r
WORKING PAPER NO. 31
COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN PROJECT
For Water Supply and Water Quality Management
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL
WATER SUPPLY AND STREAM QUALITY CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
AND BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIPLE-PURPOSE STUDIES
OF THE PROPOSED LOWER GRANDE RONDE
AND CATHERINE CREEK RESERVOIR PROJECTS, OREGON
DATE: June 1962 DISTRIBUTION
Prepared by WEE. JEB. Wg & JD Project Staff
Reviewed by Cooperating Agencies
Approved by General
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service
Water Supply and Pollution Control Program, Pacific Northwest
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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
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REPORT ON THE GRANDE RONDE RIVER BASIN STUDIES
Preliminary Investigation of Municipal and Industrial
Water Supply and Stream Quality Control Requirements
and Benefits Associated wth Multiple-Purpose Studies
of the Proposed Lower Grande Ronde
and Catherine Creek Reservoir Projects, Oregon
Prepared at the Request of and
in Cooperation with the
U.S. Army Engineer District,
Walla Walla Corps of Engineers
Walla Walla, Washington
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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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pa£e
INTRODUCTION A-1
SUMMARY A-3
CONCLUSIONS A-6
DESCRIPTION OF REGION A-8
LOCATION AND SIZE A-8
PHYSIOGRAPHY . A-9
GEOLOGY AND SOILS A-II
PLANT COVER. . A-1I
CLIMATE A-12
HYDROLOGY A-14
PROPOSED PROJECTS A-17
STUDY OBJECTIVES AND PROCEDURES B-l
PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC REPORT AND
ESTIMATE OF GROWTH, 1960-2010 C-l
INTRODUCTION C-l
Purpose of Analysis. C-l
Definition of Area C-l
Study Period C-l
Limitations of Analysis C-l
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ("CONTINUED)
Page
Lpcational and Geographic Influence^ C-2
Land Uses C-2
Water Uses . . C-3
Population C-5
Industry C-5
ESTIMATED GROWTH, 1960-2010 C-8
Factors Influencing Future Growth . C-8
Future Population* »»« C-ll
Future Land Uses C-12
Future Water Uses • . • C-13
PRESENT HATER SUPPLY D-l
LA GRANDE D-l
UNION D-3
FUTURE WATER SUPPLY D-5
LA GRANDE D-5
UNION D-5
WATER SUPPLY BENEFITS D-8
LA GRANDE D-8
UNION D-9
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)
Page
QUALITY CONTROL BENEFITS F-5
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A-l
INTRODUCTION
This report represents a preliminary examination of present and future
municipal and industrial water supply and stream quality control needs
in the Grande Rondp River Basin, Oregon with particular reference to
the feasibility of providing storage and/or flow regulation to serve
these needs in the Corps of Engineers' proposed Lower Grande Ronde
and Catherine Creek Reservoir Projects.
Request for the investigation and report was made by the U. S. Army
Engineer District, 1'Jalla IJalla Corps of Engineers, Washington by
letter dated January 24, 1962 asking for assistance in carrying out
provisions set forth in the Water Supply Act of 195S (T-tle III, P. L.
500, 85th Congress) for cation of water supply proc,j__,.s
and for an evaluation of needs, release schedules and benefits applic-
able to f1ow regulation for control of stream quality as provided in
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1961.
The report identifier uses and sources of water in areas within and
adjacent to the prc^c-jed project area and describes sources and effects
of waste and land drainage materials on the quality of various reaches
of Grande Ronde River Basin streams.
Included also is a preliminary economic evaluation of the project area,
the findings of which form the basis for the projected municipal and
industrial water demands and waste and land use effects on stream
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A-2
Since this investigation has been made in advance of study schedules
planned for establishment of a Comprehensive Water Supply and Water
Quality Control Program for the Columbia River Basin and Pacific
Northwest coastal regions, certain materials presented must neces-
sarily await later confirmation.
It is believed, however, that the needs for municipal and industrial
water supply as described, the low flow releases for quality control
indicated, and allied benefits as given, possess a degree of finality
suitable for project planning and use in determining project feasibil-
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SUMMARY
1. The primary source of municipal and industrial water supply at
La Grande is a reservoir and intake system on Beaver Creek and its
tributaries supplemented by artesian wells.
2. Limitations of the La Grande system are both storage and trans-
mission.
3. Problems of taste, odor, color, iron and turbidity exist in the
La Grande supply. High temperatures of the ground water supply make
this source unpalatable without precooling.
4. The community of Union obtains water for municipal and industrial
purpose from Catherine Creek but has not completed application for
firm rights to this supply.
5. Turbidity of Catherine Creek water is the most objectionable quality
factor affecting the Union supply and transmission line capacity is
limited.
6. According to projected area growth expectations, the annual demand
for M&I water supply at La Grande will be approximately 3500 acre-feet
by the year 1985, 5000 acre-feet by the year 2010 and 9000 acre-feet by
the year 2060.
7. According to area growth expectations at Union, the annual demand
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A-4
1300 acre-feet by 2010 and 1900 acre-feet by the year 2060.
8. Additional water source development and system revisions are
needed at La Grande and Union to meet summertime demands.
9. Municipal and industrial wastes originating both at Union and
La Grande enter the Grande Ronde system in the middle and lower reaches
of Catherine Creek.
10. Irrigated land from which irrigation return flows originate exist
along both the east and west side of Catherine Creek and the proposed
lands to be irrigated are located mainly north and westerly along the
Grande Ronde River between La Grande and Elgin.
11. Catherine Creek passes through many barnyards and places to which
the public has free access. Some sanitary hazards have been eliminated
in recent years, but othezs remain and more are likely to develop.
12. Sizeable runs of Steelhead trout, runs of Coho salmon, and remnant
runs of fall Chinook salmon utilize the Grande Ronde drainage. The
system supports increasing sports fisheries and is important to the
maintenance of Snake and Columbia River runs.
13. Resident game fish in Grande Ronde River systems Include Rainbow
and Dolly Varden trout and about eight additional species of game fish.
14. Stream flow requirements for control of Catherine Creek and Grande
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A-5
originating from treated municipal and industrial wastes and land
drainage sources relating to dissolved oxygen objectives required to
protect existing stream uses.
15. The natural flows of Catherine Creek and the Grande Ronde River
are not sufficient to at all times assure suitable water quality for
nuisance control, sanitation and protection of fish and other aquatic
life.
16. Flow regulation for quality control would apply only to the
Catherine Creek project.
17. Minimum flow requirements for quality control from the Catherine
Creek site to the community of Elgin on the Grande Ronde River are as
follows:
May-Oct Nov-April
Year cfs cfs
1960 33.5 25.0
1985 37.0 27.7
2010 41.0 30.7
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A-6
CONCLUSIONS
1. Inclusion of water supply storage in the proposed Lower Grande
Ronde reservoir would provide an assured supply to meet year-round
and/or seasonal fluctuations in demand at La Grande, thus eliminating
the uncertainties of natural flow at the present intakes and inter-
mittent operation of the Beaver Creek impoundment and well supplies.
