Dune groundwater planning and management considerations for the Oregon coast

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Dune Groundwater

Planning & Management Considerations

For The Oregon Coast

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This report was prepared as part of a larger document addressing various
beach and dune planning and management considerations and techniques.
Other segments of the document and additional materials are:

I. BACKGROUND ON BEACH AND DUNE PLANN ING:
Background of the Study
An Introduction to Beach and Dune Physical and Biological Processes
Beach and Dune Planning and Management on the Oregon Coast: A
Summary of the State-of-the-Arts
II. BEACH AND DUNE IDENTIFICATION:
A System of Classifying and Identifying Oregon?s Coastal Beaches
and Dunes

III. PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Physical Processes and Geologic Hazards on the Oregon Coast
Critical Species and Habitats of Oregon's Coastal Beaches and
Dunes

IV. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:
Dune Groundwater Planning and Management Considerations for the
Oregon Coast
Off-road Vehicle Planning and Management on the Oregon Coast
Sand Removal Planning and management Considerations for the
Oregon Coast
Oregon's Coastal Beaches and Dunes: Uses, Impacts and Management
Considerations

Dune Stabilization and Restoration: Methods and Criteria
V. IMPLEMENTATION TECHNIQUES:
Beach and Dune Implementation Techniques: Findings-of-Fact
Beach and Dune Implementation Techniques: Site Investigation
Reports
Beach and Dune Implementation Techniques: Model Ordinances*
VI. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Beach and Dune Planning and Management: An Annotated Bibliography
VII. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS:
Slide show: Managing Oregon's Beaches and Dunes
Brochure: Planning and managing Oregon's Coastal Beaches and Dunes

*Prepared under separate contract between Oregon Department of Land Conserva-
tion and Development and the Bureau of Governmental Research, Eqgene,
Cover photo by Christianna Crook, Newport, Oregon.

ftoperty of CSC Library

DUNE GROUNDWATER PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

FOR THE OREGON COAST

U . S . DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA
COASTAL SERVICES CENTER
2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE
CHARLESTON , SC 29405-2413

by
Christianna Stachelrodt Crook, Research Associate
OCZMA Beaches and Dunes Study Team

Kathy Bridges Fitzpatrick
Editor and Project Administrator

Oregon coastal Zone Management Association, Inc.
313 S. W. 2nd Street, Suite C - P.O. Box 1033
Newport, Oregon 97365

U May, 1979

Funding for this study was provided by the Office of Coastal
Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
under Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act through the
tftregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.

PREFACE

The following report presents the results of an overview of
groundwater planning and management considerations necesssary in
beach and dune areas as conducted by the Oregon Coastal Zone
Management Association, Inc. This report constitutes one element
of an overall analysis of planning for, and managing, coastal
beaches and dunes as required by Oregon's Beaches and Dunes Goal.

This report was prepared by Christianna Crook, OCZMA Beaches
and Dunes Study Team Research Associate, with assistance from
other Study Team members composed of Carl Lindberg, Project
Director, Wilbur Ternyik, Project Coordinator, Arlys Bernard,
Project Secretary and Kathy Fitzpatrick, Project Administrator.

In addition, valuable review and comments were made by the
Beaches and Dunes Steering Committee composed of:

R.A. Corthell, U.S. Soil Conservation Service
Steve Stevens, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sam Allison, Oregon Department of Water Resources
Peter Bond and John Phillips, Oregon Department of
Transporation, Parks and Recreation Division
Bob Cortwright, Oregon Department of Land Conservation
and Development
Jim Lauman, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Jim Stembridge, Oregon Department of Soil and Water
Conservation Commission
Steve Felkins, Port of Coos Bay
Rainmar Bartl, Clatsop-Tillamook Intergovernmental Council
Gary Darnielle, Lane Council of Governments
Kathy Mecone, Coos-Curry Council of Governments
Marilyn Adkins, City of Florence Planning Department
Phil Bredesen, Lane County Planning Department
Steve Goeckritz, Tillamook County Planning Department
Oscar Granger, Lincoln County Planning Department
Curt Schneider, Clatsop County Planning Department

