In compliance with the Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program, the City of Drain is taking steps to reduce our impact on local waterways and meet state water quality standards. TMDL represents the highest amount of a pollutant that can enter a body of water while still meeting water quality standards established by the EPA.
City staff have been working to complete pollution reduction projects that lower our impact on Pass Creek and Elk Creek. Here are a few notable things happening at city hall:
- The city has implemented an Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program (IDDE) to reduce pollution in stormwater systems. This program was passed unanimously by the Drain City Council in August 2024. The IDDE is currently available on this webpage.
- The city completed a riparian restoration project along Pass Creek. This purpose of this restoration project was to remove invasive plant species, add native plant species, stabilize the streambank, and beautify the area. This work was completed in December 2024 in partnership with Umpqua Native Plant Partnership (UNPP), who generously donated all the plants for the project and provided volunteer members to complete the work.
- The city is providing free educational guides on stormwater systems, the TMDL program, residential pollution reduction, and hazardous waste disposal, created in partnership with the AmeriCorps RARE program and DEQ. All guides are available for free on this webpage and at city hall.