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Do you have questions about environmental impacts and mitigation measures related to the Willamette Water Treatment Plant? Reach out to schedule a time to speak with a member of the project team.
Since water is one of our most precious natural resources, a major part of establishing a new water treatment plant is minimizing and offsetting the environmental impacts of any planned infrastructure.
EWEB completed several studies to evaluate the environmental impacts of the project and develop mitigation measures to protect the river and surrounding landscape both during and after construction. A summary of findings is below; supporting studies are posted in EWEB’s joint permit application.
Permitting is a collaborative process between utilities, agencies and the public. The initial solutions below will be refined based on input from various stakeholders. Sign up to receive notices when public comment periods open and check back to learn how solutions evolve over time.
How would the project impact fish habitat?
The new intake would draw water from a stretch of the Willamette River that currently provides little high-quality habitat for native fish.
EWEB would establish new fish habitat along the riverbank, just upstream of the new plant intake by excavating a small flood bench and placing large wood pieces and boulders for fish refuge. The new habitat would more than offset the loss of natural riverbank where the intake would be installed.
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How would the project impact wetlands?
The plant itself would be built on an undeveloped plot of land that suffered decades of garbage dumping and other damaging behavior before being bought by EWEB.
Three shallow wetlands that do not provide quality habitat would be filled (permanently and/or temporarily) to make way for the plant. EWEB would purchase equivalent wetland credits from a local wetland mitigation bank to offset permanent impacts. A mitigation bank that has been approved by the regulatory agencies, with a service district that covers the project area, would be utilized.
Wetlands temporarily disturbed during construction would be restored to pre-existing conditions or better, with a more diverse native plant community than currently exists.
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What would be the short-term impacts to aquatic species?
The Biological Assessment for this project outlines the possibility of impacts to fish and other aquatic species during construction. The construction impacts are related to the installation of a cofferdam (a temporary, water-tight enclosure that enables in-water construction of the intake), or sheet pile to isolate the construction area from the river flow, and potential fuel leaks from construction vehicles.
EWEB will implement best management practices throughout construction to avoid and/or minimize potential impacts to aquatic species. These will include having a biologist onsite to salvage any fish accidentally trapped during the installation of the cofferdam or sheet piles, using a special method to lower vibration from pile driving, keeping equipment away from the river and diapering vehicles to prevent fuel leaks.
What would be the long-term impacts to aquatic species?
This plant is about resiliency, not growth. EWEB would withdraw the same amount of water overall, but from two sources instead of one. If approved, EWEB will be able to fulfill a portion of our needs with water from the Willamette River, allowing EWEB to withdraw less water from the McKenzie.
EWEB is actively coordinating with the permitting agencies to determine the potential impacts of the project and identify appropriate mitigation measures, if needed.
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How would stormwater be managed?
EWEB would treat stormwater runoff from the intake and treatment plant prior to discharging to the river. Operational discharges of treated stormwater and process water from the new plant are not anticipated to impact aquatic species or habitat.
How could EWEB’s experience with Source Water Protection benefit the Willamette?
EWEB is a national leader in source water protection, which is a practice of safeguarding rivers and other water bodies against contaminants that may impact drinking water supplies. This has been proven on the McKenzie River where EWEB is working with partners like the McKenzie River Trust and the McKenzie Watershed Council to make a great water source even better. Our programs on the McKenzie, which engage landowners to voluntarily reduce pollution, could be applied to the Willamette as well, to complement the great work already being done on the Middle and Coast Fork rivers.
Organizations like the Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District, the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council and the Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council are already doing great watershed protection work on the Willamette. EWEB will look for opportunities to dovetail with their efforts where it makes sense.
Related Programs
Source Water Protection
By protecting our source water we also protect downriver communities, community infrastructure, improve climate resiliency to challenges such as floods and wildfires, and improve habitat for our native fish species.
Finn Rock Reach Project
Chinook salmon making their way back up the McKenzie River have found more places to lay their eggs thanks to years of work restoring floodplains throughout the watershed.
Quartz Creek Project
A $7.5 million federal grant will help EWEB and partners protect water quality on the McKenzie River by restoring the natural functions of one of the river’s major tributaries, Quartz Creek.