Additionally, OCZMA extends appreciation to Emmett Dobey, former
Lincoln County Sanitarian (presently Planning Director, City of Lincoln
City), and Don Bramhall, North Coast Senior Sanitarian for the Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality. Special thanks is expressed to
James Luzier, Hydrologist with the USGS Water Resources Division,
Portland, for his timely review and constructive comments on this report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page
Preface ......................................... i
List of Figures ......................................... ii
I. Sand Dune Groundwater Characteristics .................. I
11. Groundwater Hazards Types .............................. 3
A. High Water Table
B. Ponding
C. Saltwater Intrusion
D. Drawdown
E. Pollution

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A - Water Resource Studies in Progress .................. 15

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Pa e
_Lq
1. Schematic illustration of groundwater interactions
common to coastal beach and dune areas indicates
the cycle of discharge and recharge and the
confines of groundwater between bedrock and the
surface ......................... ....................... 2

2. Generally, water withdrawn from the groundwater
supply will result in cone-shaped depressions
surrounding the removal site ............................ 8

3. Impermeable lenses of clay and silty materials
may direct the seaward flow of Qroundwater
laterally ... ........................................... 8

I. SAND DUNE GROUNDWATER CHARACTERISTICS

Groundwater is that water beneath the earth's surface which is
contained in pore spaces within the soil and rock. It is critical to
acquire an adequate picture of groundwater characteristics before
developing areas underlain by immense quantities of sand such as those
which exist along the Oregon coast. Sand deposits are comparatively
porous and thus downward percolation is quite rapid. Because of that
potential, hazards associated with the development of this region include,
for example, drawdown, saltwater intrusion and surface and ground-
water pollution.
Groundwater exists as a large coherent body of water (or aquifer)
which underlies dune sands. The boundaries of the groundwater are
formed by underlying bedrock and relatively impervious terrace deposits,
bedrock margins exposed at the surface (i.e. the basal western slopes of
the Coast Range), and the ocean to the west, (see Figure 1). Impermeable
silt and clay lenses are found within the deeper parts of the sand
deposits which oftentimes restrict the vertical movement of water.

The top surface of the zone of groundwater is the water table. The
general shape of the water table is a subdued replica of the land surface.
It is farthest from the surface under the larger oblique-ridge dunes and
closest at topographic lows. Most surface water (lakes, streams and
marshes) is a surface expression of this water table occurring where
the land surface dips to intersect the water table. Locally, "perched"
water tables may exist. These are created by discontinuous bodies of
impermeable materials located beneath the land surface but higher than
the main water table. This impermeable layer catches and holds the
water reaching it from above. On the western margin of the aquifer, the
position of the freshwater/saltwater margin is not clearly understood
but it most commonly appears to extend somewhat seaward of the beach.

The water table reflects a seasonal variation, being higher in the
winter recharge months and lower in the summer. Recharge of dune aquifers
occurs primarily from infiltrating precipitation. It is estimated that
fully 75 to 80 percent of the 50 to 70 inches of annual precipitation
received on the Oregon coast reaches the groundwater. The remainder is
lost through surface runoff in streams, evaporation and plant use. Most
of the groundwater eventually seeps directly into the ocean under the
beach. Locally, lesser amounts enter lakes and streams especially during
recharge months. Throughout the year the interaction between the lakes,
streams and the water table appears to be one of mutual dependence.
During summer months the water table may be lowered from three to ten
feet, at which time it appears that lakes may discharge water back to the
water table.

C2D recharge
0

la
ocean
A,- AW
OW 00
00 water table

fresh

s t h a rge
salty

bedrock

Figure 1. Schematic illustration of groundwater interactions common to coastal beach and
dune areas indicates the cycle of discharge and recharge and the confines of groundwater between
bedrock and the surface (source: U.S.G.S. unpublished materials).

