With Urgency Comes Opportunity.

COMMUNITY-BASED PLAN TO BALANCE GROUNDWATER USE

The Harney Community-Based Water Planning Collaborative’s vision is a sustainably managed supply of quality water that balances the needs of local communities, economic prosperity, and a healthy environment. The Collaborative is drafting a well-informed and locally-driven groundwater management plan, adapted to meet the needs of our high desert communities and ecosystems. Our plan focuses on four areas of opportunity to reduce groundwater use, create a more balanced groundwater system, and make sure we are managing our supplies for all water users:

  • Agricultural (farm irrigation and livestock).

  • Domestic (human consumption and household purposes).

  • Municipal (community water supply, fire management, etc.).

  • Natural environment (lakes, springs, wetlands, wildlife habitat, etc.).

PRIORITIES & INITIAL STRATEGIES

Based on what we have learned and input received from water stakeholders, our group has identified a series of priorities and initial strategies that will further the community’s window of opportunity for Harney’s water future. These four areas of opportunity do not compose an exhaustive list of water uses in the basin.

We understand and celebrate the importance of recreational, cultural, spiritual, and tribal values related to groundwater. Rather, these specific areas of focus have the potential to significantly reduce use of groundwater in the Harney Basin. 

Reduce Groundwater Impact by Agricultural Irrigation

 

Since the 1970’s, there has been a steady rise in groundwater irrigation, with permitted-use now exceeding annual recharge. While growing alfalfa and other forages is an economic lifeblood for much of our community, our community needs to figure out how to use less water.

Strategies we are exploring:

  1. Adopting technologies that improve water-use efficiency (e.g., low elevation sprinkler arrays and other applications).

  2. Alternative crops that require less water and are more climate resilient.

  3. Incentive programs for reduced use, leaving water in the ground, and/or voluntary cancelation of water rights.

  4. Exploring the development of a market-based solution that results in reduced water use.

  5. Voluntary groundwater agreements with groundwater irrigators.

Relevant resources:

 

Create Better Understanding of Our Complex Groundwater Systems

 

Our group has identified a range of technology and management solutions that may be able reduce water use and improve monitoring and reporting. By making water use information more available, we will increase awareness, transparency, and accountability for groundwater consumption and reduce its impact on our natural aquifer systems.

Strategies we are exploring:

  1. Uniform measuring practices and real-time reporting.

  2. Installing onsite weather stations (e.g., AgriMet) throughout the basin.

  3. Ongoing groundwater studies with partners like Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and US Geological Survey (USGS).

Relevant Resources:

 

Secure Supply of Local Drinking Water

 

A recent survey commissioned by the Collaborative showed that nearly 30% of the domestic well users who responded identified changes in their well’s water supply or quality over the last decade. Many have already taken actions to address these changes—most commonly lowering the depth of their wells. 

Issues of concern tend to be associated with domestic wells close to or within areas of rapid groundwater level decline. Where groundwater pumping has lowered the area’s water table, some shallow domestic wells have been affected, causing broader concerns about the region’s potable water. While municipal water supply is currently deemed adequate, water delivery and storage infrastructure needs updating and expansion. Rural residents who depend on domestic wells as their sole source of drinking water also need help to make sure that their water supply is reliable and safe to drink.

Strategies we are exploring:

  1. Expanded testing of domestic well water quality.

  2. Creation of a remediation fund to fix or improve domestic wells.

  3. Alternative water delivery in high-impacted rural areas. 

  4. Feasibility of shared-wells for housing clusters or rural communities.

  5. Installing new community water systems (e.g., Crane).

Relevant resources:

 

Maintain & Restore Ecosystems that Depend on Groundwater

 

While we are still learning the vital role groundwater plays in the natural world, we know that Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) in the Harney Basin provide critical habitat and ecosystem services that support the fish, wildlife, and recreational opportunities that the area is known for.  We believe that responsible management of GDEs benefits both people and nature.

Strategies we are exploring:

  1. The use of incentive programs and market-based solutions to reduce groundwater use where it would most impact GDEs.

  2. Partnering with private and public landowners to manage springs and wetlands to enhance and protect their ecological benefits.

  3. Prioritization of efforts that focus increased efficiency and decreased groundwater withdrawal near GDEs.

  4. Improve our understanding of how groundwater contributes to key habitat and improve monitoring to inform adaptive management.

Relevant resources:

 

Collaborative Voice in State Water Decisions

 

While we are prioritizing proactive and voluntary solutions, the tightening of water use regulations is likely inevitable. We believe local voices and collaboration are needed to provide input into the regulations being developed to manage water use. We intend to work closely with OWRD as they implement groundwater regulations, monitor use, and consider designation of critical groundwater management areas to provide meaningful input to State decisions on water resources. Our primary objective is to work with the State so our proposed voluntary approaches to reduce groundwater use are considered when updating policy or implementing regulations.

Relevant resources: