Squaw Creek project delayed by water

Plans to run a water pipe under Squaw Creek have been foiled by a

higher-than-expected water table. photo by Jim Mitchell Most people looking for water in the Sisters area would be happy if they encountered a high water table. But water at a depth of only two feet has slowed Sisters developer Roger Forbes in his efforts to cross under Squaw Creek from Timber Creek development to Creekside development with an eight-inch city water main.

Although the current active stream bed is only about 20 feet wide, the overall stream bed, represented by a gravel and sand bar, is about 100 feet across. Forbes' plan was to divert the water on one side of the active creek, using hay bales, through a 36-inch culvert laid in the stream bed, then trench to mid-stream and repeat the procedure on the other side of the creek.

Sounds simple... but a test hole near one bank encountered a substantial amount of water at only two feet. At a depth of five feet, the surrounding sand had caved into the hole to create a diameter of 10 feet. Extrapolating to a required depth of about 10 feet, it was decided that too much soil would have to be moved to accomplish the project under the present permit.

With a deadline of October 15 to complete the project, Forbes is looking at alternative methods.

Another obstacle that Forbes must take into account is the turbidity (amount of stirred up) sediment created during the project. Turbidity is to be monitored at the work site and 100 feet above and 100 feet below the work site.

The Department of State Lands has restricted turbidity to 10 percent over the natural background 100 feet downstream of the work area. Monitoring is required at four hour intervals and the turbidity level may be exceeded for a maximum of one monitoring interval per 24-hour work period.

Although there is an existing water line to the Creekside development, the Oregon Health Division, charged with ensuring safe water, requires that all water systems be looped; that is, no part of the system may dead end. Reasons include better circulation, fire flows and water quality.

The original water line was put in when the creek was dry. According to Gary Frazee, Sisters Public Works Director, all water in Squaw Creek is now covered by leased water rights. Current limitations on irrigation usage do not allow draining of the creek to allow easy trenching and laying of the water line.