Three larger dune areas, the Cl,@tsop Plains and the Florence and
Coos Bay dune sheets, appear to possess complete groundwater flow
systems. That is the groundwater flow operates as an exclusive unit
within the sand deposit and has little or no interaction with groundwater
outside its own boundaries. A system may contain more than one subbasin.
Groundwater moves relatively slowly both down gradient and from recharge
to discharge zones. Rate of flow varies from site to site but is
estimated to be five to seventeen feet per day in the Clatsop dune
aquifer (Sweet, 1977, p. ]I).

The chemical quality of the groundwater is generally good except
for local problems with acidity. At a number of sites, high levels of
dissolved iron and nitrate-nitrogen concentrations exist. These result
naturally from chemical activities associated with the decomposition of
vegetation in bog and marsh areas (Sweet, p. 16 and 18; Luzier, 1978).

II. GROUNDWATER HAZARD TYPES

Hazards and problems associated with the dune groundwater include
high water table, ponding, saltwater intrusion, water table drawdown
and pollution. It should be pointed out that hazards exist only in
relation to man's use of a site. Any sites suspected of exhibiting
hazard characteristics should be further investigated in light of the
projected use for the area.

A. _tLq@_ Water Table

A high water table technically occurs at any surface intersection
of the groundwater such as a lake, stream or marsh. However, those
high groundwater areas associated with hazard are most commonly sites of
extremely flat topography or depressions which contain water only part
of the year. These sites exhibit standing water anywhere from a few
weeks to eight months or more. They may be recognized in the drier sum-
mer months by the presence of such features as marshy ground, reeds,
marsh grasses, soil with a high organic content and a black to gray or
blue-gray color, sometimes accompanied by a strong orga,nic aroma.

1. Potential sites

Those sand dune landforms most susceptible to the incidence of high
water table problems include:

a . All deflation plains
This includes both the presently "active" ';-orms which are situated
on the lee side of the foredune and the historically active forms which
are now found considerably inland from the present foredune area. These

exhibit a flat surface topography, are usually forested and the water
table is at or near the surface most of the year.

b. The border zone between the deflation plain and interior dunes
Both interior hummock dunes and transverse-ridge dunes irregularly
interface with the deflation plain on their western border. These
sites would be susceptible to high water table problems in their basal
portions. They can often be recognized by the presence of marsh
vegetation or surface water between dunes.

c. The fringes of mostly permanent waterbodies
The areas surrounding intersections of the groundwater table are
likely to possess high water table levels themselves. This is because:
(1) the water table follows the general slope of the land, (2) it
fluctuates during the year and (3) because the area may be subject to
flooding.

d. Occasionally wet interdune area
This includes topographic lows between dunes of any form but
primarily the larger oblique-ridge and the commonly forested surface-
stabilized and older stable dunes. These may exhibit mottled gray-blue
soils and/or marsh vegetation.

2. Potential impacts and management techniques

Developmental activities in areas of seasonally high groundwater
can incur such impacts as the flooding of surface and subsurface
facilities, flotation and failure of buoyant buried structures such as
pipelines and septic tanks, differential settlement of larger structures,
construction and excavation difficulties, surface and groundwater
contamination, destruction of valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and
heightened earthquake impact.

In order to avoid such problems, certain development criteria
should be adhered to. Developments should be restricted to those forms
of land use which are either compatable with the characteristics of the
site or which can be built to provide adequate safety and minimize
impacts on the water resources. Structures, roads and sewage disposal
systems should be set well above the winter high water table and well
back from any water bodies. The alteration of wetlands by dredging or
filling should be avoided where possible in order that the system's
unique productivity and water retention capabilities will not be
diminished.

Engineering studies should be undertaken particularly for any
linear developments, such as pipelines and roads, which must span high
water table areas. The use Of Dilings and drainage tiles 'and culverts
are commonly recommended in suck areas.

