WORKING PAPER NO. 33
COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN PROJECT
For Water Supply and Water Quality Management
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL
WATER SUPPLY AND STREAM QUALITY CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
ASSOCIATED WITH MULTI-PURPOSE RESERVOIR STUDIES IN THE
WILLOW CREEK BASIN, OREGON
December 21, 1961
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service
Water Supply and Pollution Control Program, Pacific Northwest
Region IX, Portland, Oregon
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WCRKING PAPER K0..33
COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN PROJECT
For Water Supply and tfater Quality Management
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION C? MUNICIPAL AND INDUS El IAL
WATER SUPPLY AMD SOREAM QUALITY CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
ASSOCIATED WITH MULTI-PURPCSF. RKSFaVOS STUD 11*3 IN TKS
WILLGY CREEK BASIN, CTEGCN
DA'IE; December 21, 1961 PIS1RIBUTION;
Prepared bys pKE.,.,^, ..WCT, _.JHD. . Project Staffs
Reviewed bys , ^ Cooperating Agencies)
Approved bys ^ • ;._ _ n Generals __^__«
U0 S. DBPARRffiN'r 07 HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND TOLPARE
Public Health Service
Water Supply and Pollution Control Prof-rr?in, Pacific Hortbr/est
Rogion IX, Portland 5 Oregon
(/o)
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This working paper contains preliminary data and information
primarily intended for internal use by the Columbia River
Basin Project staff and cooperating agencies. The material
presented in this paper has not been fully evaluated and
should not be considered as final.
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T r~»" f~7PY
bLil/jp< UA&J^A' i
Feasibility Report
Preliminary Investigation of Municipal and Industrial
Water Supply and Streara Quality Control Requirements
Associated with Multi-Purpose Kesorvoir Studies ia the
Creek Basin, Oregon
Pi-opired at the Ho quest of ancl
in Coc-'ijration with the District Engineer-1,
U..£*. Aarsy Engineer District Walla, Walla,
Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla, Washington
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFAR2
Public Health Service
Water Supply and Pollution Control Progi-an, Pacific Northwest
Region IX, Portland, Oregon
December 21, 1961
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Feasibility Investigation
Municipal and Industrial Water Supply
and
Water Quality Control Studies
Willow Creek Basin, Oregon
DWRCDOCTION
This report represents a preliminary examination of present and
predicted future municipal and industrial.v/ater supply and stream
quality control needs in the Willow Creak Basin in connection, with
t
studies being conducted by the Corps of Engineers, Walla Tfalla
District, in this basin.
Request for the investigation was made by the U. S. Arny Engineer
District, Walla Walla, Corps of Engineers, Walla tfalla, Washington,
by letter dated August 14., 1961, asking for assistance in carrying
out provisions set forth in the Water Supply Act of 1953 (Title III,
P. L. 500, 85th Congress) for implementation of water supply pro-
grams and for stream quality control evaluations applicable to
flow regulation provisions as set forth in the Federal Water Pol-
lution Control Act Amendments of 19ol (87-88th Congress).
Studies involve establishment of preliminary estimates on the
status, adequacy and limitations of existing water supply sources,
waste sources, waste handling practices and stream water quality
based on the most recent data available.
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Appropriate State agencies, local representatives and available
engineering reports were consulted for certain data and viewpoints.
Estimates dealing with future water Demands, water quality and v;atsr
quality maintenance needs were aided by use of material contained in
the preliminary economic study and estimate of erowth report for this
region prepared by the Economic Studies Group, Columbia River Basin
Project, U.S. Public Health Service. •
Materials presented are subject to confirmation pending comprehensive
water supply and water quality management studies to be conducted in
this region at a later date by the U. S. Public Health Service.
DESCRIPTION
The areas of.primary concern lie in the immediate and downstream
reaches of ^illow Creek below the proposed Heppner Reservoir (see
Physical Characteristics cf Basin, attached).
The objective of the study is to determine on a preliminary basis
whether or not provisions for municipal and industrial water supply
and/or low flow augmentation for stream quality control should be
considered in the planning of the proposed reservoir.
