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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComments SUB 12/13/2001 i.~ __,._~,... -', SPRINGFIELD UTILITY BOARD \\"~\U.::r- ~~t.'~'\.~C;~ C~'l-:tc':. .21.~,2 : -;Ui :-L!-,_'cL .)rt-~r".di:':;l: ;:'rc.';(1)~ 'J7" -+ -:-:7 --52--:-U \ :'-.;.L 'I :2f~-~,:',i.)("; F~1:\1-)-T:' --;-;'7~7"3-+S December 13, 200l Juan Welch, Coordinator Middie Fork Willamette Watershed Council P,O, Box 27 Lowell, OR 97452 SUBJECT: MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER AS DRINKING WATER SOURCE Dear !vir, Welch: This letter is to alert you to the need for protecting the Middle Fork Willamette Riveras a major drinking wate,r resource that serves the 60,000 residents of Springfield, As you may be aware, Springfield Utility Board (SUB) has historically provided drinking water to the residents of Springfieid exclusiveiy from groundwater sburces, In 1999, some of SUB's wells were found to be influenced by surface water (conjunctive), ,This finding has resulted in construction of a slow sand filtration system in the Willamette Wellfield designed to meet EPA requirements for additional treatment of this mixed drinking water resource_ Water drawn directly from the Middle Fork Willamette wili aiso be added to the filter beds, The entire Middle Fork Willamette Watershed contributes to the Middle Fork Willamette River and influences conjunctive resources that will be drawn for treatment, However, the entire watershed is much too iarge an area for SUB to address as a drinking water management area, For this purpose, a Potential Pollution Source Inventory delineated a smaller area consisting of a 1,000-foot setback immediately adjacent to and approximately 28 miles upstream of the surface water intake located in SUB's Willamette Wellfield, This inventory also identified a wide vaJ:iety of activities,andlor conditions within the, management area as potential risks to this surface water body, Some specific areas of concern are: . Turbidity caused from erosion of soils by current and historic forestry and agricultural practice, road building, and reservoir and dam operations (high turbidity will cause filter beds to silt up); Runoff of pesticides from forest and agricultural practices, private properties, and maintenance of highway and utility right-of-ways; Leaching and runoff of nitrates from forest and agricultural practices, septic systems, and privat~ properties; Leaking chemicals from storage tanks and industrial processes; Chemical spills along transportation corridors (highways and railroads), , " ) . . . . RECEIVED - --1-2. -', ]-?r 0 / (J~~ By: . " Juan Welch Middie Fork Wiilamette Watershed Council December 13, 200 I Page 2 of2 'i Because the entire management area is outside Springfield's jurisdiction, SUB will need to rely on partnerships with many agencies and,organizations in a cooperative effort to reducerisk of contamination to Springfieid's drinking water resources, This may include a baseline assessment and ongoing monitoring; outreach and education to businesses and residents upstream of Springfield; and working with forestry, the Army Corps of Engineers, local and state agencies, agriculture, industries, transportation authorities, and others to reduce risks (point and non-point) that could contribute to surface water contamination, SUB recognizes that fish and wildlife, irrigation, flood control, ,and forestry are major considerations of watershed protection, However, please do not overlook the use of water in the Middle Fork Willamette River as a major drinking water resource when developing assessment and management strategies for the Middle Fork Willamette Watershed, Sincerely, ~~;y //~~ Nancy L. Moreno Wellhead Protection Inspector, SUB NM:mkm cO' -, Sheree Stuart, DEQ Julie Harvey, DEQ Dennis Nelson, Human Services GeoffHuntington, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Richard lamster, Army Corps of Engineers Ken Duncan, Army Corps of Engineers John Alan, US Forest Service William Castillo, US Forest Service David Mattson, BLM EfIlily Rice, BLM Tim Wright, US,Fish and Wildlife Rick Scott, Middle Fork Ranger District Dennis Joll, DOT , Eugene Office, Union Pacific Railroad John Williams, USGS William Sage, lane County Mike Perkins, lane County Fred Lissner, Oregon Water Resources Michael Wolf, Oregon Department of Agriculture David Downing, Lane Soil and Water Conservation District Ross Penhallegon, OSU Lane, Linn, and Benton County Extension Service Sven Anderson, Oregon State Parks Service . Doug Crispin, Oregon State Parks Service Mike Copley, lane County Division of land Management Doug Heiken, Oregon Natural Resource Council ('