Raw water quality would remain relatively consistent throughout the
various seasons of the year and line pressures could at all times be
maintained.
2. Provisions for water supply storage in the proposed Catherine
Creek reservoir would result in an assured and legal supply to meet
future demands at Union and advantage could be taken of gravity flow
from the reservoir. Turbidities of raw water upon detention in the
reservoir would be significantly reduced.
3. The benefit associated with provisions for 2,000 acre-feet of
storage in the Lower Grande Ronde Reservoir for supplemental water
supply at La Grande as based on single-purpose development costs
and local financing rates estimated by the Corps of Engineers is
$24,000 annually.
4. According to alternate cost estimates associated with single-purpose
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by the Corps of Engineers, the benefit assignable to provisions for
1,000 acre-feet of storage in the Catherine Creek project is
$12,000 annually.
5. Water treatment consisting of sedimentation, filtration and
chlorination of project waters would be required. Treatment, trans-
mission and any such associated costs would be the responsibility of
the participating interests.
6. According to cost estimates prepared by the Corps of Engineers, the
single-purpose cost and therefore, the benefit assignable to 8,000
acre-feet of storage in the Catherine Creek project for quality
control is $85,000 annually.
7. In view of the multiplicity of beneficiaries and extent of local
participation included in the achievement of water quality goals in
this region, benefits attributable to provisions for water quality
control as a project function are believed to be of public interest
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A-8
DESCRIPTION OF REGION
LOCATION AND SIZE
The Grande Ronde River subbasin drains the extreme .northeastern part
of the state of Oregon, and is tributary to the Snake River. The
watershed occupies most of Union and Wallowa Counties in Oregon, and
small parts of Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin Counties in Washington.
Total drainage area above the confluence with the Snake River at
river-mile 168.7 is 4,070 square miles. — Che basin is irregularly
rectangular in shape, with an appended small rectangle in the head-
waters at the southwest comer above La Grande.
Rising in the Elkhorn Mountains, the Grande Ronde River flows north-
easterly along the east side of the Blue Mountains. Its tributaries
drain the Blue Mountains and the north and west sides of the Wallowa
Mountains. From the Anthony Lakes divide the Grande Ronde flows
northwesterly some twenty miles to its confluence with Fly Creek,
thence north about five miles to its confluence with Starkey Creek,
thence northeast ten miles to its confluence with Rock Creek, thence
east about eight miles to La Grande at the edge of the Grande Ronde
Valley. Continuing generally eastward, the river meanders across the
valley, loops around Nibley, where Catherine Creek joins it from the
South, and meanders northwest to Imbler ten miles away. From Imbler,
the Grande Ronde River flows north-northeast through Elgin about
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A-9
twenty-five miles to its junction with its principal tributary, the
Wallowa River, at Rondowa. This is the northern end of the valley;
below Rondowa the Grande Ronde River winds its way northeast some
sixty miles through a steep-walled canyon between the Blue Mountains
and the Chesnimnus Hills to its confluence with the Snake River.
PHYSIOGRAPHY
The southwest corner of the Grande Ronde subbaain lies at elevations of
7,000 to 7,500 feet in the north end of the Elkhorn Mountains. Easterly,
the basin rim drops almost to 3,000 feet crossing the gap south of Union,
rises to 8,000 feet at the head of Catherine Creek, rises higher yet to
9,700 feet at the head of the Wallowa River, then turns north along the
Imnaha divide at elevations of 5,000 feet and drops off in the last five
miles to 850 feet at the mouth of the river. Thence the basin rim runs
westerly through the northern Blue Mountains in Washington, climbing
to elevations of 6,400 feet. At Willow Spring the rim turns south and
runs southwesterly along the crest of the Blue Mountains at elevations
of 5,000 to 6,000 feet, turns southeast at the end of the Birch Creek
divide and rises gradually to elevations of 7,000 to 7,500 feet at the
Anthony Lakes divide at the southwest corner. The agricultural valley
areas lie at elevations from 2,500 to 4,000 feet.
Topography of the basin is extremely rough except in the Grande Ronde
Valley and the Wallowa Valley. Along the rim on the west side the
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A-10
into deep canyons. The Chesnimnus Hills in the northeastern part of
the basin are similar. The Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountain blocks, however,
are characterized by fairly sharp-crested ridges and long steep slopes
to the valleys below.
Major tributaries of -the Grande Ronde River are Starkey Creek from the
westernmost end of the basin in the Blue Mountains, Catherine Creek from
the west side of the Wallowa Mountains, the Wallowa River from the north
side of the Wallowa Mountains, the Wenaha River from the east side of
the Blue Mountains near their northern end, and Joseph Creek from the
Imnaha divide and eastern Chesnimnus Hills on the east side of the basin.
Of these, the Wallowa River is the largest, draining a high elevation
area with considerable precipitation, nearly a fifth of the whole basin.
Since the Grande Ronde River for the most part flows along the eastern
edge of the southwest-northeast trending Blue Mountain block, most of the
tributaries flow north to join it. The Wenaha River, flowing south and
east, is the only major exception.
Canyons of the Wallowa River and its principal tributaries, Minam River,
Bear Creek, Lostine River, arid Hurricane Creek are deep and U-shaped,
carved by glacial action. Numerous small lakes occur at high elevations
in the Elkhom and Wallowa Mountains, but the single large lake, Wallowa
lake, was formed behind a glacial moraine at the upper end of Wallowa
Valley below the mountains. In the Grande Ronde Valley, channel gradients
are less than two feet per m'.le; but in the mountains, they range from
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A-ll
GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Most of the basin is covered with Miocene and other earlier volcanic
rocks. The highest mountains, in the Elkhorn and Wallowa ranges, are
composed of Jurassic intrusive granitic rocks, Paleozoic argillites and
schists and other metamorphie rocks, and some Triassic limestones.
Bodies of quartemary alluvium, some of it lakebed deposits, are found
in the valleys between La Grande and Elgin, and near Wallowa.
Soils on the granitic rocks are loose, sandy, and readily eroded when
the plant cover is damaged. Soils on the various volcanic rocks are
medium to heavy in texture with heavy subsoils and are readily eroded
when denuded lighter-textured soils are found on limited areas of the
metamorphic rocks. Alluvial soils are quite variable, some being heavy-
textured throughout the profile, others being light and permeable to
considerable depth. Moisture-holding capacities are generally moderate
to high, depending on soil depth and subsoil characteristics.
PLANT COVER
The Elkhorn, Blue, and Wallowa Mountains and the Chesnimnus Hills are
forested except for grassy ridges and rocky barrens in the highest
parts. The open grassy areas are range land, as is most of the Imnaha
divide and the north part of the Chesnimnus Hills where they slope
down to the lower Grande Ronde River. The foothills around the Grande
Ronde and Wallowa Valleys are also in grass, weed, and brush cover and
used as range land. The flat valley sections are cropland, much of it
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A-12
At higher elevations in the Elkhorn mountains and at the head of
Catherine Creek and the Minam River there are patches of lodgepole
pine forest. The rest of the high elevation forest is a mixture of
spruce, fir, and hemlock. At middle and lower elevations the forest
is ponderosa pine; this type covers more than half of the total
forest area and contains the principal commercial timber. Much of
the forest is noncommercial, with sparse scrubby stands of poorly-
formed trees.
