Dallas: Conserve water to help parched users downstream

The city of Dallas is asking residents to voluntarily restrict water use, not because the city is running out of water but because officials are trying keep water flowing through Rickreall Creek for downstream users.

Dallas City Manager Ron Foggin issued the voluntary water restrictions "in an effort to help our neighbors downstream with their water needs," he said.

The recent thermometer-popping weather has caused Rickreall Creek to run extremely low just east of Rickreall.

Since Dallas has the senior water rights for Rickreall Creek that date back to 1903, it can technically dry up the river, said Fred Braun, director of engineering and environmental services for the city. However, the city does not wish to keep all the water to itself; officials want to help out those downstream.

One of those downstream water users is Oak Knoll Golf Course.

"The city of Dallas is doing a better job of keeping the consistency of Rickreall Creek by controlling water levels through the dam and wastewater plant," said Val Barnes, Oak Knoll's owner for the past 35 years.

The city lets 1 million gallons of water a day flow past its water intake point, where water is collected for treatment and purification.

In addition, the city adds adds back 1.3 million gallons to the creek after it has gone through the wastewater treatment facility, which treats water that has been used for consumption by the community.

With hot and windy days coming earlier than usual this summer, golf course groundskeepers have had to use more water to maintain the course at the beginning of the season.

That has forced the course to use the water strategically, focusing on the tees and putting greens that are watered by hand, Barnes said.

"I just keep praying for rain," Barnes said.

The voluntary measures put in place by Dallas stem from the recent drought that has struck Oregon as a result of below-normal spring rains, above-normal temperatures, at or near record-low stream flows, and record-low snow packs, said Diana Enright, water policy analyst for the Oregon Water Resources Department.

In Oregon, water is publicly owned. However, cities, farmers, businesses, factory owners and some others must obtain water-rights permits from the Water Resources Department to use water from any source. The department oversees some water rights that date back to 1858, a year before Oregon became a state.

Rickreall Creek falls under the jurisdiction of District 16 of the Water Resources Department, which covers most of Yamhill, Polk, Benton and Marion counties.

In response to the low stream flows in Rickreall Creek, Joel Plahn, District 16's Watermaster, has issued water shutoffs for all that have a Rickreall Creek water right priority date after June 1, 1964.

About 50 businesses, homeowners and farmers will experience water shutoffs for the foreseeable future, most likely ending once rainy season begins in October, Enright said.

Water shutoffs only include irrigation system usage, not home usage such as showers and toilets.

Rickreall Creek runs eastward and deposits into the Willamette, drawing from coastal sources and mountain runoff.

In the case of water restrictions and shutoffs, those with senior water rights are the last to have their water shut off. The restrictions are put in place for landowners upstream of a senior water-right permit to help water flow downstream.

Enright said some folks along the Luckiamute River can also expect to see restrictions soon.

cwilliams9@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6719, or follow on Twitter @connerjwilliams

Voluntary restrictions

The city of Dallas is asking residents, businesses and agencies to voluntarily restrict their water use by taking these steps:

■Avoid washing buildings or other outdoor surfaces.

■Restaurants should serve water only if requested by customers.

■Shut off ornamental water features such as fountains and ponds.

■Hotels, motels and similar businesses should post a Notice of Drought Condition in each room.

■Avoid any water use that causes runoff beyond the immediate area of use.

■Avoid using potable water for cleaning, irrigation and construction purposes, including but not limited to dust control, settling of backfill, flushing of plumbing lines, and washing of equipment, buildings and vehicles.

■Avoid crop irrigation and lawn watering between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

■Wash vehicles and boats at commercial car washes equipped with water recycling equipment.