The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has launched an intensive study of pollution in the 10-mile stretch of the Willamette River from the Sellwood Bridge to the falls at Oregon City.

The study will look for pesticides and industrial pollution in river sediments throughout the area. It will focus on sediments near storm-sewer outfalls in Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Gladstone, West Linn and Oregon City, which for decades have been contaminated with urban runoff.