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S. Deschutes/N. Klamath Groundwater Protection Project
DEQ, the US Geological Survey and Deschutes County have determined that the safety of the groundwater in southern Deschutes and northern Klamath counties is threatened by nitrate contamination from traditional onsite septic wastewater treatment systems. The groundwater aquifer provides the drinking water source for most residents in this area.
DEQ and a steering committee of local area residents are now working with the community to find the best way to protect the groundwater.
Email your questions or comments for the Steering Committee or DEQ
Most wells tap into an aquifer within 50 feet of the ground surface. The aquifers have no natural barriers to the ground surface and are very vulnerable to contamination from the surface. Nitrate contamination of groundwater aquifers is a problem in several areas of Oregon, as can be seen from the map showing the results of testing from real estate transactions between 1989 and 2008.
The La Pine area shows a clear area of contamination. In some areas of Oregon, the contamination comes from a combination of agricultural chemicals, animal waste and septic systems. In the La Pine area, the major source of contamination is septic systems.
The contamination comes from the discharge of nitrate from septic systems. Groundwater in the southern Deschutes and northern Klamath aquifer is becoming contaminated with the nitrate at unsafe levels. Infants and pregnant or nursing women are especially vulnerable to increased nitrate levels. High levels of nitrate may also cause other health problems.
To protect the quality of the drinking water in the aquifer, Deschutes County passed an ordinance in 2008 requiring upgrades on all septic systems; voters overturned the ordinance in a special election in March 2009. Deschutes County has asked DEQ to take the lead to resolve the issue. At a meeting in July 2009, the public raised many questions about how to best approach the issue. The questions touched on a variety of issues and depending on the questions, different agencies have responded. DEQ has compiled the questions and answers.
- Questions and Answers
- USGS Reports: Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Investigations of Ground-Water near La Pine, Oregon
Steering Committee Information
DEQ assembled a steering committee of community members to discuss and make recommendations to improve groundwater protection in South Deschutes and North Klamath counties.
| Steering Committee Meeting May 1, 2012 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Apr. 3, 2012 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Mar. 6, 2012 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Feb. 7, 2012 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Jan. 9, 2012 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Dec. 6, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Nov. 1, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Oct. 4, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Sept. 13, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Aug. 2, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting July 14, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting June 15, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting May 3, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Apr. 5, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Mar. 1, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Feb. 1, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Jan. 4, 2011 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Dec. 7, 2010 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Nov. 9, 2010 - 6 p.m. Midstate Electric Community Meeting Room 16755 Finley Butte Road La Pine, OR |
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| Steering Committee Meeting Sept. 9, 2010 - 6 p.m. La Pine Senior Activity Center 16450 Victory Way La Pine, OR 97739 |
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Past Public Meetings
| May 6, 2010 - 6:00 PM La Pine Senior Activity Center 16450 Victory Way La Pine, OR 97739 |
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| February 4, 2010 - 6:00 PM La Pine Senior Activity Center 16450 Victory Way La Pine, OR 97739 |
Information about nitrate contamination in Oregon is available from a study by Brenda Hoppe, Oregon State University and the Department of Human Services. The slides below illustrate how nitrates can affect health, and also provide a statistical analysis of nitrate contamination across Oregon. The data used comes from real estate transactions (RET) across the state, including the La Pine area.
Other documents regarding the discussion of the issue:
Four focus areas to the groundwater protection process
(Click to
enlarge)
For more information on DEQ's Water Quality Division and its programs, see our contact page.
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