Studies involve Heppner, Oregon (population 1,660), located immediately
belov; the proposed dam site, and Lexington, Oregon (population 24.0)
and lone, Oregon (population 350), situated approximately eight miles
and seventeen miles dov.T.streaa from Heppner, respectively. Each of
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the three communities utilize ground water as a source of supply
and the City of Heppner uses the downstream reach of Willow Creek
for municipal waste disposal. Domestic wastes at Lexington and lone
are disposed by means of individual subsurface percolation systems „
LEXINGTON AND I ONE
Water
The ground water supply at Lexington consists of a 531-foot v/ell,
having a yield of 70 gpm or capability of supplying about 4.00
gallons per capita per day to the community. The supply at Ion©
consists of a 1,438-foot well with a 300 gpsi yield which has never
been operated full time.
According to economic forecasts for the Lexington and lone areas,
no significant future increase in municipal and/or industrial water
supply is expected. Provision of storage to serve present or future
needs at Lexington and lone, therefore, appears neither needed nor
justifiable.
T?ater Quality Control
In event that at some future time the wastes produced at Lexington
and lone are collected, treated and discharged to Willow Creak, any
flow regulation which would provide an increase in the minircua .
natural flow of the receiving stream would possess value in terms
of improved waste assimilative capacity.
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4
HEPPNER
Water Supply
The City of Keppner obtains approximately 510 acre-feet of water
annually from underground sources. The City has right to 1,75 cfs
of surface flo'.v from Willow Creek; however, this rate of flow
frequently and for sustained periods of tiffie is not available
(dependable surface supply at Heppner: zero).
Three wells serve the needs of the community. One well (300 gpm)
is located three miles above Heppner along. Willow Creek and two wells
are located about twelve miles above the City near the confluence of
Worth Fork Willow Creek. Each of the latter two wells'..yield 350 gpnr
but only whan operated separately. Although none of the wells would
be inundated by the Project, nearly one mile of transmission line
carrying the well water to Heppner is within the proposed impound-
ment area.
On an annual basis, the developed ground water supply at Heppner
(1,090 acre-feet) can satisfy about twice the present demand. During
an average day throughout the months of June-August, about 85 percent
(0.78 I&D) of the developed yield (0.94 &GD) is pumped. On an average
daily peak basis, the developed sources without the community storage
reservoir (capacity, 1.11 MJ), would not meet the demand (l.l MG).
By utilizing the existing storage with continuous pumping, the system
could meet a sustained peak demand for about one week.
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According to economic forecasts for the Heppner area, no significant in-
dustrial or population growth is anticipated. However, on a per capita
daily use basis, significant increases in future-demand could be expected.
By-the year 1985, the increased per capita demand estimated for Heppner
could result in an annual demand for M & I water supply of about 660 acra-
/
feet and, by the year 2010, reach 850 acre-feet. With the existing system^
the peak daily demand in 1985 could be sustained only two and one-half
days, and in the year 2010 could be sustained only a little more than
one day. Also, prior to the year 1985, the average daily Jxme-August
demand 7-rould utilize essentially the entire developed yield, and by the
year 2010 the demand would exceed the yield by about 3.5 percent.
It is apparent that development of an additional source of water supply
will be needed to meet future demands at Heppner. .Another well to
supplement the existing well supplies would satisfy this need, pro-
viding sufficient dependable ground water yields could be maintained
•or use could be made of stored water in the proposed Heppner Reservoir
Project with abandonment of the existing wells.
Although to utilize impounded surface waters for water supply would
require expenditures for conventional water treatment, such stored
waters would offer greater dependability, gravity advantages and other
operational conveniences not possible by the use of underground water.
-' Preliminary Economic Report and Estimate of Growth, 1960-2010,
Willow Creek Area CQregron), Working Paper No. 6, Economic Studies
Group, Water Supply and Pollution Control Program, Pacific Northwest,,
Public Health Service, Portland, Oregon, March, 1962.
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Should construction of the proposed Heppner Reservoir isateplalise,j
it would bs necessary to relocate the section of -transmission lino
lying vrithin the proposed pool so as to eliminate tha .possibility of
infiltration, impaired maintenance and other possible difficulties.
