In undeveloped areas, light to moderate precipitation typically soaks into the ground. However, as we add buildings, parking lots, and roads, that water has fewer places to soak in and the resulting runoff is known as stormwater. In the Rouge Valley, stormwater amounts to over 20 billion gallons per year - it flows over our streets and picks up pollutants from our yards, cars, pets, and trash, then heads into the storm drain and directly into our creeks – untreated.
Rogue Valley Sewer Services’ (RVSS) mission is to protect and preserve public health, quality of life, and economic vitality in our community. Bear Creek is a major area of concern, it only takes a cursory look at the 28-mile course the creek forges from Ashland to the Rogue River to see the reality of the impact an urban area can have on water quality. That is water we hunt and fish in, we enjoy through recreation, and we drink from.
While there is no treatment plant for our stormwater, we can mitigate many of the problems that come with urban development and expansion. RVSS supports and implements green infrastructure low-impact development strategies (LID) that minimize imperious areas and use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to both treat stormwater and control peak flows from larger storms.
In the realm of LID, Regional Stormwater Facilities (SWFs) are an indispensable BMP in managing stormwater, especially in areas with historic development where stormwater isn’t treated on site. These are larger-scale facilities that manage flooding, improve water quality, and increase cost-efficiency when compared to their smaller, privatized counterparts.
As we look forward, RVSS is strengthening our investment in Regional SWFs. This last year, we worked with property owners and partners to install two new regional facilities in the area that are able to fully retain and infiltrate stormwater from the vast majority of our storms. These facilities also satisfy all stormwater management requirements for their entire drainage basins.
Glenwood Regional SWF
In response to the destruction wrought by the Almeda Fire, RVSS worked with DEQ to waive some water quality requirements for the rebuilding of the area. To balance this, RVSS partnered with Jackson County and ODOT to design and build the Glenwood Regional SWF. Located between East Glenwood Rd and the Greenway, this will provide stormwater management not only for Hwy 99 improvements, but for the entire 173-acre drainage basin in the city of Phoenix. The project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Cummins Regional SWF
Located on land which was donated to RVSS just east of the Cummins parking lot in the City of Talent, this facility was completed in November 2024. The Vegetated Retention SWF provides retention and detention for the whole 50-acre drainage basin, significantly improving water quality for large swaths of previously untreated runoff. This facility has, and will continue, to alleviate barriers to development and redevelopment efforts in areas burned by the Almeda Fire.
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