Eugene Air Pollution (Junction City, Veneta, Coburg: allergy, quality of life, to live)

[bear409]

Would someone please tell me the truth about the air quality in Eugene. Is it clean or is it dirty? I am reading things about Eugene having the 5th worst air quality in the U.S. and then another report I read says it's rated as "green" all year round. Also, could someone tell me about the farmers and their crop burnings. That sounds scary and polluting.

If Eugene air is really that bad, why do so many people want to be there?

[GueroLoco]

Eugene can have some very bad air at times. This is especially true in the summer and early autumn when grass seed farmers in the Willamette Valley burn their fields for pest control purposes. The problem is primarily with Eugene's topography. Eugene lies at the southern end of the valley, and is flanked by the coast range to the west, the Coburg Hills and Cascade foothills to the east and a series of high hills and buttes to the south. Due to this, bad air from not only the surrounding areas, but the whole of the Willamette Valley collects in Eugene and stagnates. The same thing happens in the spring with the pollen from all the trees and flowers in the valley, making the area hellish for some sensitive allergy sufferers.

Its up to you to decide if this is enough of a detraction from the overall quality of life. Eugene is a nice, laid back, liberal town with alot of things to offer for a city of its size.

[statetostate]

From what I see in the climate data, Eugene has on average 1/3 clear, 1/3 partly cloudy and 1/3 cloudy days per year. The highest rainfall is in Nov, Dec, Jan. 40% of the year has over .01 inch, 24% over .1 inch, dropping to 7% with over .5 inch. I realize I need to LIVE there to understand if this will be difficult for me. I have visited about 5 times but never in the rainy season. I have a couple questions:
1) are there areas of/around town that are less rainy than others ?
2) is it rainier around the rivers?
3) is it rainy in the more elevated areas and where would those be?
4) when it rains is it more misty on most days (sounds like that would be the case except on days when it gets over .5 inches)?
5) how many days can go by without seeing the sun? not asking for sunny skies, just seeing the sun thru the clouds...

Thinking of Eugene, Junction City or Veneta (Southwest or Northwest of Eugene). Are these more or less rainy? The reason I ask is I lived in places where it would mist for 3 days then be clear and also in places where it rained more for a day then be clear the next day.

Also any tips on keeping it dry inside - I have a dehumidifier.

Thanks in advance for insights.

[Eugguy]

It can get smoggy during the summer, but otherwise the air is pretty good!