Report on Salem’s Water Security Measures in Response to Environmental Mandates

Executive Summary

The Salem City Council has issued an emergency declaration in anticipation of a significant drinking water shortfall projected for 2026. This action is a direct response to a planned deep drawdown of the Detroit Lake Reservoir by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The situation presents a complex challenge, requiring a balance between fulfilling environmental protection mandates aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14 and 15, and ensuring urban water security, a core tenet of SDG 6 and SDG 11.

• Primary Issue: Potential drinking water shortage for approximately 200,000 residents.
• Cause: A reservoir drawdown designed to improve habitat for endangered fish species.
• City Response: An emergency declaration to fast-track infrastructure projects and secure alternative water sources.
• Core Conflict: Balancing the objectives of ecosystem preservation with the provision of essential public services.

Challenges to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The impending reservoir drawdown poses a direct threat to the City of Salem’s ability to meet targets associated with SDG 6, which emphasizes universal access to safe and clean water. The primary challenges include:

• Water Availability: The drawdown will reduce the flow from the North Santiam River, the city’s main water source, creating a potential deficit against a daily demand of 24-25 million gallons.
• Water Quality: The release of decades of accumulated sediment from the reservoir floor is expected to significantly increase turbidity (“muddy” the water), placing severe strain on the Geren Island Water Treatment Plant’s capacity to produce safe drinking water.
• Infrastructure Resilience: Existing emergency and alternative water systems are insufficient to meet the city’s total demand, highlighting a critical infrastructure gap.

To address these challenges and uphold its commitment to SDG 6, the city has outlined a strategic response plan:

1. Emergency Authorization: The declaration allows for the immediate authorization of an estimated $8 million in spending to upgrade the water system.
2. Infrastructure Development: Plans include the construction of new groundwater wells and the installation of an additional pump at the city’s emergency water station.
3. Resource Procurement: The city will expedite processes to enter into agreements with vendors and other agencies to develop and secure alternative water supplies.

Integrating Environmental and Urban Sustainability Goals (SDG 11, 14, & 15)

This initiative highlights the interconnectedness of urban resilience (SDG 11), life below water (SDG 14), and life on land (SDG 15). The drawdown itself is an action taken in support of environmental sustainability, while the city’s reaction focuses on ensuring its community remains sustainable and resilient.

Environmental Protection Mandates (SDG 14 & 15)

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking the drawdown to improve downstream passage for endangered fish, including young salmon.
• This action directly supports SDG 14 (conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources) and SDG 15 (protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems) by seeking to restore natural river conditions and protect biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems.

Urban Resilience and Adaptation (SDG 11)

• The potential water crisis underscores the vulnerability of urban centers to disruptions in natural resource supply.
• Salem’s proactive investment in diversified and resilient water infrastructure is a critical step toward achieving SDG 11.5, which calls for significantly reducing the impact of water-related disasters.

The Role of Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

Effective resolution of this issue hinges on strong collaboration between multiple stakeholders, a principle central to SDG 17. The ongoing and future actions demonstrate this partnership in practice.

• Inter-Agency Cooperation: The City of Salem and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are actively collaborating to implement solutions that protect endangered species while ensuring the continued provision of safe drinking water.
• Governmental Oversight: The U.S. Congress has mandated that the Corps of Engineers study and mitigate downstream impacts on communities, including providing assistance for engineering alternative water systems.
• Future Steps: The Corps is conducting a supplemental environmental impact statement to assess all potential effects. The drawdown is scheduled to commence in the fall of 2026 and will last for a minimum of 30 days, necessitating continued and focused collaboration to ensure a sustainable outcome for both the environment and the community.

Identified Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • The article’s central theme is the potential “drinking water shortfall” for 200,000 residents in Salem. It discusses the city’s reliance on the North Santiam River, the threat to this water source due to a reservoir drawdown, and the emergency measures being taken to ensure a continuous and safe water supply. This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • The issue directly impacts the city of Salem’s ability to provide basic services to its population. The article highlights the city council’s “emergency declaration” to “reduce the threat to life and property,” the potential impact on “firefighting resources,” and the $8 million investment in infrastructure to make the city’s water system more resilient. This connects to making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water & SDG 15: Life on Land

  • The primary reason for the reservoir drawdown, which causes the water supply problem, is an environmental one: “to improve downstream passages for endangered fish, including young salmon.” This action is a direct effort to protect threatened species and restore freshwater ecosystems, which is a core component of both SDG 14 (as salmon are anadromous) and SDG 15 (which covers freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity).

Specific SDG Targets

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

     • The article focuses on the city’s efforts to prevent a water shortage for “about 200,000 residents” and meet a “daily demand of about 24 to 25 million gallons,” directly addressing the need to ensure continued access to drinking water.

   • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution.

     • The drawdown is expected to release “decades’ worth of sediment,” which will “‘muddy’ the water and make it harder for the city to collect and clean it.” This highlights a direct challenge to water quality that must be managed.

   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals to address water scarcity.

     • The city is facing a “potential drinking water shortfall” and is developing “alternative water supplies,” including “new groundwater wells” and an “Aquifer Storage and Recovery system,” to ensure a sustainable supply and address the potential scarcity.

   • Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management at all levels.

     • The situation involves collaboration between multiple entities, including the “Salem City Council,” the “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” and potentially the “city of Keizer.” Their shared goal is to achieve a “balanced approach that serves both environmental and public health interests,” which is the essence of integrated water resources management.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters.

     • The city approved an “emergency declaration” to prepare for a “potential drinking water shortfall,” a water-related disaster. The actions are intended to protect the “200,000 residents” who would be affected and “reduce the threat to life and property.”

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats… and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

     • The article explicitly states that the reservoir drawdown is being done to “improve downstream passages for endangered fish, including young salmon.” This is a direct action aimed at protecting a threatened species.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • For Target 6.1:

     • Indicator: Population served by a safely managed drinking water service.

       • This is implied by the mention of the “200,000 residents” whose water supply is at risk. The city’s goal is to ensure this entire population continues to receive safe water.

   • For Target 6.3:

     • Indicator: Ambient water quality of water bodies.

       • The article implies a degradation of water quality by stating the drawdown will “‘muddy’ the water” and release “silt,” similar to how other rivers “turned brown.” Measuring parameters like turbidity would track this impact.

   • For Target 6.4:

     • Indicator: Level of water stress.

       • This is implied by the comparison of the city’s “daily demand of about 24 to 25 million gallons” against the limited capacity of its current and emergency water sources, highlighting the stress on its freshwater supply.

   • For Target 6.5:

     • Indicator: Degree of integrated water resources management implementation.

       • The “ongoing collaboration” between the City of Salem and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to find a “balanced approach” is a direct example of implementing integrated management.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • For Target 11.5:

     • Indicator: Number of persons directly affected by disasters.

       • The article identifies the “200,000 residents” as the population that would be directly affected by the potential water shortage.

     • Indicator: Adoption and implementation of local disaster risk reduction strategies.

       • The “emergency declaration,” authorization of spending, and plans to “develop alternative water supplies” constitute a local disaster risk reduction strategy.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • For Target 15.5:

     • Indicator: Progress towards protecting threatened species.

       • The action of modifying dam operations to “improve downstream passages for endangered fish” is a direct, measurable action taken to protect a threatened species.

Summary of Findings

Source: opb.org