In event that the City of Heppner desires storage space in the pro™
posed reservoir in lieu of development of additional ground -stater p
and inasmuch as costs to relocate the transmission line would bs
chargeable to the Project, credit in an amount consistent with rslo»
cation costs rai^ht well be included in a repayment agrsereento
Since utilization of Project storage for water supply at Ksppiie?
appears entirely feasible, provision for annual withdrawals ia
amounts shovm below should ba considered,,
Yeag Acre"Feat
I960 500 .
1985 700
2010 900
Water Quality Control
Associated with municipal and industrial water uses are waste waters
and the related effects of such waters on the quality of the wasta
receiving stream. In addition, in a highly irrigated land area,
irrigation return flows which invariably contain leached materials
can produce undesirable effects on the stream biota and water quality.
Waste effects and/car effects of irrigation return flovTS duriag critically
lo^r f low periods can be significantly improved by atreamflcw regulation
during these
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Waste and land leached waters carry both organic, and inorganic
materials to the receiving stream. Some of these materials causa a '
reduction in dissolved oxygen content of the stream through oxida-
tion of unstable materials causing a hazard to fish and other aquatic
life while others can create algal and slime nuisances and still
others can destroy or interfere with the natural self-"purification
processes of vital importance in sustaining the purity of the stream.
Wastes collected and treated at Heppner are discharged directly to
Willow Creek downstream from the City. Irrigated lands and drainage
appurtenances exist along the creek both above and below Heppner«
Nuisance odors emanating from the creek below Heppner have at times
discouraged the use of stream water for lavm irrigation.
Streamflow requirements for control of quality are, in this instance,
based on the effect of residual organic materials contained in treated
wastes and land drainage as measured, by the extent of dissolved oxy-
gen deficits that would occur in the stream at various rates of
streamflow. As it would be desirable to maintain a high standard of
quality for recreation, contact activities and other uses, a miniimna
dissolved oxygen objective of 85 percent of saturation at 25° C. is
used. It should be understood that streamflow regulation to control
dissolved oxygen at this level would -provide substantial control of
other quality parameters with the exception of sewage bacteria.
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Since economic forecasts for the Etppner and downstream area.indi"
cate no significant municipal or industrial growth, the regulation
required at the present time is assumed sufficient to maintain con
trol of stream quality to the year 2010.
.Following are the estimated minimum flows required in Willow Creek
between Heppner and lone to maintain satisfactory stream quality,,
Willow Creek
1960=2010 11.0 8,5
Determination of the above flow reqxiireEents allows for a reasonable
degree of waste treatment prior to discharge and, therefore^ should
be regarded as a supplemental quality control measure. It is assumed
that sewage bacteria would be controlled at the source by disinfections
The intermediate and vdnter season flo^sa .given above represent an
allowance for greater assimilative capacity of the stream as a result
of reduced water temperature,
Benefits
The benefit assignable to storage in the proposed Eeppner Project fcs*
water supply TTould be equivalent to the long range improvement cost*
that would be incurred by the City of Heppner ia accomplishing cini-
lar improvement by-. the least costly alternative m-sthod. For example ,
the benefit assignable to storage indicated for Heppne? could ba
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derived from selection of the least costly of three likely single-
purpose impoundment sites; namely, Shoba Creek, Bala Fork and Willosr
Creek. Benefits should be based on present construction costs with
amortization consistent with current isunicipal bonding rates.
It should be pointed out that costs to develop ground, water sources
would not be the equivalent of benefit associated with storage of
surface waters. Ground water possesses neither the degree of depend
ency nor the gravity benefit that surface storage in this instance
would provide. It is assumed, however, that surface waters stored
in any of the alternate impoundments or the proposed project would
require conventional treatment prior to delivery to the consumer a,,
The benefits assignable to storage or storage releases for quality
control may be considered as equivalent to costs involved in pro-
viding no less than the required minimum streamflow by means of th©
least costly of possible single -pur pose alternate projects. It is
assumed by this that a reasonable degree of waste treatment is
applied at ths source prior to discharge (rainiimiHi flo^r requireu>onta
based on this assumption) and that accomplishment of further
control to include improvement in land drainage effects can ba
achieved most cheaply by means of dilution fl
The benefit assignable to the proposed Heppner Project for quality
control, therefore, would be equivalent to the least costly single
purpose project located upstream froa Heppner which trould provide
the amount of regulation previously indicated 0
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HILLCST CREEK BASIN STUDIES
Physical CharactorIstics
U. S. DEPARTMENT .OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AM) WELFARE
Public Health Servieo
Water Supply and Pollution Control Program, Pacific Northwest
Region 32 s Portland, Cregoa
February 1962
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Willow Creek Basin
Physical Characteristics
LOCATION AND SIZE •
Willo?/ Creek drains the north side of the Blue Mountains in M
County, Oregon, crossing in its lower reaches westward into Gilliam
County and flowing into the Columbia at river mile 252 about ten
miles upriver from Arlington, Total watershed area is 890 square
miles. The basin is roughly cucumber-shaped, about three times as
long as it is wide, oriented southeast to northwest.