Range land areas include some mountain brush, but are mainly sagebrush,
perennial grasses, and weeds. Long-continued heavy use of most of the
range has resulted in depletion of the cover, serious soil erosion, and
invasion of rabbitbrush, cheatgrass, and unpalatable and noxious weeds.
Large fires have at time burned over both range and forest, creating
temporary erosion hazards. At the head of the Grande Ronde in the Blue
Mountains and at the head of Catherine Creek, the threat has been suf-
ficiently severe that many acres of the denuded slopes have been contour
trenched to hold the soil and runoff.
CLIMATE
Situated at a fairly high elevation and 300 miles inland from the ocean,
from which it is separated by three mountain ranges, the Grande Ronde
basin has a continental climate. Winters are cold and summers hot. The
precipitation is light and fairly well distributed through the seasons;
though July, August and September are drier than other months of the
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A-13
average precipitation reach or exceed fifty inches annually, and most of
it is snow. Much of the basin is semi-arid or subhumid.
Precipitation data for representative stations are as follows:
month
Station J ? M A M J J A S 0 N D Annual
Starkey
(Blue Mtn.)
1.56
1.48
1.30
1.68
1.93
1.72
0.92
0.91
1.13
1.35
1.82
1.50
17.30
.La Grande
(Valley)
2.14
1.90
2.05
1.17
2.93
1.53
0.59
0.63
1.12
1.57
2.12
2.06
20.35
Wallowa
(Valley)
1.7S
1.54
1.53
1.39
1.53
1.63
0.59
0.68
1.09
1.48
1.93
1.64
16.81
Snow courses show the following:
Elevation, Water Content April 1
Station & Location feet inches
Anthony Lakes (Ei.chorn Mtns.) 7125 27.1
Aneroid Lake ',-i (High Wallowas) 7480 35.0
Moss Spring (West Side Wallowas) 5850 24.8
Tollgate (UlueMtns.) 5070 27.1
The high elevation snowfields provide an almost continuous flow of
water through the dry summer season. Snow accumulates to depths of 10
to 15 feet at many stations.
During the summer months small local storms are fairly common. Sometimes
they are electric storms, relatively dry, resulting in numerous fire starts
from lightning. Other times they produce high-intensity rainfall and cause
severe erosion. Rainfall of a third of an inch in five minutes has been
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A-14
Temperatures vary according to altitude, but cover a wide range in any
case. The extremes recorded at La Grande are 108°F and -34°F; at Wallowa
° o 0
108 F and -38 F. Average January temperature is 24 F at Wallowa, average
July temperature 65°. La Grande is warmer, with a January average of
o o
30 F and a July average of 70 F. Nearly every winter has temperatures
below zero. Length of frost-free growing season in the main valleys
ranges from 120 to 160 days.
Winds are prevalent throughout the entire year, the average being about
7 miles per hour at valley stations, with little seasonal variation.
Highest velocities rarely reach 40 miles per hour.
Sunshine averages about 60 percent of total possible. Evaporation is
estimated to amount to about 40 inches for the April to September period.
HYDROLOGY
Few of the streams in the Grande Ronde basin are gaged, and of them
only the Grande Ronde River itself very far from the headwaters. At Troy
below the junction with the Wenaha River, with a drainage area of
3.275 square miles, the average flow is 3,312 cfs, equivalent to about
14 inches depth over the entire drainage. Annual runoff varies between
55 and 145 percent of the mean. Average monthly runoff is as follows:
AVERAGE DISCHARGE
, CFS
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
0
N
D
2Q29
2908
3970
7408
85.34
6302
2345
878
787
1013
1332
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A-15
The hydrograph is almost bimodal, with a small late fall rise due to
rainfall, and a high spring rise due, of course, to snowmelt. Monthly
variation in winter is from a third to nearly three times the mean; in
summer from two-thirds to nearly twice the mean.
The runoff is relatively greater at this station than at La Grande
because of the large contribution from the Wallowa and Wenaha Rivers;
at La Grande the runoff is equivalent only to some 8 inches depth.
Catherine Creek yields the equivalent of 15 inches depth from its water-
shed, and the Lostine River the equivalent of 38 inches, both draining
from the Wallowa Mountains.
The spring snowmelt runoff peak comes in April, May, or June. Snowmelt
begins in March or April at the lower elevations; the timing of the
peak depending on elevation of the particular watershed, temperature
sequence during the melting season, and depth and distribution of the
snow pack. Alternate warm and cool periods during the 60 or 90-day
snowmelt season may cause several secondary peaks. Major floods of
record on the Grande Ronde occurred in May 1948, December 1946, March
1932 and March 1928, indicating that the momentary peak does not
necessarily correlate with high monthly average.
Intense convective summer storms occur in the foothills and mountains,
usually over areas of 50 square miles or less. Occasionally, high
rates of runoff from these storms produce flash floods. Streams rise
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A-16
maximum rainfall, and recede to normal in a few hours. Runoff volume
of these floods is small; though they may cause severe local damage,
they exert little influence on the main stream or the larger tributaries.
Absolute minimum flows at the Rondowa gage (drainage area 2,555 square
miles) have dropped as low as 225 cfs. Most of the minimum flows have
occurred in December, but some have occurred as early as September.
The December lows are probably due to sudden drops in temperature
following dry periods.
Ground water has been unimportant as a source of supply because surface
sources have been adequate for most needs. Practically no exploration
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A-
PROPOSED PROJECTS
Grande Ronde River development proposed by the Corps of Engineers
consists of flood control storages at the Lower Grande Ronde and
Catherine Creek reservoir sites and channelization and levee improve-
ments.
The proposed Lower Grande Ronde site is located on the Grande Ronde
River immediately downstream from the mouth of Spring Creek, about
10 miles upstream from La Grande, Oregon. The proposed Catherine
Creek site is located ijnmediately downstream from the mouth of
Little Catherine Creek about 10 miles upstream from the town of
Union, Oregon.
The reservoir capacities and purpose allocations at the present time
are as follows:
Lower Grande Ronde Site Acre-Feet
Sedimentation 5,000
Conservation Pool-Fish . . 5,000
Supplemental Water Fish 15,000
Exclusive Irrigation and Power 80,000
Joint Flood Control/Irr./Power^ ' 30,000
Exclusive Flood Control 25,000
Total 160,000
(1) Downstream
Catherine Creek Site Acre-Feet
Sedimentation Pool 1,000
Conservation Pool-Fish 5,000
Joint Flood Control/Fish. ' 10,000
Joint Flood Control/Irr. or Power^ 28,000
Exclusive Flood Control 7,000
Total 51,000
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A-18
The two reservoirs would be operated so that during periods of high
runoff, no downstream releases would be made. Minimum pools would be
required by November 1 and maximum pools would be achieved in June.
