Water Quality and Quantity

The Draft Aquifer Protection Plan, December 31, 2012, attached below, contains all edits requested by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Any changes requested by the City or the public during the public outreach process will be forwarded to these agencies for their approval; and then the Plan will be certified by the State. Appendix A: Water Monitoring Reports and Seconday Data, is now attached below. This Appendix includes the surface and groundwater monitoring results for Oct 2010 thru Sept 2012 plus secondary data, such as the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program results.   

 

Please see the Comprehensive Plan and Code Amendments page for the Draft Drinking Water Protection Overlay Zone. The draft will be discussed at a meeting with affected property owners and businesses in February 2013. If you are affected, you will receive a letter in the mail about this meeting.  Please feel free to comment or ask questions at any time by contacting Carol Heinkel at the contact information below.

 

The Draft Aquifer Protection Plan was concurred with by Florence City Council motion on July 16, 2012 and by Lane County Board Order on July 25, 2012.  The Plan was submitted to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for certification on July 25.  We are in the process of drafting Comprehensive Plan and Code amendments to implement the Management Strategies.  NO FORMAL proposals have been initiated by the City or the state.  On September 10, 2012, the City Council approved an extended public outreach process to allow those potentially affected to meet with staff to learn about and provide feedback on preliminary draft products.  Following the public outreach process, the amendments will be initiated by Council in March, 2013, and the public hearing process will be scheduled.  Public comments are requested on the draft plan, attached below, and on the comprehensive plan and code amendments, when they are available.  Please check back for updates and draft amendments and for times and locations of Public Outreach meetings. To provide comment, please email or call Carol or Mike at the contact information below.

 

The Draft Aquifer Protection Plan was reviewed by Stakeholders at their July 11, 2012 meetings.  The revised Draft Plan is attached below.  At their meeting, the Stakeholders were asked to comment on and prioritize Management Strategies for protecting the North Florence Sole Source Dunal Aquifer and Drinking Water Source Areas for the City's existing and proposed wellfields.   

 

The Oregon Health Authority has formally certified the Drinking Water Source Areas (DWSA) Delineations.

 

On September 19, 2011, the City Council adopted Comprehensive Plan and Code amendments to incorporate state-of-the-art Best Management Practices for stormwater into the City's Plan and Code.  See Stormwater Management Section, below, for details.

 

The Surface and Ground Water Monitoring Program is being conducted to protect the North Florence Sole Source Dunal Aquifer.  The Aquifer is the only sole source aquifer in the State of Oregon.  It was designated "sole source" by EPA in 1987 because contamination of the aquifer would leave Florence area residents with no source of drinking water.  The waters in the lower Siuslaw Watershed are interconnected; so, protection of the aquifer helps protect Siuslaw surface waters, especially Munsel Creek and the Siuslaw estuary.  Hydrogeologists from GSI Water Solutions are consultants for the project. The Program is being conducted in accordance with the protocols in the EPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan, attached.

 

On September 19, 2011, the City Council adopted Comprehensive Plan and Code amendments to incorporate Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater.  The amendments streamline the permit process and make stormwater management administration more effective and efficient for the City and private developers.  The amendments are based on the Florence Stormwater Design Manual, an administrative tool that was approved by the City Council in December 2010.  The amendments and the Spetember 19, 2011 Stormwater Design Manual are attached in the section above. 

 

The Stormwater Demonstration Project in Old Town will include state of the art green infrastructure and wetland protection features that are designed to protect water quality in the estuary. The City's Stormwater Management Plan provides the policy direction for the City to use stormwater systems that minimize negative impacts on water quality from stormwater runoff. The Plan can be downloaded from the City web site at: http://www.ci.florence.or.us/planning.cfm?loc=cs

Mike Miller, Florence Public Works Director; ; 541-997-5822
Carol Heinkel: cheinkel@q.com; 541-345-8660