Willow Creek is about 70 miles long; it becomes a major stream at
Heppner, about a third of the distance downstream from the haad=-
waters where it is joined by Balm Fork and Shobe Creek from the •
south and Hinton Creek from the east. Location of the town of
Heppner at the junction of four mountain canyons has made it
peculiarly subject to severe flood damages.
In the lower two-thirds of its course, Willow Creek lies close to the
northeast side of its watershed. The three major downstream tribu-
taries enter from the south; Clarks Canyon at Lexington about ten
miles.downstream, from.Heppner, Rhea Creek about five miles further
.downstream at river mile 33, and Eightnile Canyon.at eight miles
above the mouth, as its name implies.
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PHYSIOGRAPHY
Both Billow Creek and its principal tributary, Rhea Creek, rise on
.the Blue Mountain ridge at elevations well above 5,000 feot. The
highest point in the basin is at 6,000 feet elevation, and the con-
fluence of Willov/ Creek with the Columbia is at elevation 200 feet0
Over-all average stream gradient is about 60 feet per milej 100 feet
per mile in the upper third above Heppner and 4.0 feet per mile on .
down to the Columbia.
The valleys are narrow, from 100 yards to not more than three-quarters
of a mile wide at most. Sideslopes are steep and long. The basic
below the mountains is a gradually sloping plateau, in appearance,
v/ith considerable flat to rolling area on the ridges between the
deeply .incised canyons. Aspect is northwesterly.
GEOLOGY AND SOILS
At the extreme upper edge of the basin along the top of the Blue
Mountain ridge there is a narrow belt of Eocene and other early vol-
canic rocks. Below, and covering four-fifths of the basin, are
Miocene volcanics, principally Columbia basalt. At the lower end in
the Eightmile Canyon drainage near the Columbia River are deposits
.of tertiary continental sediments, primarily tuffaceous, and some
areas of. quarternary alluvium. Small patches of volcanic ash or
other windlaid fine materials overlie the basalts in places,
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Soils in the foothill and mountain portions are silt loams to clay
loams, visually rather stony. Subsoils on the "basalts are clayey and
heavy, and have been exposed by erosion on many of the ridges. Valley
soils are deeper, looser in texture, and more permeable than the up-
land soils. Lower ridges—actually dissected bench or plateau—with
rolling surfaces have most of the windlaid soil and are used for
grain production. Upland ridges and canyons are not cultivated but
have been heavily grazed. In both areas, erosion has been severe.
Infiltration capacity is low.
COTER VEGETATION
A strip of forest, consisting principally of ponderasa pine, occurs •
along the crest of the watershed. Patches of true 'fir and spruce
and some lodgepole pine occur in the protected draws on northerly
aspects. Only in these forest areas are there any fully developed
and undisturbed soils.
Below the forest, extensive areas of brush and grass occupy tha
ridges and canyons. All of this type has been subjected to long-
continued heavy grazing use, and on the ridgetops most of the surface
soil has been lost by erosion. "Scab" ridges with only the clayey
subsoil showing between the numerous rocks at the surface are conunonj
the cover is sparse and affords little control of runoff.
Small meadows occur in the flatter draws at canyon heads and support
a dense grass cover. But often these meadow swales have been partly
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covered by inaterial eroded from the scab ridges and have themselves
in turn been gullied and dried outc
The Icmer flat to rolling ridge tops in the dissected plateau region
formerly had a grass cover but are for the most part now cultivated
for grain. Here, too, erosion losses have been severe, both by Trind
and water. .
