro Flask’s Public Relations and Communications Manager, the brand’s original target demographic was those aged 24-45, and the company has not actually “directed marketing specifically towards Millennials and Gen Z.” Alberg believes there are three main reasons for its success and nationwide popularity. They include “a relentless focus on experience, our brand and the values behind it; and our charitable giving program: Parks for All.” Looking at experience Alberg states that it begins with “simplicity, clean design, attention to detail and performance that all combine to deliver super user experience.” These include the insulation of the bottles, color, logo, etc. Next, Alberg believes “The essence of the brand, complete with joy and a focus on living happier, healthier and more sustainable lives outdoors, is a key differentiator and contributor.” Hydro Flask’s slogan is “Let’s Go!” These two simple words are meant to “inspire active, outdoor lives.” Finally, the third reason Alberg states has caused their success would be their charity, Parks for All. He believes it is a major contributor to Hydro Flask’s branding and 14

Stephen Radke the brands’ connection to their customers. Considering that none of these factors specifically target the younger generation, how has the trend prevailed? Alberg believes that it began with the young, active consumer who spread the word like wildfire through social media and word of mouth. Alberg also attributes Hydro Flask’s success amongst millennials and Generation Z to their increasing affinity and passion for protecting the environment. “These consumers care and are quickly finding brands that reflect their values - in our case quality, reusable products that replace single-use plastic.” But is Alberg correct in his statements?

Hannah Felt Does using a reusable water bottle actually help the environment and are we actually using less single-use plastic bottles? Let’s first take a look at the effects of plastic water bottles on the environment, specifically ocean life. According to the EPA, solid pollution such as plastics and trash affect marine ecosystems “through ingestion, entanglement, and alteration of the ecosystem, and indirectly, by contributing to the movement of invasive species.” In looking at plastic bottles, many of them are known to have BPA (Bisphenol A), a chemical that aids in the strength and durability of plastics. BPA has been proven to be highly toxic to not only humans, but also to the environment in which they are

discarded. According to the American Chemical Society, more than 200 oceanic sites in 20 countries analyzed had “significant” amounts of BPA residue. Studies have shown BPA contamination to cause reproductive defects in crustaceans and shellfish. Furthermore, there is always the possibility of “bioaccumulation,” which is what happens when such shellfish or other small BPA-contaminated sea creatures are eaten by bigger animals, including humans. Every time BPA is passed through another part of the food chain, its concentrations get higher and higher. BPA contamination is only one of the impacts plastics have on the ocean and the greater environment. However, it is safe to say that limiting plastic water bottle usage would definitely be beneficial for our oceans. Unfortunately, there is little to no evidence that Hydro Flask’s popularity at the University of Oregon’s campus has done so. According to Joe Pitts the Erb Memorial Union Retail Dining Manager, he has not noticed a decrease in plastic bottle sales over his year of working for the University. He states that sales have largely remained the same. While he did not have specific facts or statistics, Pitts still sells “a lot” of plastic water bottles on a day to day basis. Tom Driscoll who is the Director of Food Services at the University of Oregon also does not believe there has been a decrease in plastic bottle consumption but instead thinks that “the refillable water bottles have taken the place of sodas from fountain machines but bottled beverage sales have held steady overall.” This conclusion may be surprising to many as if every one seemingly has a Hydro Flask, why are people still buying plastic bottles? The answer remains unknown. With that being said, there is no evidence that those purchasing plastic bottles are Gen-Z-ers or Millennials but it can be inferred that they are the likely culprit, especially on a university campus. This disputes the hypothesis that Hydro Flask’s rise in popularity has a correlation between the younger generation and their willingness to support environmentally conscious brands. With that being said, it is still suggested that purchasing eco-friendly goods such as reusable water bottles, bags, food containers, etc is generally a good thing for the environment. Just because they have not caused a decrease in plastic water bottle sales at the University of Oregon does not mean they have not had any benefits on the environment, nor do these results mean that this is the case all around Oregon, the country, or the world. Even if the success of Hydro Flask has been more due to trendiness than the

younger generation’s desire to support environmentally friendly brands, it has still paved the way for new businesses to understand that targeting millennials and Generation Z requires more than just having a good product. Perhaps this means companies will focus more on corporate responsibility and their impacts on the environment. Words by Mya Miller Photos by Emery Thanathiti

Kiana Gellman

Noah Kulala

Urban vs. Industrial Farming:

How Agricultural Methods Affect Water Usage 26

Agriculture is heavily reliant on water, whether in the form of watering plants or hydrating animals. As you might expect, different produce and livestock require high amounts of water to live and grow. By choosing the foods we eat more carefully, we have an opportunity to reduce our water footprint on the planet. Harper Keeler, who teaches classes in the Food Studies and Landscape Architecture departments at the University of Oregon, details which kinds of agriculture use water in distinct ways. For the last 11 years, Keeler has run the Urban Farm on campus. The Urban Farm is a small plot off Franklin Blvd that is maintained through student and volunteer labor. Keeler teaches two 70-student classes each Fall and Spring term, which helps the farm produce 20,000 tons of food each year, as well as giving students access to fresh produce and helping them gain ecological literacy. When asked about how we can save water through our diet choices, Keeler explained that the water footprint of a food has far more to do with whether that food was made locally or industrially than what type of food it is. Unlike cultivating food locally, making food on a nationwide, industrial scale presents several issues when it comes to water use. One problem with the industrial system is fertilizers. Genetically-modified fertilizers allow plants to grow much faster than those grown naturally. However, as Keeler explained, “with plants growing like that you have to water them a ton, both to move the fertilizer around but also to get those plants to keep growing.” This leads far higher water use for fertilized crops than natural ones. In addition to simply wasting water, this extra watering leads to other negative effects such as “poison[ing] our groundwater through leeching.” Leeching occurs when fields are watered so aggressively that the water drains away nutrients and vitamins from the soil, leaving it harder to grow crops there in the future. Another problem is that of plant density. On huge, industrial farms, companies grow monocultures — fields of a single crop — to increase scale and cut costs. However, smaller-scale farms are able to utilize a gardening tactic known as “biointensive gardening.” This concept capitalizes on polyculture, using many different types of plants mixed together to cover as much ground as possible and ensure that all water is used by plants instead of being evaporated. Furthermore, local farms are more flexible and can more easily adopt new farming strategies. One group, the Roadell Institute, is exploring such strategies. An example is non-tilling agriculture. Keeler emphasized non-tilling agriculture,

(right) The Urban Farm tool shed in the morning light. Through taking the Urban Farm class, students become familiarized with various farm tools and equipment.

explaining, “Let’s not plow everytime we plant something. Leave the materials on the ground that always used to be on the ground. That slows the water down, and that’s the biggest thing,” said Keeler. “If you can slow water, whether that’s running off the parking lots, rooftops, gardens, or agfields, it will remain in place.” Keeler said that the Urban Farm itself isn’t perfect when it comes to water because it relies on student labor and thus is left without workers for much of the summer, “The Urban Farm is not the best example of water [efficiency], because in the summer I [just have] volunteers for at least six weeks. So I turn on sprinklers,” said Keeler. However, the educational benefits of the farm far outweigh any water

usage. In order to transition the country to the local system that Keeler sees as necessary, he says that we’d need many more farmers. He hopes to educate some of this future workforce in his classes. When asked if animal agriculture is more or less sustainable compared to plant agriculture, Keeler said, “The way we do 99 percent of all our beef and hogs and chickens and turkeys, is tied directly to that industrial system,” said Keeler. “So when the vegans put up those posters and say: ‘your steak costs 50 gallons of water and my little tofu sandwich does not,’ they’re talking about the worst case scenario. I know farmers around here that raise their own cows and pigs and chickens and don’t use hardly any water, cause you don’t have to. It’s not that system.” Meat and crops have the potential to be highly water-inefficient, depending on how they’re grown. Keeler said that the way to resolve this is to buy food locally, whether you’re eating a plant-based diet or include animal prod17

ucts in your diet. Local agriculture utilizes polyculture and avoids fertilizers to be more water-efficient. Also, if you’re buying local, you’re only going to be able to get foods that are in-season, which use less water than exported crops. Unfortunately, right now, “only 5% of the food we buy in Lane County is local,” so we have a lot of progress to make. Our current industrial food system is water-ineffecient, it degrades soil, and it does not have the flexibility to adopt more sustainable techniques. In order to extricate ourselves from this type of agriculture, we need to switch to a system that is more local, and that uses more efficient tactics like low-tilling and polycultures. The great part about local agriculture is that you’re already nearby, so it’s easy to get your hands dirty and actually grow some of your own food. “If you can figure out how to become more a part of your food community, there’s all kinds of opportunities out there to work for your food or just to understand how to grow it,” said Keeler. Making diet choices with less of a water footprint might mean that you have to pay a little more for locally-made foods or that you have to put in some effort to start a garden of your own. But if this sounds daunting, the Urban Farm is a great place to start, and a good model for how communities around the country can promote ecological literacy and produce their own food. Words by Oscar Bernat Photos by Meg Matsuzaki

(top left) Urban Farm student, Kevin Cassman, removes dead plants to help make way for new ones. Most farm activities are hands-on, allowing students to practice skills such as growing, harvesting and clean-up. (top right) Harper Keeler, director of the Urban Farm Program, chats with a student during a morning work session. Keeler has been directing the Urban Farm Program as a Career Instructor since 2008. (bottom left) Students partake in volunteer hours at the University of Oregon’s Urban Farm, which are held every Saturday. (bottom right) A student prepares a heap of compost materials by cutting up discarded plants. The organic matter is deposited as a new layer of compost in the farm’s composter.

