Abstract
To aid in producing a protection and management strategy for the freshwater resources of Oregon, USA, we have defined an initial set of ecological regions and subregions of the state that organize the spatial similarities and differences in water quality. We have delineated and mapped these subregions using existing maps of ecological regions, maps of selected environmental characteristics, remote sensing imagery, and descriptive literature. To help in interpreting the resulting map, a unique approach to mapping regions is used. We have described the relative widths of regional boundaries, and we ranked the characteristics used in determining them. Water quality managers in Oregon intend to apply these subregions as an organizational framework for data display and reporting, prioritizing monitoring and pollution control strategies, developing biological criteria for water quality standards, and developing other regional water quality management approaches.
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The research described in this article has been funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This document has been prepared at the EPA Environmental Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, in part through contract number 68-C8-0006 to NSI Technology Services Corporation. It has been subjected to the agency’s peer and administrative review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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Clarke, S.E., White, D. & Schaedel, A.L. Oregon, USA, ecological regions and subregions for water quality management. Environmental Management 15, 847–856 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394822
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394822