In the narrow valleys cultivation has been largely for pasture of
hay crops for livestock. Some hardwood tress and shrubs, mainly
willows and cottonvroods, occupy fringes of the strearabeds. The snail
towns and the farmsteads all lie in the valleys, usually at canyon
junctions where they aro particularly subject to flood damage.
Most of the V7illo7? Creek watershed has an arid climate 'with hot
summers and cold winters. Only the extreme lower end near the mouth
has a mild winter climate. Over the lower two- thirds of the basin,
the average annual rainfall is less than 12 inches, as lo?/ as seven
inches near the mouth. Above Heppner the precipitation increases from
an annual average of 13 inches to perhaps 30 inches on the crest of
the Blue Mountains, and much of this comes as winter snow.
Precipitation records for stations in or near the basin include those
for Ella at elevation 830, for Heppner at elevation 1,950, and for
California Gulch at elevation 3,220:
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^Aver.age_?^nthly_Precipl.tgitioru. inches
Station
Ella
Heppner
Calif.
Gulch
1.43
1.52
1.83
Febj.
0.94
1.35
2,52
Mar.
0.64
1.29
1,99
0.65
11.29
2.44
10.75
jl.43
i
I3^T
June
0,62
1.08
2.. 36
July
0.21
0.44
0.35
0.28
0.36
0,55
Seni
0.41
0.96
1.29
Oct.
0.76
1.11
1,95
1.40
1.37
2,45
0.95
1.40
1,23
Ajjnual
9.04
13,60
22,47
Summer rainfall is low, but winter precipitation is not much greater,
Convective storms with high-intensity rainfall are fairly common in
summer over one part or another of the watershed. One June storm pro-
duced one and one-half inches of rain in 20 minutes, causing a severe
flash flood at Heppner. Such s terras cover only a limited area and
rarely repeat in the same area; however, along the Blue Mountain
front, six or eight will occur every year. •
Available temperature data indicate a surprisingly warm climate:
Jan,
Ella
Mean Max* 40
. Average 31
Mean Min, 23
44 57 66
36 45 52
28 . 32 38
fey.
75
59
44
.June
82
67
52
JjZlZ Avi^ Sgpjj.Ocvk
93
76
60
88
72
56
77
63
47
64
52
38
Nov^
52
42
32
Pec,
41
34
27
ttean Max. 40 45 54 61 68 76 85 84 74 63 52 42
Average 32 36 43 48 55 61 69 68 . 59 51 42 34
_ Mean Min. 24 28 32 36 41 47 52 52 45 38 33 27
Extremes at Ella are 112 in July, -29 in January; at Heppner? 110 in
August, -21 in February. Average length of the frost-free grovring season
is about 170 days.
Prevailing wind direction is westerly or southwesterly.
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Average annual snowfall is 18 inches at Ella, 24. inches at Heppner,
and 44 inches at California Gulch. January is the month of greatest
snowfall. Snowraelt begins early end is not sufficient to maintain
summer streamflow in most years.
Sunshine averages about 60 percent of possible. Humidities are fairly
low and evaporation rates high.
HYDROLOGY
Gaging station data for Willow Creek do not amount to muchj ten years
at Heppner, one year for Rhea Creek and for Willow Creek below Eight-
mile Canyon. Records for the Heppner gage are as follov/s:
Average
flow,cfs
Oct
•3.8
6.5
18.3
22.1
Feb.
31.5
45.6.| 58,4
iiiu-ne
15.8
2.1
002
0.4-
Annual
21.1
Maximum discharge during the period of record was 812 cfs in Kiy 1957,
but the June 1903 flood had a peak estimated at 36,000 cfs. Many days of
many years have no- flow in August and September.
Six major floods have occurred in the basin in the last eighty.years.