Maximum pool elevations would be maintained until October 1, after which
the reservoirs would be drawn down to minimum pool level. During periods
of refill at the reservoirs, flow from tributaries below the dam sites
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B-l
STUDY OBJECTIVES AND PROCEDURES
The objective of this study and report is to establish, by use of
existing and projected data, preliminary conclusions on the feasibility
of providing in Lower Grande Ronde and Catherine Creek projects,
storage space for municipal and industrial water supply and storage
and/or flow regulation for stream quality control and to enumerate
where practicable the benefits that would accrue to the projects with
these purposes included.
Existing sources of municipal and industrial water supply are examined
and with projected demand data, the adequacy or suitability of these
sources in meeting future demands is estimated. Where warranted,
alternate supplies to either replace or supplement rights or developed
sources are identified and explanations are given on procedures to be
followed for determining whether use of the Federal projects, in
lieu of other development possibilities, would be feasible or justified
and if so, on what basis benefits may be derived.
Where it is estimated that developed sources or water rights would
not adequately meet projected demands or that quality would limit
continued use of these supplies, such information is indicated.
Stream flow requirements for quality control are based on specific
quality parameters to be controlled and objectives to be achieved
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B-2
quality required to satisfy these uses. Where municipal and/or
industrial wastes are involved, flow regulation for quality control is
regarded only as a supplement to adequate waste treatment or other
measures of control at the source of pollution. Computations,
involving needs for waste assimilation and dilution in the stream,
reflect prior provisions for such treatment. Where it is predicted
that irrigation return flows would contribute significantly to
reduced stream quality, i.e., nutrient or mineral enrichment, toxicity,
turbidity, bio-chemical oxygen demand, etc., flow requirements for
control of these effects are also estimated.
Whereas flow regulation requirements for the control of quality incor-
porates a reasonable degree of waste treatment or control at the
source for achievement of this quality, an alternate method and hence,
the benefit assignable to such regulation because it is not possible to
evaluate directly the benefits to users, is considered to be the
equivalent of costs to construct, operate and maintain the least
costly single-purpose alternative impoundment structure designed to
accomplish the improvement. Although, for example, waste distillation
or underground disposal would accomplish similar improvements, these
methods are not considered to be feasible or equivalent alternates.
Annual benefits assignable to project regulation for control of waste
or land drainage effects, for the purpose of this analysis, are based
on amortized costs plus annual operation and maintenance expenses involved
in achieving similar regulation by the single-purpose impoundment and
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B-3
In Che event Chat: it is not possible, with a given multiple-purpose
project, to provide the storage capacity or releases necessary to
meet specific quality objectives or that future needs (without a
comprehensive study) cannot be defined, it is assumed that any
unsatisfied requirements would be incorporated in future projects or
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PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC REPORT AND
ESTIMATE OF GROWTH, 1960-2010
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
For the purposes of this analysis, the study area has been defined
ss Union County, Oregon. 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. In addition, this area constitutes an entity convenient
for economic base analysis.
Study Period
The study period is the 50-year period ending in 2010 with the
year 1930 taken as an interim point. This period has been
statistically ex:ended to 2050 in order to provide a 100-year
estimate.
Limitations of / lalysis
Two limitations apply to thi3 study. The first is that it is
intended only a; a preliminary estimate of the outlook for the
subject area's ;rowth. Subsequently, in connection with the
Columbia River iasin Project for Water Supply and Water Quality
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C-2
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
placed on the analysis of i-hose industries which mclce heavy demands
upon the water resource. Other industries h.:ve been considered only
insofar as they mr.y have a significant effect on future population.
For this reason, this study is not submitted as a detailed indus-
trial forecast.
PRESENT ECONOMIC BASE
Locational and Geographic Influences
The study area is in a sparsely settled mountainous area. The
valley area, which contains most of the agriculture and population
of the basin, is surrounded end isolated by high wooded mountains.
A major highway (U.S. 30) crosses the basin. The surrounding
mountains contain many wilderness-type recreational areas.
Land Uses
Union County contains about 1.3 million acres of land. About
60 percent of this is classed as commercial forest land and about
15 percent is cropland. The major land cover classifications of
Lhe county are described in Table I. Agricultural land use is
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C-3
Table 1
Land Cover for Union County, Oregon
Forest Land
Acres
Commercial
Ponderosa pine
Other
Noncommercial
778,630
253,940
524,690
43,390
Nonforest Land
Vegetative land (cultivated, crsss or brush)
Nonvegetative land (including barrens and cities)
Reservoirs
439,560
36,660
1,260
TOTAL, all land
1,229,500
Source; Forest Statistics for Umatilla and Union Counties, Oregon,
Fore3i. Survey Report 135, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment
Station, Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, April 1960.
Water Uses
The Grande Ronde River and its tributaries are used for municipal
and industrial water supplies as well as providing water for irri-
gation. Irrigation use is limited to serving 3,300 acres with a
full water supply and about eight times this acreage with a partial
supply. These water supply uses are discussed in ©ore detail in the
section on water quality.
The fish and wildlife uses of the Grande Ronde Zliver and tributaries
have been examined by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is
understood that these streams support a considerable fishery involving
both resident and anadromous fish. The streams of the area are
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C-li
There are also significant recreational uses of these streams for
purposes other than fishing. Above LaGrande, U. S. Highway 30 is
adjacent to the Grande Ronde River for about sight miles. This
highway is a main tourist artery in the summer months, and the
river constitutes one of the important scenic resources of an area
noted for its scenery. Several state parks are along the
Grande Ronde River above LaGrande. Red Bridge State Park
(recreation area) has 0.7 igile of river frontage. An estimated
10,405 visitors attended this park in 1960. Hilgerd Junction
State Park (wayside) has 0.2 mile of river frontage. It had
27,309 visitors in 1960 and 1.G1& overnight visitors. No
attendance data are available for Riverside Municipal Park at
LaGrande. Residents of LaGrande, however, indicated that the
Grande Ronde River below LrGrande receives some swiitaing use.
The nature of the Grande Ronde River below LaGirande is sluggish
and rather unattractive in the areas where it meanders between
eroded banks through flac valley farm land. A najor waterfowl
management area (Ladd Marsh UilcUife Refuge) is adjacent to the river
in this area.
The upper reaches of the basin's streams generally are very
attractive and have considerable recreation potential. No estimate
has been made, however, of the shore uses of this area for recre-
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C-5
Population
The population of Union County has been relatively stable since 1900.
Betueen 1950 and 1960, the county's population increased 0.7 percent
compared to Oregon's growcil of 15.5 percent and c n~uional growth of
13.5 percent. Half of the county's 1960 population resided in
LaGrande and about a third lived outside the four major communities
of the county. Population trends and distribution for Union County
are shown in Table II.
Table II
Population Statistics of Union County, Oregon
Number of Persons
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
County Total
12,044
16,070
16,191
16.C3C
17,492
17,399
17,962
18,180
LaGrande
2,583
2,991
4,843
6,913
0,050
7,747
8,635
9,014
Union
604
937
1,483
1,319
1,107
1,398
1,307
1,490
Cove
223
—
433
399
307
321
232
311
Elgin
227
603
1,120
1,043
728
997
1,223
1,315
Remainder of
County
8,407
3,312
6,962
7,-300
6,936
6,515
6,050
Distribution of Population in 1960
LaGrande 49.6%
Union 8.2
Cove 1.7
Elgin 7.2
Other 33.3
Source: Based on population counts by the U. S. Bureau of Census.
