By: Laura Groshans

There are several external factors that influence the overall health of the rivers. For example, agricultural runoff from local farms takes a toll on the river bank ecosystems as well as the internal river ecosystems. Additionally, garbage is all too common in and around the Willamette and McKenzie rivers in Eugene. This is likely due to the high concentration of homeless people and college students in the area. Other factors that should be mentioned include climate change, paddle sports, and sewage management.