These have been flash floods, rising rapidly and receding rapidly, with
very high peaks but with limited volume. The biggest was the June 1903
flood, but its volume was only 1,600 acre-feet. At the bottom of a
canyon below a fan-shaped watershed with three drainages of about the
same area converging on its site, Heppner is located in a particularly
susceptible situation for extensive flood damage. Watershed conditions
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with compacted, almost impermeable soil, sparse cover, and long steep
slopes are conducive to rapid runoff and concentration of flow, f&ich
of the flood flow volume is eroded material from tha slopes and channel
Bides, plus debris picked up in the channels.
Annual peak flow is from the spring snowmelt. Suntmer flov/ is limited
or nonexistent, as all available >7ater is usually diverted for irriga-
tion of some 3,000 acres along the narrow valley. More water is needed
as there are about 7,200 acres irrigable-in the basin.
Average total runoff at the Heppner gage is about 15,000 acre-feet.
For the entire basin, it has been estimated to amount to about 20,GOO
acre-feet. Annual totals vary from half to double the meanj monthly .
totals even for the spring period of highest yield vary.froa one-sixth
to three times the mean values, and summer dry period flows vary even
more v/idely.
No information is available on ground water/in the basin.
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PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC REPORT AND
ESTIMATE. OF GROWTH. 1560-2010
INTRODUCTION
Purpose of Analysis
This analysis is intended to provide a preliminary estimate
of the economic potentials and economic growth of the subject
area,
Definition of Area . .
A major part of Morroxv County, Oregon, is drained by
Willow Creek. For the purposes of this analysis^ the. study
area includes all of Morrow County except an area in the north-
east part of the county which contains the community of
Boardman. This area is approximately defined by Census
County Divisions as shovm in Table II. It is assumed that,
although these arbitrary boundaries do not exactly coincide
with the sub-basin boundaries, the various discrepancies will
be compensating in their net effect, and also that the area as
defined constitutes an entity convenient for economic base
analysis. Excluded from the projections are the areas on the
shores of the Columbia River at the mouth of Willow Creek.
Study Period
The study period is the 50-year period ending in 2010. The
year 1980 is tal-.en ?.s an interim point.
Limitations of Analysis
Two limitations apply to this study. The first is that it is
intended only .as a preliminary estimate of the outlook for the
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subject area's growth. Subsequently, in connection with the
Columbia River Basin Project for Water Supply and Water
Quality Management, an analysis will be made on an industry-
by-industry basis of the growth potential in the various sub-
basins. At that time, this preliminary estimate will be
reviewed, and revised if necessary.
The second limitation is that this study is intended for use
particularly in assessing future water needs. Emphasis has
been placacl on the analysis of those industries which make
heavy demands upon the water resource. Other industries have
been considered only insofar as they may have a significant
effect on future population. For this reason, this study is
not submitted as a detailed industrial forecast.
PRESENT ECONOMIC BASE
Locations! and Geographic Influences
The study area is located in a sparsely settled rural district.
The climate and terrain are suitable for small grain production
and cattle production. Although Willow Creek is a tributary of
the Columbia River, the navigation and land transportation
routes along the Columbia have little influence on the area.
The study area is also adjacent to the former bombing range
which is now being developed as an industrial park for the so-
called space industries.
Land Usec-
The area in the Willow Creek Basin is equivalent to 43 percent
of the area of Morrow County and is almost entirely within the
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county. Land in farms in Morrow County accounts for 84 percent
of the county's land. The Willow Creek Basin is almost entirely
contained in farms. For the purposes of this analysis, it is
assumed that the land uses in the study area are the same in
nature as the land in farms of Morrow County and equivalent in
amount to 51 percent of the land in farms in Morrow County.
\
Land uses for the study area are described in Table I.
Table I
Estimate of Major Land Uses in Willow Creek Basin
(Source: Derived from 1959 Census cf Agriculture
for Morrow County, Oregcr-.)
Acres
Land in farms 565,000
Cropland harvested . 92,000.
Cropland used for pasture 9,000
Cropland not harvested or pastured 92,000
Cultivated summer fallow (83,000)
Woodland pastured 48,000
Other pasture 309,000
Irrigated land in farms 7,000
Water Uses
Willow Creek is not used as a water supply at this time except
for irrigation* This use is discussed in the section on water
quality.
The fish and wildlife uses of Willow Creek have been examined
by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is understood that
only a small amount of recreational fishing now occurs in the
stream.