Industry
Agriculture and forest products are the major basis for the county's
economic activity. The distribution of employment for 1950 and 1960
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C-6
largest employer and lumber and wood products manufacturing is
second among the basic or primary industries.
Table III
Union County Employment Distribution
Number of Workers
1950 1960
All employed 6,59G 6,254
Agriculture 1,391 977
Forestry, Fisheries, Mining 31 50
Construction 401 376
Manufacturing 94C 821
Food and Kindred 122 113
Lumber and Wood Products 699 588
Other 127 120
Transportation and Utilities 87G 760
Trade 1,189 1,257
Wholesale 183 193
Retail 1,006 1,064
Other 1,76?. 2,013
Source; 1950 and 1960 Census of Population, U. S. Bureau
of the Census.
Comparison of 1960 to 1950 indicates that there has been little change
in the employment pattern since 1950. There was a decline in trans-
portation and utilities employment, and there \ias a small amount of
grox
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C-7
commercial forest land and about h^lf of this is in Pondsrosa pine.
The timbsr harvest in 1959 was slightly over 110 million board feet
(Scribncr log rule). Almost three-fourths of this was from private
lands. The pattern of recent years has been similar to this.
Manufacturing of forest products is confined to lumber, furniture,
and millwork.
The present agriculture of the county is mainly based on the pro-
duction of small grains and seed. The land use of agricultural land
is described in Table IV. Of che acreage indicated for cropland
harvested, about half was devoted to small grains in 1959, about
one-third to hay (mainly alfclfa) and significant amounts to seed
crops, peas, and vegetables. The Bureau of Reclamation has
estimated that the study area includes a total of 150,000 acres
of agricultural lands. Although the 1959 Census of Agriculture
indicates that 27,000 acres were irrigated, only about one-eighth
of these were considered to have an adequate supply.
Table IV
Agricultural Land Use in Union County
1959
Number of farms 873
Average size of farm, acres 004
Land in farms, acres 527,355
Cropland harvested, acres 107,501
Cropland used only for pasture, acres 21,085
Cropland not harvested or pastured, acres 48,662
Cropland summer fallow, cultivated, acres (35,285)
Woodland pastured, acres 19,590
Other pasture, acres 174,324
Irrigated land in far as, ceres 27,073
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C-8
The mineral industry of the county is almost entirely confined to
materials for the construction industry. The 1959 value of mineral
production was $663,000, which is slightly over 1 percent of the
State's total production of minerals. The county's mineral products,
listed in order of value, are as follows: stone, sand end gravel,
clays, gold.
Employment in transportation and utilities has been reduced since
1950 because the Union Pacific Railroad abolished its shops at
LaGrande. Employment in this category at the present time is limited
to that required to serva the loeel area. The remaining categories,
which account for about half the total employment, are also considered
to be of a service or secondary nature. Part of this employment,
however, is in activities which benefit from courists and the
recreational opportunities of the adjoining Wallowc and Blue
Mountains.
ESTIMATED GROWTH, 1960-2010
Factors Influencing Future Growih
Three principal possibilities for growth are considered likely. The
net result of all three in anticipated to produce only a small increase
in the study area's popul.i^ion during the study period. This increase
is considered to be of ab;jt the same order of magnitude as the area's
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C-9
Agriculture on much of the basin floor is anticipated to gradually
convert to irrigation if satisfactory water supplies are made avail-
able. The Grands Ronde Project, as described in the March 1955 report
of the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, proposed to irrigate almost 59,000
acres. This project was not carried out because of the lack of desire
of local residents to alter their cropping practices. The land
limitation of 160 acres per parson was probably also a major contri-
butor to the reluctance to participate in the project. Although
much of the same sentiment towards irrigation still exists, it is
considered likely that a gradual shift would take place if a
multiple-purpose project, would make water available at a lesser
cost than previously proposed. This shift would be accelerated if a
dry cycle occurred or if price supports for wheat were less favorable.
A shift to irrigation woul
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C-10
growth in the food processing industry of the area. Although a sugar
beat refinery is a possibility in this regard, it would require a
major conversion to sugar beets by most farm operators in the basin
end in adjacent areas in orcer to make a minimum sized refinery
practical. A more likely possibility is the increased production of
livestock as part of the crop from irrigated land. This activity
lends itself to gradual conversion and is not inconsistent with the
capabilities of the existing operations. Such an operation might
possibly make a local meat packing operation feasible, but the
availability of such facili ies in the Pendleton area will lessen this
possibility considerably.
The forest products industry of the study area is considered likely
to experience a small amount of growth during the study period. The
forest resource is presently being utilized cz a.uS2 than its maximum
long range capability. Ti..ibor on tho Federal lands is being harvested
at the sustained yield capacity, while timber on private lands is
being harvested at a race greater than aie sustained yield capacity.
In the near future, some drop in harvest and in employment will occur
until the old cutover lands are again ready for harvest. In about
ten years increased utilization of currently noncommercial species
will also increase the harvest and employment opportunities in the
forest. Manufacturing operations are not expected to change
drastically. Increased automation might be offset by increasing the
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C-ll
not considered likely because manufacturing operations providing the
main source of chips are part of the same company's operations which
owns a pulp mill at Uallula, Washington, on the Columbia River. The
Wallula pulp mill, which is within reasonable transportation distance,
is currently being expanded and will be able to continue to handle
the chips from the study area. A further (and severe) limiting
factor to the location of a pulp mill in the study area is the difficulty
of obtaining an adequat-e water supply and disposing of industrial waste.
Although a fiberboard plant is a possibility, it would be in competition
with the pulp mill for mos- of its raw materials, and is not considered
likely in the near future.
The third potential for growth in the study area is the increase in
service activities due to such factors as increased tourist and
recreational activities in the surrounding area, growth of the college
at LaGrande, and an increasing ratio of service activities to primary
or basic industry. These factors, of course, have been in operation
in the past and have helped to offset some of the declines in certain
othez- parts of the area's economy.
Future Population
The growth of population over the next 50 years is expected to be
similar to the historical growth which amounted to a 12 percent
increase in the last 50 years.
In deriving potential population figures for the area, the future
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C-12
of LaGrande estimated to grow at the rate of 0.3 percent a year
and the rest of the county estimated to grow at a rate of 0.2
percent a year. These estimates were rounded to the nearest 50
persons. The result of this statistical maneuver is to produce a
total growLh estimate for the county over the next fifty years of
slightly more than 13 percent. An estimate for the 50-year period
2010-2060 was prepared by applying a 12 percent increase equally to
each of the 2010 population figures. The computed forecast of
population is shown in the following tabulation.
19C0
1980
2010
2060
County Total
18,180
19,050
20,550
23,000
LaGrande
9,014
9,550
10,450
11,700
Union
1,490
1,550
1,650
1,850
Elgin
1,315
1,350
1,450
1,600
Remainder of County
6,361
6,600
7,000
7,850
Based on this projection, the average number of persons in the
county for the 50-year period (1960-2010) will be 19,365 and for the
100-year period (1960-2060) the average number of persons will be
20,590.