Riding the Rapids of Opportunity UO alumni Amanda Reinholtz has been working as the Water Quality and Habitat Specialist for the Long Tom Watershed Council (LTWC) for three years. Her work is varied and overlaps all three programs that are currently active with the council: Urbans Water Wildlife, Upland Oak and Prairie Habitat Restoration, and Instream Riparian. Her work includes project management, field data collection, grant writing, and more. Luckily, she is working with a fantastic team that is capable of sharing the seasonal workloads.

If you could go back and give advice to your undergraduate self about career curiosity, what would it be? I got a better idea of where I didn’t want to go by accepting jobs that I didn’t like. Finding the dead ends helps. It’s good to bump up against the things you don’t want to do. The random dead-end jobs can be fun. I also recommend getting involved with campus organizations and professional societies.

What steps do you recommend to students so that they can better guide themselves on a process of career discovery? For me personally, it took having a series of jobs, at least kind of adjacent to what I wanted to do or at least what I thought I wanted to do, to learn more about what it was that I was good at in jobs and what I wasn’t good at and what I actually liked as opposed to what I thought I would like. I don’t think I appreciated the degree to which I enjoy being quietly immersed in a problem until I had a job that put me out of that comfort zone.

So you like being quietly immersed in a problem? agencies and funders. There is a diverse and really wonderful web of personalities and skill sets that are really fun to interact with, but I wouldn’t enjoy that being a majority of my job. I enjoy my job to be a little more away from the front facing. And that is not something I initially would’ve thought to have said about myself. This wasn’t something I knew about myself until I experienced a variety of work. For me, it’s been a refining process. I’ve learned a lot more about myself through trial and error, when going after what seemed like the best option at the time and either loving it or learning why it wasn’t the best option.

How is your first experience working with a nonprofit? To a larger degree I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it would be different, and it is. So in that sense it has met my expectations. There is a lot of responsiveness and freedom to pursue our mission. With the LTWC, I can shape my own job description and path. However, we have to have funding to do what we do, and that’s the perpetual challenge for nonprofits. One really wonderful thing about the watershed council is that they embrace transparency and growth in their employees. I have been very much encouraged to talk to my supervisors about what I enjoy doing and what I do not enjoy doing. It’s an open environment you are allowed to discuss where you want to go and what you may not necessarily like about where you are. I am very grateful to the Long Tom for this.

Any last words of guidance? It’s been an exercise of learning how to be a little gentler on myself. Maybe there are just times in our lives where one set of things lags a little bit, and it will pass. There are multiple ways I can focus my life and prioritize things, but you can’t do everything, and I think it’s good to have this clarified. You can pursue the things you pursue, and you can do as much as you can, but you have to let the rest go. There are multiple different paths that would be equally valid at any point in your life. Forgive yourself for not doing all the things. Words by Mak Estill Photo by Lucas Warner

The Hidden Cost of

Fast Fashion

Fast fashion may be fun, but it’s causing severe repercussions on our water. The lure of buying new clothes can be incredibly appealing. New clothes allow us to adorn ourselves with our own style and choose how we are perceived, whether through vintage tees or the latest trends from H&M. The fashion world has come a long way since icons like Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel. Instead of anxiously awaiting new styles twice a year, we have access to the latest and greatest clothing styles year-round, created by fast fashion brands. Clothes are seen as an easily-replaced commodity, resulting in utter detachment to the impacts on the environment stemming from our buying choices. Although our personal style seems far from the environmental realities of our world today, they are inextricably linked. Infusing intentionality into spending habits could shift the fashion industry towards leaving a lighter footprint on the environment. WATER USE When seeking out new clothing, there is a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) that offers certification to qualified brands which allow the customer to know that a garment they are buying satisfies high standards, from field to production. One brand with this certification is ARQ, a company that sells simplistic base-layers which exemplify the standards set by GOTS: using certified organic cotton, eco-dyes, and/or deadstock materials. ARQ takes their environmental cause a step further

