Building a Legacy: Integrated Water Resource Management in Damascus, Oregon Oregon Water Conference May 25, 2011 WBG PDX GS kk Steve Gaschler - City of Damascus Mark Anderson, Emily Callaway, and David Green - CH2M HILL

Agenda Introduction to Damascus, Oregon Public Facilities and Ecosystem Services Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Findings Lessons learned

Damascus, Oregon - Geography City of Damascus Graphics courtesy Wikimedia, City of Damascus

Damascus, Oregon - Watersheds City of Damascus Graphics courtesy Wikimedia, City of Damascus

Building a new community in the foothills The City NowThe City in the Future

As population grows – so does water demand

Existing natural areas provide ecosystem services Recreation Aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual resources Fish and wildlife habitat Groundwater recharge Carbon sequestration Air purification Food and timber production Stormwater management Erosion control Thermal regulation Water quality management Water supply Pollination

Public Facilities and Ecosystem Services

Building a Legacy in Damascus: In an uncertain future, what strategies are most resilient? Is integrated water management desirable? Can a plan meet needs now and in 100 years?

A Conventional System Relies on limited supply Not efficient or multi-purpose Rooted in past practices

An Integrated Water Management System Less reliant on outside sources Managed efficiently for multiple benefits Anticipates the future of urban water use

IWRM Plan Guiding Principles and Evaluation Criteria Identify possible scenarios Construct decision support tool Compare scenarios to criteria Make preliminary recommendation Refine recommended solution

IWRM is inherently multi-dimensional

A collaborative approach is needed for decision- making CriteriaCitizen Group Weighting Stakeholder Weighting Combined Regulatory compliance 11%26%17% Environmental health and sustainability 40%24%33% Growth and development 23%22%23% Public acceptance26%28%27%

Scenarios – Options for import and export

Scenarios – Local basin water balance

Decision support tools are needed for system analysis

Model Architecture – User interface

Model Architecture - Visualization

Numerous scenarios under consideration ScenarioDescription 1. In-basinAll supply and treatment provided within each basin 2. Inter-basinAll supply and treatment provided within Damascus 3. External services with dual distributionAll supply and treatment provided by outside providers with reclaimed water 4. External servicesAll supply and treatment provided by outside providers (no reclaimed water) 5. Blended servicesSome new Damascus facilities, some external services

Findings – Demand Reduction is important

Findings – Reclaimed water is important

Findings – Storage is necessary

Sample Results

Uncertainty Climate variability Indoor potable water conservation Groundwater availability Differences in service provider costs Changes to landscaped area Others that can’t be quantified: – Regulatory change – Political climate – Etc.

Key Points of a recommendation Flexibility for the long term – to adapt to changing regulations – to accommodate growth phases – to work with service providers Implementable in the short term – Complies with current regulations – Meets immediate needs in areas likely to develop first

IWRM lessons learned - Part 1 Local supplies can meet demands, but rely heavily on reclaimed water Storm water runoff is a resource; so is collection system infiltration and reclaimed wastewater – ownership is an issue Summer demands and in-stream flow requirements can be met with the help of storage – with regional benefits

IWRM lessons learned - Part 2 Demand and supply are linked by re-use. Conservation efforts are positive up to a ~25% reduction of indoor use Non-potable demands drive system sizing; limit landscaping requirements and reduce infrastructure costs Regulatory uncertainty requires long term flexibility – avoid stranded assets! Holistic land use planning includes reducing development footprint and utilizing ecosystem services to maintain system health

Build the purple pipe Requiring non-potable distribution pipe for new development is critical for: – Capturing resources that will become more valuable over time – Aligning water quality with use, including fire flows – Managing public perceptions about potable re-use – Complying with current regulations – Managing variable supplies in the future – Changing the way we use water

IWRM Plan – Current status Guiding Principles and Evaluation Criteria Identify possible scenarios Construct decision support tool Compare scenarios to criteria Make preliminary recommendation Refine recommended solution

A possible legacy for Damascus… Create policies to encourage conservation and re-use Plan for infrastructure that can adapt to the future – potable re-use, regional scarcity, and innovative technology Build systems that make efficient use of resources that are locally available – especially cooperating with natural systems in place Work with regional neighbors and share benefits

Acknowledgements City of Damascus, Oregon Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development

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