Future Land Uses
The changes which can be anticipated in land uses are a matter of
intensity of use rather than change in classification of use.
Although about the same relative amounts of forest land can be
expected to be in the various stages of production and harvest, the
actual areas will be rotated according to the production cycle. It
is expected, also, that there will be a gradual trend toward
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C—13
considered to be commercial, and the increased uca of insecticides
and fertilizers on the forest crop.
The conversion of agricultural land to irrigated land would bring
about a major change in the intensity of land use, as well as in
the type of crops and cultivation practices, and will bring annual
cropping to many areas now summer fallowed in alternate years. The
elimination of floods through storage projects would also make
possible a greater utilization of the agricultural land.
Future Uater Uses
The construction of water control projects in the area would make
several changes in water use likely. These would include a large
increase in the use of water for irrigation, the availability of
water for augmenting municipal and industrial wacer supplies, the
creation of reservoirs with recreation potentials, and the augmen-
tation of low river flows during critical periods.
It is understood that the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has
forecast a considerable increase in the use of the basin's streams
(particularly the reservoir areas) for fishing. The development of
reservoir areas 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. The growth rate of
such recreational activities is expected to be considerably greater
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C-14
reasons. First, increasing amounts of leisure and income have
greacly increased the per capita demand for recreational
opportunities. Second, because this area is a recognized tourist
and recreation area, the demand for its use (and the growth rate
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D-l
PRESENT WATER SUPPLY
LA GRANDE
The primary source of water for tne La Grande municipal system is a
reservoir and intake system on Beaver Creek and its tributaries. Water
is conveyed to the city by a 15.5-mile pipeline where it is then
chlorinated, stored, metered and distributed by gravity. Limitations
of the system are both storage and transmission. Transmission is
limited to 2.7 MGD and the Beaver Creek source is limited to 6.5 MGD.
The city has two municipal water rights totalling 5.5 MGD on Beaver
Creek.
During periods of high summertime demand, the Beaver Creek supply is
supplemented by water from arteji^a wells located along the
railroad tracks within the cic. Abcuc 1.55 MGD mjy ie obtained from
these sources.
A chlorinator and anmoniator are used for bacteriological control of
Beaver Creek water. Problems of taste, odor, and color have cccurred
in this supply and are presently under study by the city. Stabilizing
chemicals are added on occasion during winter months to control iron.
(Samplings have indicated upper ranges of iron between 0.4 and 1.1 ppm).^
Occasional turbidity problems occur in the Beava_ - ^ek supply. Read-
ings of 33 (units) turbidity have been rc~crc_c- ^__-ing winter months. (2)
(^Recommend no greater than 0.3 ppm iron.
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D-2
According to studies made by Cornell, Howland, Hayes, and Merryfield,
Consulting Engineers for the city of La Grande, the most probable
cause of the especially bad taste and odor which occurs in the early
spring is reservoir turnover and subsequent release of decaying algae
produced during summer months. This firm suggests that a water
treatment plant providing sedimentation and filtration would remove
tastes and odors but that such a plant in lieu of available control
measures and ground water development possibilities for meeting
future demands does not appear economically justified.
Chemical and bacteriological data on the existing well water supplies
indicate favorable quality with the exception that high temperature
makes this water unpalatable without precooling.
The La Grande water supply system serves approximately 2,750 services
including a population of about 9000 persons. Large industrial users
in the area are lumber mills, railroads, packing plants and flour mills.
The railroads have developed wells; packing plants use wells and city
water; and lumber and flour mills use self-supplied surface water and
city water. The largest industrial use of water at La Grande is for lumber
milling. For example, one plant uses about 0.5 MGD of which about one-
half is purchased from the city with the balance obtained from the
Grande Ronde River and wells.
It is estimated that about 1900 acre-feet of water is taken annually
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D-3
65 percent of this demand occurs during the months of May-October
with July being the heaviest month of use (17.5 per cent). The total
developed municipal supply including ground water is about 4.3 MGD.
For sustained periods of time, the total natural stream flow at the
various intakes on Beaver Creek tributaries has been less than 1 MGD.
During such times and/or during high demand periods, waters are
released to the intake system from the Beaver Creek impoundment.
Operated alone, the Beaver Creek impoundment would supply approximately
six weeks of the present summer demand.
UNION
The community of Union obtains water for its system from Catherine
Creek. Treatment facilities include two 250,000 gallon settling!basins,
a 52,000 gallon reservoir and a modern chlorinator with positive metering.
Turbidity of Catherine Creek water is the most objectionable quality
factor affecting this supply. Problems with the supply system consist
mainly of undersized settling basins and lack of filtration facilities.
Extremely high leakages also occur in the transmission lines. Trans-
mission line capacity is the limiting quantity factor at the present
time.
The Union water supply system serves approximately 500 connections
including service to 1450 persons. Average water consumption is
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D-4
in the system it is estimated that annual consumption would be reduced
to about 500 acre-feet or 0.4 KGD.
About 65 per cent of the annual demand occurs during the months of May-
October with July being the heaviest month of use (17.5%). In relation
to the dependable supply of Catherine Creek, more than one-half
of the entire stream flow is withdrawn during peak demand periods.
The community of Union has not completed application for water rights
on Catherine Creek. As time goes on and demands for water increase, a
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D-5
FUTURE WATER SUPPLY
LA GRANDE
According to projected area growth expectations, the annual demand
for M&I water supply at La Grande will be approximately 3,500 acre-
feet by the year 1985, 5,000 acre-feet by the year 2010 and 9,000
acre-feet by the year 2060.
On an average annual basis, the 1985 demand would utilize about 60
percent of the developed supply and the 2010 demand would utilize
essentially the entire developed supply. However, by 1985 the
reserve Beaver Creek and developed ground water sources together would
sustain only slightly more than one month's mid-summer demand and by 2010
would sustain only about three weeks of the mid-summer demand. Table IV
shows the projected M&I demands by months expected for the La Grande,
Oregon area,
UNION
According to area growth expectations, the annual demand for M&I water
supply at Union is expected to be 900 acre-feet by the year 1985, 1300
acre-feet by 2010 and 1900 acre-feet by the year 2060.
It could be expected that during future peak demand periods, essentially
the entire dependable flow in Catherine Creek would be withdrawn. At
such times, no greater than 50-60 percent of this water could be
expected to be returned tc the stream to satisfy water rights downstream.
Table V shows the projected M&I demands by months expected for the
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D-6
Table IV
La Grande, Oregon
Municipal and Industrial Water Supply
Acre-Feet
Jan.
1960
115.9
1985
213.5
2010
305.0
2060
549.0
Feb.
112.1
206.5
295.0
531.0
Mar.
115.9
213.5
305.0
549.0
Apr.
121.6
224.0
320.0
576.0
May.
125.A
231.0
330.0
594.0
Jun.
235.6
434.0
620.0
1,116.0
Jul.
330.6
609.0
870.0
1,566.0
Aug.
209.0
385.0
550.0
990.0
Sep.