by shipping in a paper envelope with no extra packing material, further reducing the impact on the environment. Clothing manufacturing’s environmental drawbacks are more prevalent than most people realize. It isn’t just cultivation of textiles, but pesticide use and dyes used for fabric. It’s also the after effects of washing clothes that contain microplastics. Being aware of these issues is a step in acknowledging the effects of consumerism fueled by where we choose to spend our money. What we can do

at the first sign of wear, practice mending and repairing clothes. Seek out “Buy Nothing” groups on Facebook, host a clothing exchange, or shop and swap with friends of the same size. When you do choose to part with a piece, find a donation center, or a local organization like Womenspace or Whitebird where you know the piece(s) will be put to good use. The impact of a new clothing piece has a lasting effect. Be intentional with your spending. Buy sparingly, with great thought, and cherish what you choose to purchase. When buying new, think of the ALTERNATIVES TO FAST FASHION full life-cycle of a piece. Not only will your It goes without saying that buying from wallet thank you, but so will the environbrands that supply sustainable clothing ment. can come at a high cost, especially when Words By Tzila Lowe-Cowan compared to brands like Old Navy and Illustration By Daisy Jones H&M which provide less expensive alternatives. Although many of us would like to purchase solely from brands that follow practices that make the environment a better place, not many can afford the costs of the clothing. Thankfully, even if you don’t have a pretty penny to spend, there are other ways to still purchase new-toyou pieces without buying into fast fashion. Second-hand stores like Goodwill and Buffalo Exchange, as well as online retailers like Depop and Poshmark, make sustainable shopping possible for the modern consumer. When purchasing new pieces, you can also think outside the box. Try to buy mostly second-hand, pre-loved pieces, or upcycle a piece instead of letting it go altogether. Rather than replacing an article of clothing

Lax Logging Laws Lessen

Rural Oregon Quality of Life in

Oregon's antiquated logging laws and the ever-increasing push for industrial profits continue to contribute to the pollution of potable rivers and streams, the decimation of once-diverse forests, and emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. In a rural woodland about 30 minutes outside of Eugene, Oregon, intermittent sunlight filters through the high branches of conifers, bathing the earth below in soft sunspots. Hairy, green moss clings to this sparse smattering of thin trees, each of similar species and stretching about 50 feet into the sky. They dance in the slight breeze, their disturbed leaves and branches the only sound in a quiet wilderness just off the road. Occasional sticks and vines traverse the otherwise fairly navigable floor. While this may sound like a well-maintained and thriving forest, looks can be deceiving. The biodiversity of rural Oregon forests is not as well-preserved as residents are led to believe. Headed by a continuous desire for corporate profit, logging and heavy herbicide use have taken a toll on Oregon’s natural forests, causing significant carbon emissions and a loss of plant and animal diversity. Negatively impacting forests and polluting streams, these practices have effects on human life, too. While Oregon’s neighboring states maintain a relatively healthy percentage of designated wilderness and—Washington and California preserve 10 and 15 percent, respectively—and adequate laws to protect it, Oregon’s undisturbed, public wilderness only amounts to about 4 percent of the 22

state’s expanse according to Oregon Wild, a non-profit that looks to reform Oregon’s forestry laws. While typical logging operations replant the trees they cut down, they tend to plant only with the same species, causing a lack of biodiversity that inhibits the forest’s ability to support varied plant and animal life as it matures. “Forests” like these are only grown to be logged, decade after decade. "Any way we could describe the functions or services of a forest… those functions aren’t happening. We don't have a cycle that can sustain itself; 99 percent of the biomass in what we can see is one species," says Jason Gonzales, the Forest and Watershed Campaign Organizer for Oregon Wild. “If you clear out a grassland and plant a corn crop, it doesn't matter that corn is a grass. You do not still have a grassland.” The absorption of carbon by trees and plants, called carbon sequestration, allows the storage of carbon for long periods of time in mature forests. When a forest is clear-cut, the logs burnt or left to decompose release carbon that is then freed into the atmosphere, contributing to the warming of the planet and climate change. This doesn’t even take into account the carbon emitted by logging procedures and equipment that process trees for sale as lumber. This, the entire logging process of Oregon’s forests and tree farms, is the largest contributor to carbon emissions in the state, accounting for 35 percent of total emissions. "Decomposition and carbon loss from