There are no shore uses of the stream involving significant
recreational or aesthetic benefits except for the highest
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C-4
reaches of the stream in the Umatilla National Forest area.
• *. » - • •
A forest park containing recreation facilities is located on
the stream inside the national forest.
There is no water-based recreation use of the stream except for
its highest reaches.
Population
The study area contained about 4,100 persons in 1960, of which
40 percent were in Heppner City. The distribution of this
population is shown in Table II. The population of the county
and of Heppner has remained almost unchanged since 1950. It
is assumed that the study area population has followed the same
trend.
Table II
Population in Willow Creek Area, 1960
(Source: U. S. Census of Population)
Number of Inhabitants
Morrow Study
County Area
Boardman Division 1,145 380i'
Boardraan City (153)
Irrigon City (232)
Heppner Division 2,517 . 2,517
Heppner City (1,661)
lone-Lexington Division • 1,209 1,209
lone City (350)
Lexington Town (240)
TOTAL 4,871 4,106
_!/ Study area portion of Boardman Division was computed
by subtracting the population of Boardman and Irrigon
cities from the Division and taking half the remainder.
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C-5
Industry
The distribution of employment in Morrow County for 1950 and
1960 is shown in Table III. The only significantly sized
manufacturing operation now in the county is the Kinzua Corpor-
ation wood products plant at Heppner with an employment of 80
2/
persons.— The agriculture of the county is primarily, based
on wheat production. In comparing the employment of the county
for 1950 and 1960, it will be noticed that there has been a
slight decline in .total employment. There was an even greater
decline in employment in agriculture, construction, and
manufacturing. There was an employment increase in, retail trade
and other service industries.
Table III
Distribution of Employment in Morrow County, Oregon, in 1950
(Source: U. S. Census of Population, 1950 and 1960)
1950 1960
7. of % of
Number Total Number Total
Agriculture 815 40.8 635 34.6
Construction 194 9.7 95 5.2
Manufacturing 145 7.3 128 7.0
(mainly wood products)
Retail Trade 257 12.9 319 17.4
Other 586 29.3 659 35.8
(mainly service industries) • -
TOTAL 1,997 100.0 1,840 100.0
ESTIMATED GROWTH, 1960-2010
Factors Influencing F-uture Growth
The pattern of agriculture is not expected to change significantly
in this area. The number of farms probably will not increase.
2_/ Data are from the "1961 Directory of Oregon Manufacturers",
by the Oregon State Department of Planning and Development.
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In fact, there was a decline in number of farms in Morrow
County of 16 percent in the decade 1950 - 1960. As far as
can noxj be determined, a water control project on Willow Creek
would not substantially alter the number of farms in the study
area.
Other industrial developments in the study area are also not
expected to change significantly. It is assumed that the
industrial facilities proposed for the Boardman area, which is
outside the study area, will have no direct effect on the study
area. These facilities which the Boeing organization is con-
sidered likely to construct will probably immediately increase
the population of the Boardman area by several hundred persons.
The ultimate growth of the Boardman area, however, might be
several times as great; and this could increase recreational
needs in the vicinity.
Future Population
Based on developments which can now be anticipated, no change
in population is forecast for the study area.
Future Land Uses
The only significant change in land use which can be anticipated
is an increased amount of irrigation which would occur if a water
control project is built on Willow Creek. There would also be
the withdrawal of some land because of the reservoir which such a
project would require.
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Future Water Uses
Changes in water uses will depend upon the construction of a
water control project. Such a project would make possible
additional irrigation. In addition, if vater quality was
improved and a reservoir was made available, the stream would
support certain types of water-based recreational activities.
It is understood that the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
has forecast a considerable increase in the use of the stream
(particularly the reservoir area) for recreational fishing with
the construction of conservation pools. The reservoir area would
also provide an opportunity for such water-based activities as
boating and swimming. Based on the attendance records of other
reservoirs in the area, the annual recreational attendance would
be numbered in the thousands. Demand for recreation will
increase even if population remains the same if historic trends
of increasing leisure continue. The construction of the indus-
trial facilities in the Boardman area also can be expected to
increase the demand for water-based recreational facilities in
the study area.
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