176.7
325.5
465.0
837.0
Oct.
129.2
238.0
340.0
612.0
Nov.
115.9
213.5
305.0
549.0
Dec.
112.1
206.5
295.0
531.0
1,900.0
3,500.0
5,000.0
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Table V
Union, Oregon
Municipal and Industrial Water Supply
Acre-Feet
1960
1985
2010
2060
Jan.
30.5
54.9
79.3
115.9
Feb.
29.5
53.1
76.7
112.1
Mar.
30.5
54.9
79.3
115.9
Apr.
32.0
57.6
83.2
121.6
May
33.0
59.4
85.8
125.4
Jun.
62.0
111.6
161.2
235.6
Jul.
87.0
156.6
226.2
330.6
Aug.
55.0
99.0
143.0
209.0
Sep.
46.5
83.7
120.9
176.7
Oct.
34.0
61.2
88.4
129.2
Nov.
30.5
54.9
79.3
115.9
Dec.
29.5
53.1
76.7
112.1
500.0
900.0
1,300.0
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D-8
WATER SUPPLY BENEFITS
LA GRANDE
It is apparent that additional water supply development is necessary and
that supply system revisions will eventually be required at La Grande.
Decisions as to the course to be followed are plainly those of the city.
Inclusion of water supply storage in the proposed Lower Grande Ronde
project would provide several advantages to the city. An assured
supply to meet year-round and/or seasonal fluctuations in demand would
be obtained thus eliminating the uncertainties of natural flow at the
present intakes and intermittent operation of the Beaver Creek impound-
ment and well supplies. Raw water quality would remain relatively
consistent throughout the various seasons of the year and line pressures
could at all times be maintained. Provisions for treatment consisting
of sedimentation, filtration and chlorination facilities and transmission
appurtenance, however, would be required at local expense.
For benefit computation anc cost allocation purposes relative to Lower
Grande Ronde project formulations, it is assumed that only supplemental
storage for M&I supply would be provided.
The benefit assignable to supplemental storage may be considered
equivalent to the long raige improvement costs incurred by the city
of La Grande in accomplishing similar improvements by the least costly
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D-9
water would not in this instance be an equivalent alternate in that
this source possesses neither the degree of dependency nor the gravity
benefit that surface storage would provide.
The benefit associated with provisions for 2,000acre-feet of storage
for supplemental water supply at La Grande (derived from estimated
future water needs relative to existing system limitations) as based
on single-purpose development costs and local financing rates
estimated by the Corps of Engineers is $24,000 annually. It
has been assumed in the derivation of this benefit that surface
waters stored in any alternate impoundment or in the proposed project
would require complete conventional treatment and that transmission costs
and appurtenances would in each case be essentially the same.
UNION
Provisions for water supply storage in the proposed Catherine Creek
reservoir would result in several advantages to the community of Union.
An assured and rightful supply to meet future anticipated demands would
be made available; advantage could be taken of gravity flow from the
reservoir; and the turbidity of raw water upon detention in the reser-
voir would be significantly reduced. Treatment consisting of sedimenta-
tion, filtration and chlorLnation would, however, be required and at
local expense.
For benefit computation a~d cost allocation purposes relative to
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D-10
storage for M&I supply would be provided. The amount of storage is
based on projected demands and water right limitations on Catherine
Creek.
According to alternate cost estimates associated with single-purpose
development of supplemental surface waters for M&I supply at Union as
determined by the Corps of Engineers, the benefit assignable to
provisions for 1000 acre-feet of storage in the Catherine Creek project
would be $12,000 annually. It has been assumed in the derivation of
this benefit that surface waters stored in any alternate impoundment
as in the proposed reservoir would require complete conventional
treatment and that transmission costs and appurtenances would in each
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F-l
WATER QUALITY CONTROL
Catherine Creek passes through many barnyards and places to which the
public has free access. The creek is also subject to contamination by
irrigation runoff from fertilized fields and barnyards. Some sanitary
hazards have been eliminated in recent years but others remain and
more are likely to develop.
Municipal and industrial wastes originating both at Union and La
Grande enter the Grande Ronde system in the middle and lower reaches
of Catherine Creek. Wastes from Union are received directly in Catherine
Creek and those from La Grande enter by way of Mill Creek.
The town of Union has no collection or treatment facilities and relies
on individual septic tanks. Failures in the performance of some of
these systems are known to result in discharges of waste materials to
Catherine Creek.
La Grande sewage treatment plant effluent is discharged to Mill Creek
about 6 miles upstream from its confluence with Catherine Creek.
According to a recent survey conducted by the Oregon State Sanitary
Authority, Mill Creek was grossly polluted. Following is a summary of
data collected during this survey of Mill Creek:
Dissolved Oxygen
0.6 ppm
BOD
5
60 ppm
MPN
770,000/100 ml
The city of La Grande has since passed a bond issue to finance construction
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F-2
exact location of the lagoon outfall on Mill Creek.
Irrigated lands from which irrigation return flows originate exist
along both the east and west side of Catherine Creek and the proposed
lands to be irrigated are located mainly north and westerly along the
Grande Ronde River between La Grande and Elgin. The City of Elgin has
no sewage collection or treatment facilities at the present time.
Sizeable runs of steelhead trout and spring Chinook salmon, runs of
coho salmon and remnant runs of fall Chinook salmon utilize the Grande
Ronde drainage. Salmon and steelhead trout support increasingly
popular sport fisheries in the Grande Ronde River system and are
important to the maintenance of the Snake and Columbia River runs.
Resident game fish in Grande Ronde River systems include rainbow and
Dolly Varden trout, mountain whitefish, channel catfish, brown bull-
heads, yellow perch, largemouth bass, crappies, bluegills, and white
sturgeon.
The Grande Ronde River is open to steelhead trout and salmon fishing,
and Catherine Creek is open to fishing for steelhead trout and
Chinook salmon from its mouth upstream to the municipal water supply
dam at Union.
During 1960, about 3,000 man-days of fishing were expended in the area
influenced by the Lower Grande Ronde Dam, and about 5,200 man-days were
expended along the area on Catherine Creek influenced by the Catherine
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F-3
Stream flow requirements for control of quality are, in this instance,
based on the effect of organic loadings originating from municipal,
industrial and land sources as measured by the extent of dissolved
oxygen deficits that would occur in the stream at various rates of
stream flow.
In view of the fishing uses in the area and desirability of maintaining
a high standard of stream quality for recreation and general sanitation,
a minimum dissolved oxygen objective of 6 parts per million at 25° C is
used. It should be understood that stream flow regulation to control
dissolved oxygen at this level would provide substantial control of
various other quality parameters.
Following are the treated waste loads (assuming 85 percent BOD5 removal)
and organic land loadings considered in the determination of stream
flows required from the Catherine Creek site on Catherine Creek to
the community of Elgin on the Grande Ronde River.
Figure 1 shows the levels of dissolved oxygen that may be expected at
various rates of stream flow during critical summertime conditions.
Shown in Figure 1 also is the recommended minimum stream flow associated
with the objective of 6 ppm of dissolved oxygen.
