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Commissioner urges county to add groundwater stewardship studies and protections to work plan
Summary
A commissioner previewed proposals to add groundwater stewardship items to the Community Development Department work plan, including targeted feasibility studies for sewer expansion, a developer requirement to demonstrate pumping won't harm neighbors, and exploring SB 1154 'groundwater area of concern' designation to enable sewer without a Goal 11 exception.
A county commissioner on April 29 asked the Deschutes County Board to add multiple groundwater stewardship items to the Community Development Department work plan amid renewed public interest.
The commissioner outlined three measures: (1) targeted feasibility studies of dense settlement pockets—particularly between La Pine and Sun River—to evaluate the feasibility of expanding existing sewer systems rather than pursuing broad Goal 11 exceptions; (2) consideration of development standards (modeled by other Oregon counties) that would require proposals in groundwater-constrained areas to demonstrate that added pumping would not harm neighboring wells; and (3) exploring designation as a "groundwater area of concern" under 2025 Senate Bill 1154, which can create a path for sewer in unincorporated areas without a Goal 11 exception if an area of concern designation is established.
"If we are sincerely interested in groundwater stewardship, then those are a couple of things to consider," the commissioner said, urging that the county focus on feasibility first before tackling finance and implementation. The proposal was framed as preparatory work during the county's comprehensive plan remand and as a way to act earlier than the formation of a groundwater management area.
Why it matters: Commissioners and staff described the proposals as a way to get ahead of slow-moving groundwater contamination risks (notably nitrate loading) and to preserve options for sewer-based solutions when appropriate. The ideas would change work-plan priorities and could affect land-use review, permitting requirements, and long-term infrastructure planning if adopted.
Next steps: The commissioner said he would bring proposals back for board consideration and suggested adding them to the CDD work plan and to the comprehensive-plan remand process. Staff and commissioners did not adopt policy at the April 29 meeting but signaled intent to pursue the items for future deliberation.
