The Health of Oregon Waters Water Quality Status and Action Plan: Deschutes Basin September 2011 Last Updated: Sept. 6, 2011 By: Bonnie Lamb 11-WQ-043 Deschutes Basin Watershed Approach This report prepared by: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 811 SW 6th Avenue Portland, OR 97204 1-800-452-4011 www.oregon.gov/deq Contact: DEQ Bonnie Lamb (541) 633-2027 DEQ Tonya Dombrowski (541) 633-2030 ii Deschutes Basin Watershed Approach Concurrences iii Deschutes Basin Watershed Approach Table of Contents CONCURRENCES…………………………………………………………………………………..…iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Watershed Approach (WA) Process Explanation ...................................................................................... 8 Status Report .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Basin Description ................................................................................................................................ 11 Pollutant Sources ................................................................................................................................ 11 Water Quality Status and Trends ........................................................................................................ 11 Surface Water ................................................................................................................................. 11 Groundwater ................................................................................................................................... 11 Summary of Implementation Efforts in the Basin .............................................................................. 11 Deschutes Basin Action Plan ................................................................................................................... 12 Priority Pollutants and Critical Areas .................................................................................................. 12 Recommended Actions ....................................................................................................................... 12 Monitoring Plan .................................................................................................................................. 12 Stakeholder Interaction .......................................................................................................................... 13 DESCHUTES BASIN STATUS REPORT ........................................................................................................... 14 Basin Description .................................................................................................................................... 15 Physical Landscape .............................................................................................................................. 15 Human Landscape ............................................................................................................................... 15 Water Resources ................................................................................................................................. 15 Beneficial Uses .................................................................................................................................... 17 Drinking Water Supply .................................................................................................................... 18 Public Surface Water Systems .................................................................................................... 18 Public Groundwater Systems ...................................................................................................... 19 Pollutant Sources .................................................................................................................................... 19 Point Sources ...................................................................................................................................... 20 NPDES Permits ................................................................................................................................ 21 Individual Permits administered by DEQ .................................................................................... 21 iv Deschutes Basin Watershed Approach General Permits administered by DEQ ....................................................................................... 22 Confined Animal Feeding Operation Permits ............................................................................. 22 Water Pollution Control Facility Permits ........................................................................................ 23 Individual Permits ....................................................................................................................... 24 General Permits .......................................................................................................................... 24 Underground Injection and Control Permits .............................................................................. 24 Hazardous and Solid Waste Sources ............................................................................................... 25 Nonpoint Sources ................................................................................................................................ 25 Agriculture/Agricultural Management Sources .............................................................................. 26 Grazing ........................................................................................................................................ 27 Cropping ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Irrigation ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Ranchettes and Hobby Farms ..................................................................................................... 29 Subbasin Summaries ................................................................................................................... 29 Reservoirs and Diversions ............................................................................................................... 30 Reservoirs. ................................................................................................................................... 30 Diversions. ................................................................................................................................... 33 Forestry/Forestry Management Sources ........................................................................................ 33 Grazing ........................................................................................................................................ 34 Urban/Suburban Sources ................................................................................................................ 34 Construction Sites ....................................................................................................................... 35 Septic Systems ............................................................................................................................ 35 Stormwater Runoff ..................................................................................................................... 36 Recreation Sources ......................................................................................................................... 36 Transportation ................................................................................................................................ 37 Invasive Species .............................................................................................................................. 38 Mining ............................................................................................................................................. 38 Water Quality Status and Trends ............................................................................................................ 39 General Surface Water Quality Conditions ......................................................................................... 39 Oregon Water Quality Index – Status 1999 to 2009 ....................................................................... 39 Macroinvertebrate Health .............................................................................................................. 41 Biological Condition .................................................................................................................... 41 v Deschutes Basin Watershed Approach Nonpoint Source Stressors .......................................................................................................... 41 Other Macroinvertebrate Studies ............................................................................................... 42 Pollutant-specific Surface Water Quality Conditions .......................................................................... 42 Bacteria ..........................................................................................................................................