Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1975)
Page 6 Abandoned city d u m p s a p r o b le m By DAI.K KONKK What do you do with an abandoned city dump? The answer to this question con fronts the officials of many Oregon counties, and Morrow County is no exception. In l9 and 1971. the Oregon Legislature passed legislation requiring completion of a solid waste management plan. In cooperation with the Depart ment of Environmental Quali ty. Morrow County was able to complete the study and suit able landfill sites were select ed. (Jrant funds were avail able for the study. When Morrow County makes the change to the new sanitary landfill system, pro- Horizontal wells for more water Hortionljl S ... . .. Well .,. W"t,r T?'.. v..-;', )- Scop Aquifer " Vlfi'V TrLlS I: Imper vio u s.: L a y e r 'ZJzJz. '"Jit KvCiKNKMcl.UC.III.IN Stockmen have had difficul ty developing stockwater at a suitable location for a reason able cost. Horizontal well drilling is a recent range water producing technique which has a tre mendous potential for Mor row. Gilliam, Wheeler, and (Irani county ranges. A hori zontal well is simply a horizontally-cased well drilled into a hillside at a slight downward slope '-. inch per foot minimum i to tap impounded groundwater. Possible well sites are located by evidence of a water seep, presence of water loving plants (Kentucky bluegrass, willow, dryland sedge, and rose bush t. or observation and analysis of geologic forma tions. This type of well drilling has mainly been done in Arizona, where 45 of 53 wells produce 0.25 or more gpm. with most producing 3 to 10 gpm. The drilling rate usually varies from 3 to 9 inches per minute through heavy clay, decom posed granite, and soft rock, but the drilling rate, may decrease to less than 1 inch per minute in hard rock. The wells average $500 per producing well, including $50 for plumbing supplies. This cos! includes the dry holes and time sH-nt on site location and road building. It should be stressed that the cost and success of horizontal well drilling will depend on the driller's skill in site selection and geological character of the area. The main advantages of horizontal wells over conven tional spring developments are: reduced water loss, less possibility of contamination, improved chances for devel oping slock water, reduced maintenance and lower initial development cost. Heppner 01 Serving Morrow County for more than 25 years with quick, clean, dependable LP gas for farm, home and industry 770 W. Riverside 676-9450 tective measure must bo taken on the Heppner and lone dumps to reduce erosion of the wasle material. The old dumps are an unsightly source of pollution and waste mater ials can be carried into the stream waters below. (rant funds on a matching basis are available from the state for establishment of the new landfill. The program did not provide money for cleanup of the old dumps, and so Morrow County has started looking into a source of other funds. The estimated cost for elimination of the open dumps is 15.000. ('rants have been made available for this type work in other states through the He source Conservation and Development Program (IU'&I) of the United States Department of Agriculture, Morrow County has made application to the Columbia Blue Mountain RC&D for this assistance. The application was approved by the KC&I) sHinsors. The next step is to plan the treatment needed for the old dumps. Alternatives could include burying at the present location, seeding with grass and protecting from surface runoff by diversions or it could require loading the old material and depositing in the new landfill. Whichever decision is made, the Morrow County Court and Morrow Soil and Water Con servation District arc aware of the problem and are taking action to remedv. Good Conservation Practices Today, Brings a Land of Promise Tomorrow. NOW 2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU PENDLETON Airport Road 276-6341 HERMIST0N Butter Creek Hwy. 567-8327 Will your land 111 L'r What you know and do about toil conitrvation makes the big difference in future productivity for your farm. Investigate now ... see how crop rotation, to prevent soil depletion; contour plowing, for sloping land; drainage, for wet land; and other tested tech niques can help you prevent soil erosion , . . assure continued profitable production. Port of Morrow Commission I M AH INK DltlVK . HOAHD.MAN, OIIKGON . (503) -29S