B Pondi ng

Ponding occurs in low, poorly drained sites where excess precipita-
tion or flood waters accumulate. Topographic restrictions and/or poor
soil and bedrock permeability disallow runoff or infiltration at these
sites. The result is standing water which is not necessarily associated
with the local groundwater table. Ponding can be identified by the
local accumulation of rain or flood waters. It can be differentiated
from high water table because no lag time is involved between precipita-
tion and accumulation and because other sites susceptible to normal high
water table may not possess standing water. Although water commonly
moves fairly rapidly through sand, local soil development, surface or
subsurface impermeable lenses (clays or bogs), or extremely high water
table could reduce infiltration. These sites may contain marsh grasses
and blue-gray mottled soils.

1. Potential sites

a. Foredune/deflation plain
Some special ponding problems may occur here which involve some
degree of interaction between these two landforms. Many deflation
plains contain valuable freshwater marshes. Any breachinq of the
foredune, whether natural or man induced, may allow flooding from
ocean storms to reach the marsh. The addition of saltwater could have
damaging effects on the freshwater habitat particularly if the breaching
allows for frequent flooding. Furthermore, particularly severe ponding
in the deflation plain may cause breaching of the foredune from the
inland side. Breaching from the landward side may be caused by satura-
tion, from hydrostatic pressure, or overflow at a lowspot in the foredune.
This can lead to further erosion and limit the protective capacities of
the foredune.

b. Interdune and other low lying sites
Any low lying site commonly susceptible to high groundwater may
develop ponding problems when the water table is too high to allow
infiltration of excess water. Also those interdune areas which possess
soils, particularly marsh or bog soils which may contain clays and other
relatively impervious materials, could develop ponding conditions.

c. Surface stable dune and older stable dune
These dunes are susceptible to the effects of ponding because they
are often underlain by relatively impermeable iron bands or older buried
soils. In addition to other ponding impacts, slope failure can occur in
this landform particularly when saturated strata have been bisected.

2. Potential impacts and management techniques

In addition to many of the impacts resulting from a high water table,
ponding can lead to serious flooding of surface structures and habitats.
Damage to subdivisions in low-lying areas, airport runway safety hazards,
slope failure and possible habitat degradation could result from ponding.
Those activities which would dam waterways, alter drainage routes,
compact the soil surface or otherwise significantly reduce infiltration
rates (i.e. blacktopping) can increase the ponding hazard.

Proper design, engineering and building techniques can avoid many
problems here. Large scale developments which could have wide ranging
impacts, particularly if proposed for flat or low-lying areas, merit
special attention. Landfills, septic tanks or other subsurface structures
should not be permitted without a thorough engineering review. There is
a high possiblity of contamination of surface and groundwaters from
septic tank failure resulting from ponding. The use of dikes and levees
to prevent flooding along riverways should be considered carefully as
these devices can prevent the natural runoff of rain and floodwaters.
The use of ditches, drain tiles, floodgates and building on pilings may
improve the potential for development in such sites.

C. Saltwater Intrusion

The intrusion of saltwater into the groundwater occurs when the
hydrostatic pressure (head) from fresh groundwater sources is insuf-
ficient to keep the marine water at bay. As already mentioned the
position of the saltwater/freshwater interface is not known for all
sites along the coast. Where it has been investigated under the larger
dune sheets, the interface most commonly extends slightly seaward of the
beach (Sweet, p. 12; U.S. Forest Service, 1972, p. 14; USGS, unpublished).
It also appears to maintain a fairly vertical slope to some depth as
even those exploratory wells behind the foredune have drawn no salt-
water (U.S. Forest Service, p. 14).

Areas which do not capture enough precipitation to maintain suf-
ficient head against the marine water may be underlain by saltwater.
Because freshwater is less dense than saltwater, it may form a lens
which overlies the saltwater in such sites. Sand spits, because they
possess so little recharge area and are nearly surrounded by marine and
brackish waters, may be potential sites for this groundwater pattern.