that initial logging takes 20 years before it's done releasing all the carbon because it does so much damage to the soil, the roots, the stumps,” says Gonzales. “It's actually releasing more carbon than those trees are absorbing every day.” Logging is not just a huge hit to forests and the atmosphere, but also to Oregon’s streams and watersheds. The herbicides used to quickly regrow tree farms often seep into streams used for drinking water due to a lack of effective laws governing “setback zones,” or the area bordering either side of a river or stream. For example, as of early 2018, the Willamette River and Millrace Slough have a 100-foot and 40-foot setback, respectively, according to the City of Eugene. Though still inadequate protection against seepage, even this suburban region has better regulations and larger setback zones than most rural areas. Due to the heavy rain and constant erosion of Oregon’s riverbanks, the chemicals used to farm and regrow trees near the rivers can and do often find their way into the water and surrounding riparian ecosystems. Living near a wide stream, Gonzales remembers watching salmon migrate with his family in the early years of the decade. However, living downstream from a large parcel of land owned and logged by Roseburg Forest Products, in more recent winters, the stream has run brown—choked with dirt and chemicals typical of logging operations—and all but devoid of salmon. This stream also serves as a drinking water source for residents in the area.

(top) Private landowners often harvest and sell their own wood in order to pay the bills. Small operations such as this -- provided the forests are sustainably replanted -- are not nearly as detrimental as large-scale clearcutting operations. (middle) The Forest Stewardship Council sets environmental standards and promotes responsible management of forestland. According to their website, “more than 380 million acres of forest are certified under FSC’s system.” (bottom) Logging trucks such as this one are everywhere in rural Oregon. Many of these companies profit off of large-scale timber farming, which is all too often unsustainable and can be detrimental to the land.

"In most of Oregon private land, you can't go more than about 1,000 feet at most between one stream and the next one," says Gonzales. "With 175,000 acres of clearcutting logging in the state last year, so much stream was damaged and clearcut right over." Roughly 64 percent of Oregon’s forests are classified as government forestland, much of it owned by industrial corporations—such as Weyerhaeuser and Seneca—while only 12 percent is owned by small private landowners, according to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) website. The total amount of private land in the state has decreased over the last 20 years as landowners sell their forests and acreage to keep up with rising costs of living and health care. Art Paz, a small landowner just outside Eugene, has fought constant battles with industrial logging corporations to protect his organic blueberry crop, even blocking the road at one point to prevent a nearby, newly purchased industrial property from being sprayed with pesticides and herbicides. Arguing that this spray would leak onto his property and that of other nearby landowners, Paz was prepped with soil samples and a no-harm agreement signed by him and his neighbors, eventually causing the offending corporation to sell their property and move out a year later. "There are high school kids that catch a bus within 500 meters or less of where [they were] going to be spraying,” said Paz, not only concerned about his own crop but about the human impact of these 23

chemicals. A Vietnam War veteran, Paz likened a popular herbicide--known as 2, 4-D --to Agent Orange, used to kill off dense vegetation to allow the forces to spot enemies and has since been identified as the cause of a plethora of human diseases with both short and long-term impacts. While a harmful component of Agent Orange— called 2, 4, 5-T—was banned in the 1980s, many industrial loggers often mix various kinds of herbicides, creating dangerous concoctions, with similarly severe threats to human health. Small landowners such as Paz stand to prove the benefits of organic and sustainable practices. Logging by small landowners, who often look to make a living off their own land, tend to replant heterogenous trees (termed "proforestation") and ensure sufficient attention to leaving streams and riparian areas undisturbed. With a timber industry driving for ever-greater efficiency and profits—shorter term goals that incentivize a lack of regard for environmental impacts--Oregon Wild and similar organizations look to improve Oregon’s laws and regulations surrounding logging practices, setback zones, and the use of pesticides and herbicides. Stronger regulation has the potential to make it more difficult for industrial logging corporations to continue polluting the soil, air, and streams of rural Oregon. Requiring safer and more sustainable practices will help preserve the diverse and luscious flora and fauna for which Oregon is known and treasured and protect its residents against unwitting harm. Not only would reforming lumber regulations benefit the region’s ecology, but perhaps it has the potential to help the economy as well. Gonzales describes the benefits of a more ecologically informed population: "If we actually invested in Green New Deal-type infrastructure, where we were seeing a value in this and willing to pay for it as a society, the job creation would be enormous and the ecosystem benefits would be even bigger." Words and Photos By Marin Stuart

Staff Editor in Chief

Alysa Wulf

Managing Editor

Marin Stuart

Multimedia Director

Meg Matsuzaki

Design Director

Annika Minges

Photo Editor

Julian Croman

Designer

Grace Levy

Illustrator

Daisy Jones

Writers

Cieli Cornelius Tzila Lowe-Cowan Mak Estill Alahna Staten Oscar Bernat Emily Scarvie Mya Miller

Photographers

Marcus Schwab Lucas Warner Alec Kamburov Emery Thanathiti

ENVISION