Groundwater Protection Project

for South Deschutes County

Background:

Extensive field research and study has shown that the groundwater underlying south Deschutes County is threatened by continued use of traditional onsite wastewater treatment systems (standard, pressure distribution and sand filter systems). In addition, the La Pine National Demonstration Project showed that new types of onsite systems can protect the groundwater in a manner that meets the adopted Comprehensive Plan goals for Regional Problem Solving for South Deschutes County.

Beginning with a working group recommending a specific rule for south Deschutes County (Recommendation for Action and Consideration of a Geographic Rule, 1999) and continuing with the recommendation of an advisory committee (TDC Technical Advisory Committee) that met between July 2005 and April 2006, Deschutes County proposes to adopt a program to reduce the amount of pollution that are discharged from wastewater treatment systems, especially nitrogen. In addition, natural groundwater and surface water recharge patterns are maintained in this holistic approach to watershed-scale management of groundwater pollution loads in the La Pine Sub-basin.

Groundwater Protection Project Goals:

Recognizing that existing development and future growth can render groundwater resources in the La Pine sub-basin unusable, Deschutes County has focused on the following goals:

Prevent a moratorium on development;
Protect the primary, and currently high quality, source of drinking water for the residents in south Deschutes County;
Use extensive data and results to manage pollution so that financial and environmental impacts to residents in the La Pine sub-basin of the upper Deschutes River Watershed are minimized.

Project Work Plan & Final Report:

The Groundwater Protection Project detailed work plan is available here. If you have further questions please contact Barbara Rich, Project Coordinator, 541-617-4713.