1, Potential sites

The sites most susceptible to saltwater intrusion are sand
spits and the thinner beach and dune strips which possess more marginal
water supplies. Although those spits underlain by sand to a considerable

depth usually contain good groundwater supplies, the lack of recharge
in the summer months when water is most in demand by summer residents
could be potentially hazardous. The deeper, westernmost wells would
be the first to experience saltwater intrusion. With overdevelopment
of groundwater resources, saltwater could intrude some distance even
into the dune sheet regions.

2. Potential impacts and management techniques

Overdevelopment of the groundwater resources could lead to en-
croachment of saltwater into this resource. The impacts of saltwater
intrusion can result in permanent or temporary pollution of the fresh-
water supply, loss of freshwater dependent vegetation and habitat,
corrosion of pumping facilities and the added cost of providing new
water supplies to developed areas.

All dune areas for which groundwater withdrawal is being considered
should have adequate hydrological studies conducted to determine the
amount of groundwater required to provide protection against saltwater
intrusion and any secondary effects. Some surveys have been produced
for the major sandsheet areas along the Oregon coast and others are
currently underway (see Appendix A).

Monitoring of the groundwater head and water quality at shoreline
sites could provide prompt information on any changes in the freshwater/
saltwater interface.

D. Drawdown

Drawdown is the resultant lowering of the water table level from
well pumping. Given homogenous materials, the water table will draw-
down in a cone shape surrounding the well or wells (see Figure 2).
Extended development and pumping in an area can result in general lower-
ing of the regional water table. The pattern of groundwater reduction
is complicated in the deeper sands of the dune sheets because they
are commonly interspersed with less permeable lenses of clay and silty
materials. Groundwater at depth tends to flow seaward laterally
through these lenses (see Figure 3). Thus pumping here may not lower
the water table in the immediate vicinity but rather in an adjacent
region up gradient.

removal sites,,

ground surface

water
table J*

Figure 2. Generally, water withdrawn from the
groundwater supply will result in cone-shaped depressions
surrounding the removal site.

Figure 3. Impermeable lenses of clay and silty
materials may direct the seaward flow of groundwater
laterally.

1. Potential sites

Naturally all areas are potentially subject to drawdown. Critical
areas would include recreational lakes, areas of stabilizing vegetation
and those with little recharge.

2. Potential impacts and management techniques

The hydrological characteristics vary considerably from one site
to another and therefore the potential impacts of a lowered water table
also vary. Some potential impacts include the lowering of the water
table below the depth of local wells, reduction of lake levels, draining
of wetlands, loss of vegetation, seawater intrusion and intrusion of
water of poor quality from underlying bedrock.

With advance planning most of these problems can be readily
avoided. The proper spacing of wells to avoid overlap and regional
lowering of the groundwater table can be calculated by hydrological
studies. Wells should not be placed near those lakes most affected by
lowering of the water table. Some dune lakes interact intimately with
groundwater because this and direct precipitation are their only
recharge sources and because they have highly permeable sand beds.
Beale Lake and Sandpoint Lake in Coos County are examples of lakes
underlain by less permeable sediments which slow down the rate of
recharge from the lake back to the groundwater in the summer. Coffen-
bury Lake in Clatsop County and perhaps to a lesser extent Clear,
Saunders and Butterfield Lakes in Coos County fit this category
(Robison, 1973; Frank, 1970). These lakes may be partially fed by
surface streams and runoff from hard rock areas bordering the sand
dunes. Hyrological studies will provide critical background information
for the safe and beneficial development of these areas.

E. Pollution

The pollution of groundwater involves the introduction of unwhole-
some or undesirable elements rendering the water unfit for use or
environmentally degraded. Because sand dune aquifers experience
particularly high infiltration rates, they are especially susceptible to
pollution. Many fluid pollutants travel significant distances quickly
in this sand medium.

1. Potential sites

Because the sand is highly porous and does not filter some types of
harmful elements, all sand dune areas "downstream" from emission points
of harmful substances should be considered potentially pollutable.

