The state Department of Environmental Quality’s latest move to control the discharge of stormwater will cause the city of Albany and property owners all kinds of problems, so the city is going to court.
Where the water rates a ‘fair’
Written July 6th, 2016 by Hasso Hering
It’s not exactly Zuma Beach, let alone the French Riviera, but as an occasional swimming hole this spot on the Calapooia River upstream of the Queen Avenue bridge has its uses during the mid-valley summer. At least for a few people, as in this shot from June 30.
Rain tax ? Uncertainty prevails
Written March 23rd, 2016 by Hasso Hering
The rules under which small Oregon towns will have to operate their storm water systems are still in flux, and how costly they will be and what effect they will have on Albany’s eventual rain tax nobody knows.
The Willamette: Why a ‘minus’?
Written December 9th, 2015 by Hasso Hering
On a bike ride Wednesday to celebrate the temporary absence of rain, I stopped at Albany’s Bowman Park to take a quick look at the Willamette River. It reminded me that a few days ago, the river got a B-minus on some report card. Why not an A or at least a plain B?
Posted in: Commentary, News, Videos
Tags: DEQ, Meyer Memorial Trust, River report card, water quality, Willamette River
Tags: DEQ, Meyer Memorial Trust, River report card, water quality, Willamette River
Rain and tax talk arrive together
Written November 7th, 2015 by Hasso Hering
The rainy season has started and, as though on cue, the Albany City Council is taking up consideration of a tax on rain. But before such an added tax is enacted, second thoughts are in order.
Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany rain tax, DEQ, EPA, runoff, Salem Stormwater Utility, stormwater permits
Tags: Albany rain tax, DEQ, EPA, runoff, Salem Stormwater Utility, stormwater permits
Our Willamette: Unlawfully warm?
Written October 22nd, 2013 by Hasso Hering
A federal law, the Clean Water Act, gives regulators the authority to say what conditions they would like to see in our rivers. But nature does not necessarily cooperate, and then there’s the potential for conflict and a lot of public expense. We’re at that stage in Oregon. Since 2003 the state DEQ, under the […]
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DEQ fines city over Talking Water leaks
Listening to the calming murmurs of Albany’s Talking Water Gardens on a sunny afternoon, you would not think there could be a problem. But there is, or at least the DEQ thinks it’s a problem.
Tags: DEQ, First Lake, Talking Water Gardens