Spring 2016 Project Update

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Apr 12, 2016/ 0 Comments / in Project Details, Project Updates / by

East Valley Water District and its team of consultants have made significant progress in early 2016 on the Drift Creek Water Supply Project. As a District we have completed the following work:
Wetland Delineation Completed and Submitted to Department of State Lands (DSL): The consultant team developed a map and report of existing wetlands in the proposed reservoir footprint. That report was submitted to DSL in early 2016. The report will be reviewed by DSL and the findings will be an important input to the Environmental Permitting Package submitted this year.
Fish and Wildlife Studies: The District has invested heavily in performing thorough fish and wildlife studies both within and downstream of the proposed reservoir footprint. Biologists spent much of the summer walking along Drift Creek to understand the current conditions of fish habitat. Wildlife biologists have also worked with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to understand elk habitat. This work is informing further Elk Studies in 2016. A bulk of these studies are complete; and the consultant team is currently drafting the Biological Assessment to be submitted in the Environmental Permitting Package.
Phase I of Cultural Resources Studies are complete: The consultant team performed extensive pedestrian studies of the reservoir footprint in spring and summer 2015. Archaeologists walked the entire proposed reservoir footprint to identify cultural resources or historic artifacts in the area. If items were found, they were left on the site but noted in a report. Phase II studies will likely be performed in summer 2016. These investigations involve shovel test where archaeologists will excavate small areas where there is a high possibility of cultural resources. That soil will be sifted through a mesh screen to determine the presence of artifacts. [all ground will be restored to its original condition.] This information will be sent to the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office as a part of the Environmental Permitting process.
Water Distribution System Design is in Progress: In February 2016, the Board of Directors voted to initiate the design process for the water distribution system that will take water from the project to the District. The Board considered two alternatives: conveying the water instream to a pump station on the Pudding River; and putting the water in buried pipe from the reservoir site to a distribution point in the District. Both alternatives featured environmental benefits; however conveying the water to the Pudding River would cause impacts to endangered species that exist in the Pudding River (and not on Drift Creek.) Conveying the water in-stream would also cause some loss of water due to seepage. The piping alternative would result in a pressurized system that would eliminate the need for pumping and eliminate seepage loss. Thus, the Board voted to move forward with the piping alternative for the purpose of performing the Biological Assessment and permitting documentation. In the next coming months, the District and their consultants will be performing a detailed alternative analysis of these two methods including further engineering, environmental and economic analysis. During this time, an additional alternative may be identified.
Water Right Case is Moving Forward: The District received notice from the Oregon Department of Justice in early 2016 that the water right case will move forward. After initial stalling by the state, the District has asked that the case continue to move forward. A schedule has not yet been confirmed, but it is likely this process will take approximately two years. The District and Oregon Water Resources Department will defend the Preliminary Final Order issued in July 2014 against Protestants. This is a substantial undertaking for the District, and we will provide more updates and details as they become available.


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