Those areas which should receive special consideration because of
particular locational or high water table problems are:

a All deflation plains and deflation _pji@jn fringes_
This includes both the presently "active" deflation plain forms
which are situated on the lee side of the foredune and historically
active forms which are now found considerably inland from the present
foredune area. These exhibit a flat surface topography, are usually
forested'and the water table is at or near the surface most of the
year.

b. Lakes, streams and marshes
These bodies of water can be surface expressions of polluted ground-
water. Conversely, polluted lakes, streams and marshes may affect local
groundwater quality.

c. Near-beach sites
These areas may be occuped by temporary or permanent settlements
and are major emptying points for the sand dune aquifer. Any non-
filtered hazardous substances may appear here.

2. Potential impacts and management techniques

Bacteria have been shown to travel a maximum distance of only about
100 feet through similar sand aquifers (California Water Pollution Con-
trol Board, 1954, p. 99). However, sand is incapable of removing
chemical contaminants. This includes those chemicals used in most
household detergents which can render water unfit for domestic
purposes. Some such contaminants not only produce a potential health
hazard but may also threaten stabilizing vegetation.

Sand aquifers also appear incapable of filtering out viruses (Frank,
p. 34). Outbreaks of hepatitis in some counties may be linked to septic
tank problems in areas of high water table or ponding (Schlicker, 1974,
p. 57).
Besides the naturally occurring sources of nitrate-nitrogen (N03-N)
present in some areas of the sand dune groundwater, there also exist
additional induced sources. Septic tank emissions and fertilizer used
on pasture and croplands are significant sources in some areas (Sweet,
p. 18). There are indications that excessive nitrate ingestion may
cause methemoglobinemia (blue babies). The U.S. Public Health Service
prohibits the use of water for drinking purposes if N03-N concentration
is greater than 10 mg/liter (Sweet, 1977, p. 17). Furthermore, the
U.S. Department of Environmental Quality has set a limit of 5 mg/liter
in at least some sand aquifer areas on the Oregon coast (Berg, 1979).
This is apparently due to seasonal population peaks and associated septic
tank discharges (summer), natural seasonal peaks in the release of N03-N
to the groundwater (winter), and high N03-N concentrations in some local
organic soils (Sweet, p. 24).

There are a number of areas whfch use septic tanks and other
private sewage-disposal systems which discharge into the sand, Some
of these reportedly are sources of pollution to the area and others
could become so (Frank, 1970, p. 34). The seriousness of the problem
would depend on allowed density of development and the position of the
waste discharges in relation to overall groundwater flow within the
aquifer. Some experts feel that those operations which involve waste
discharge, such as septic tanks and industrial lagoons, are not appro-
priate for sand areas under most conditions (Beaulieu, 1974, p. 30).

Local decision-makers and home owners alike will benefit from a
better understanding of the potential benefits and hazards of the
local groundwater regiem. Several studies have been conducted concern-
ing water supply, quality, recharge and flow characteristics. A number
of other studies are presently underway (Appendix A). Those state and
federal agencies or local offices which may be contacted for further
information include:

U.S.D.A., Soil Conservation Service
U.S.G.S., Water Resources Division
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
County Sanitarian

The following references contain additional groundwater information:

Corcoran (1975)
Dugan (1976)
Hampton (1961 and 1963)
Smith (1962)

REFERENCES CITED

Beaulieu, John D. 1974. 'Geologic-Hazards Inventory of the Oregon Coastal
Zone. Paper #17 prepared for: Oregon Coastal Conservation and
Development Commission. State of Oregon Department of Geology and
Mineral Industries, Portland, Oregon. 94 DD.

Berg, Bill. Personal Communication. 1979. City Councilman, Gearhart.

California Pollution Control Board. 1954. Investigation of Travel
of Pollution. Publication 11. California Water Pollution
Control Board. 218 pp.

Corcoran, R. E. 1975. "Environmental Geology of Western Coos and
Douglas Counties, Oregon." Bulletin 87. State of Oregon Department
@of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, Oregon. (maps).

