Finding Enough Water to Meet Future Demand

Hillsboro, OR — January 29, 2002 — Clean Water Services will host an open house for the Tualatin Basin Water Supply Feasibility Study on Wednesday, February 6th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Tigard Water Building, 8777 SW Burnham in Tigard. The public is invited to the open house to provide comments, ideas and views on the study, including the proposed evaluation criteria.

The Feasibility Study is a two-year technical evaluation of potential water supply sources to meet the growing demands of river flow restoration, municipal and industrial needs, and agriculture in the Tualatin Basin. A range of possible water supply sources will be examined and a preferred option selected. Clean Water Services, its municipal partners and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will conduct the study.

This Study will also complete the investigation and analysis necessary to develop a "Planning Report and Environmental Impact Statement"(PR/EIS). A PR/EIS is needed because the preferred water supply option package may involve a Federal action. One option under study includes a proposal to raise Scoggins Dam, which is a federal facility owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. In this case, a draft PR/EIS would be prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and presented to the public for comment.

Clean Water Services' partners in this study include the Cities of Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, Forest Grove, Sherwood, Cornelius, Banks, and North Plains and the Tualatin Valley Water District.

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