Source
Years/lbs. Ultimate BOD/Day
1960 1985 2010 2060
Municipal and Industrial
Land drainage
900 1000 1100 1200
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F-4
Inasmuch as greater loadings may be tolerated as water temperatures
become lower, less flow would be required during winter and inter-
mediate seasons. Table VI lists the estimated stream flows required
to control stream quality for fish life, recreation and general
sanitation during the various months and future years shown.
Table VI
Minimum Stream Flow Requirements
Catherine Creek Site to Elgin (Grande Ronde)
Year
May-Oct
cfs
Nov.-April
cfs
1960
33.5
25.0
1985
37.0
27.7
2010
41.0
30.7
2060
44.5
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F-5
QUALITY CONTROL BENEFITS
Inasmuch as stream flow computations for quality control in Catherine
Creek and the Grande Ronde River have incorporated reasonable local
provisions for waste control at the sources, any provisions specifically
designed to augment natural stream flows or any storage releases that
would result in accomplishment of the established stream quality objectives
would possess value in terms of costs to provide such regulation.
The benefit assignable to storage and/or storage releases for quality
control as a separable or joint function of the Catherine Creek project
is considered equivalent, therefore, to costs to provide the required
augmented stream flow by the least costly single-purpose alternative
means.
According to cost estimates prepared by the Corps of Engineers, the
single-purpose cost, and therefore the benefit assignable to 8,000
acre-feet of storage in the Catherine Creek project for quality control
is $85,000 annually. The amount of single-purpose storage considered
in this determination corresponds to the mid-study period requirement of
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G-l
DISCUSSION
The protection of public health through the provision of a safe and
potable water supply has long been a matter of primary concern to
the public health profession and has been a significant, contributing
factor to the high health standards of the Nation. However, the
.problem of providing adequate amounts of safe, potable water has
become increasingly difficult due to the pyramiding water demands
of a rapidly expanding population. Furthermore, the resulting
increase in waste and land drainage flows has caused a gradual degra-
dation in the quality of the Nation's waters and has decreased their
value for many beneficial uses. While improved methods of treatment
and disinfection of both wastes and water have served to maintain the
quality within tolerable limits for water supply, the progress in
pollution abatement and water treatment has not kept pace with this
population growth and industrial expansion, and water uses.
The familiar problems of pollution by bacteria, organic matter, and
chemicals of known toxicity and behavior have been further intensified
and complicated by problems of mineral enrichment due to water re-use
and by new types of contaminants associated with our chemical and
atomic age. The effects of these newer contaminants on water treat-
ment processes and on the human consumer are largely unknown. The
deficiencies in knowledge and the prospect of even great quantities
of yet more complex pollutional materials reaching our surface waters
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G-2
It is recognized that water for human consumption holds the highest
priority of all water uses. The increased demands on quantity by an
increasing variety of uses has also brought about many conflicts which
can be solved only by intelligent and long-ranged management practices.
Unfortunately, practically every water use results in some degradation
of quality. As the supply becomes more critical and conflicts in use
increase, water quality is assuming increasing importance.
Where alternate sources are available, it is desirable to reserve the
highest quality water available for domestic use and to satisfy other
lower priority demands with waters of lesser quality. In areas of
limited supply, the ultimate water requirements can be met only by
water re-use. Thus, dependence must be placed upon improved and more
effective methods of water and waste treatment and other control
methods in order to maintain the highest possible standards of quality
for human consumption and other uses. However, in such instances
every effort should still be made to reserve a sufficient quantity of
high quality natural waters for domestic use before they flow on to
supply other less critical demands.
It is sound planning to utilize highest quality water for highest
priority uses, and the protection of this quality against irreversible
and potentially hazardous degradation must be practiced to the fullest
extent possible.
Because maintenance of a high level of water quality for all uses is
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G-3
arid economy, planning for future water demand and uses requires the
utmost of care. This is especially true when planning for needs many
years in advance as is the objective of this evaluation.
Natural water quality is altered by man in many ways. Materials of
certain types and quantities when disposed to stream water can unbalance
the biological equilibrium, reduce recreational values, prevent use of
the stream waters for municipal and industrial purposes, and create
serious nuisance and public health hazards, all of which become liabil-
ities to the area affected.
Because progress in pollution abatement and water treatment practices
has not kept pace with population growth and industrial expansion,
flow regulation as a supplement to conventional methods of abating
pollution and controlling water quality possesses control valueoof
particular significance.
Provisions for future municipal and industrial water supply is of
paramount importance to the La Grande and Union, Oregon areas. If
these communities are willing to participate in the project, favorable
consideration should be given. The primary need is for supplemental
water of high quality to satisfy short-term needs during high-demand
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G-4
The quality objectives and related flow requirements recommended in
this report are designed for achievement of the following purposes:
1. Prevent development of nuisance conditions;
2. Enhance the aesthetic and health values of the stream and
adjacent areas;
3. Provide an environment suitable for propagation of resident
and anadromous fish life;
4. Protect and enhance the natural self-purification capabilities
and assets of the stream waters;
5. Reduce and neutralize the effect of residual fertilizers,
weedicides, and insecticides.
The beneficiaries of water quality maintenance and values resulting
from achievement of the above purposes are:
1. Land values--protection and enhancement;
2. Resident populations--health, social and economic improvement;
3. Livestock--health and well-being;
4. Natural resources—
a. Fish and wildlife preservation;
b. Preservation of the natural self-purification assets of
the water resource;
5. Recreation--protection and enhancement;
6. Waste disposal—assimilative capacity (supplemental waste
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G-5
By virtue of the multiplicity of values (tangible and intangible) that
are derived through maintenance of stream quality, the benefits attribut-
able to provisions specifically designed for such maintenance may be
regarded as "widespread,"
Inasmuch as the water quality control program set forth in this report
involves a reasonable degree of local participation in achieving the
stated goals, it is believed of interest to the public that low flow
augmentation as one of the requisites in achieving fulfillment of this
goal be provided. Benefits attributable to provisions for water quality
control where shown to be justified as a project function, therefore,
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This investigation and study was aided materially by officials in the
La Grande and Union area, the Oregon State Health Department, Oregon
State Sanitary Authority, Oregon Water Resources Board, and Walla Walla
Corps of Engineers. Information furnished in the references listed
below is also acknowledged.
1. U. S. Geological Survey, Water Supply Papers, Part 13.
2. U. S. Department of Agriculture, County Soil Survey Reports.
3. U. S. Weather Bureau, Climatological Data, Annual Summary Sheets.
4. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Columbia Basin Agricultural
Program Reports, 1954.
5. U. S. Census of Agriculture, 1959.
6. U. S. Census of Population, 1950.
7. U. S. Census of Population, 1960.
8. Bureau of Reclamation, Grande Ronde Project, Oregon, March j.955.
9. Union County Water Development Committee, Report to Corps ol
Engineers, November 3, 1961.
10. Cornell, Howland, Hayes and Merryfield, Engineers, Water Supply
and Distribution System, City of La Grande, Oregon, October 1961.
11. Clark and Groff, Engineers, Water Supply and Distribution System,
City of Union, June 1953.
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