Groundwater Protection Program Annual Report

Southern Deschutes County Groundwater Protection Program Annual Report

The La Pine subbasin serves as the primary drinking water source for thousands of residents south of Sunriver. However, groundwater investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) indicate that this sole source aquifer is vulnerable to nitrate loading from onsite wastewater systems, posing a long-term threat to public health and the environment. The Southern Deschutes County Groundwater Protection Program Annual Report provides an update on the status, progress, and challenges related to protecting the groundwater in this subbasin. The Community Development Department will update the report annually to identify changes in environmental conditions, development patterns, emerging opportunities, and/or the outcomes of ongoing initiatives. By documenting these efforts, Deschutes County is showcasing its commitment to mitigating the impacts from nitrate pollution. 

Certain footnotes in the report provide links to USGS, DEQ, and Deschutes County documents. A detailed timeline is provided in Appendix A. It summarizes collective efforts by these three agencies over several decades to protect the groundwater. Appendices B and C contain maps depicting the general locations of DEQ septic system variances and onsite alternative treatment technologies (ATTs).

Click Here to View the 2025 Groundwater Protection Annual Report