Dugan, Patrick, Y. R. Nayudu, Daniel Bottom, and Kathy Fitzpatrick. 1976.
A Study of Shoreland Management Alternatives - Inventory of Five
Shoreland Areas. Oregon Coastal Conservation and Development
Association, North Bend, Oregon. 280 pp.

Frank, F. J. 1970. Ground Water Resources of the Clatsop Plains
Sand-Dune Area, Clatsop County, Oregon. U.S. Department of the
Interior, Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1899-A. U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 41 pp.

Hampton, E. R. 1961. "Ground Water From Coastal Dune and Beach Sands."
Geological Survey Research. U.S. Department of the Interior,
Geological Survey Professional Paper 424B. U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. p. B204-B206. 3 pp.

Hampton, E. R. 1963. Ground Water in the Coastal Dune Area Near
Florence, Oregon. U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological
Survey Water Supply Paper 1539-K. U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D. C. 36 pp.

Luzier, James. Personal Communication. 1978. Hydrologist, U.S
Geological Survey, Water Resources Division.

Robison, J. H. 1973. Hydrology of the Dunes Area North of Coos Bay,
Oregon. Open-file Report. U.S. Department of the Interior,
Geological Survey, Portland, Oregon. 62 pp.

Schlicker, Herbert G. 1974. Environmental Geology of Coastal Lane
County, Oregon. Bulletin 85. State of Oregon Department of
Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, Oregon. 115 pp.

Smith, David L. 1962. "Lake and Stream Formation on Sand Dunes in the
Florence District, Oregon." MS Thesis, University of Oregon,
Eugene, Oregon. 90 pp.

Sweet, H. Randy. 1977. Carrying Capacity of Clatsop Plains

Sand-Dune Aquifer. Report for Clatsop County Commission and
Oregon Environmental quality Commission, Clatsop County,
Oregon. 73 pp.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1972. The Oregon
Dunes NRA Resource Inventory. Siuslaw National Forest, Pacific
Northwest Region. 294 pp.

U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey. Water Resources
Division. Unpublished Material.

I
1 15
1
1
1 APPENDIX A
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I
I Water Resource
Studies In Progress
I
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I
I
I -
I

WATER RESOURCE STUDIES IN PROGRESS

COUNITY AGENCY PURPOSE STATUS

Clatsop Clatsop County Planning Dept. A continuation of the Carrying Capacity Approval
and Oregon Dept. of Env. of the Clatsop Plains Sand-Dune Aquifer recently
Quality (208 Water Quality-EPA) (Sweet, 1977). Study will allow more granted
in-depth research on the quality and
quantity of the groundwater supply.

Lane Lane County Environmental Study by Charles Strong (1979) identified
Health Division (Lane County available surface and groundwater supplies To be
Coastal Domestic Water Suppl along coastal Lane County; focused on released
Report) developed and developing areas.

Lane Lane County Division of Grew out of finding in-Lane County Coastal
Environmental Health-- Domestic Water Supply Report which identi- In progress
North Florence Dunal fied potential groundwater problems in this
Aquifer Study rapidly developing area, Re ,Dort will con-
sider water supply, quality and potential
groundwater hazards.

Douglas U.S.G.S., Water Resources Tests conducted at four wells in the
Division (LCDC) deflation plain at about eighty feet deep, In progress
Both water quality and quantity are being
researched.

Coos Coos Bay Water Board/ 1. Dissolved Iron--study being conducted
(U.S.G.S. WRD) to determine the distribution of dissolved In progress
iron in the dunal aquifer. Series of test
wells between Jordan Cove and Ten-mile Creek
to aquifer bottom, Test samples to determine
changes which take place in the location and
concentration of dissolved iron and other
chemicals as well as pumped.

2. Extraction System--following the above
study, when the best water sources have been
identified, a qroundwater extraction system Planning
will be designed which wi.11 allow water removal stages
with the best possible benefits to users and
the environment.

3. Spit Water Supply Investigation--Research
presently underway to determine the best Planning
possible way to develop the Coos Bay Spit's stages
water supply to serve an industrial park
system.

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