Stoller/Redhills Reservoir
A proposed 12-million-gallon reservoir at the headwaters of Little Hells Canyon Creek has drawn significant community opposition — and CMWC is making sure the science is heard.
Background
In spring 2024, Redhills/Stoller applied to Yamhill County for a conditional use permit to build a large reservoir on a property they purchased on NE Quarry Road. The proposal immediately raised concerns among neighbors about the potential impact on flows in Little Hells Canyon Creek, on groundwater levels across the surrounding area, and on general safety.
Neighbors showed up. Dozens of community members testified at the initial public hearing, including several CMWC board members. Despite that, the county determined the reservoir qualified as a "farm use" and granted the land use compatibility approval the applicant needed to move forward with a state water right application — this time to the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) — for the right to store and use 12 million gallons of water.
What we did
CMWC engaged attorney Karl Anuta — the same attorney who represented the community in the Jaquith Road marijuana farm water right case — alongside water resources engineer Karyn Hanson. Together, they prepared a formal legal brief and hydrologic capacity assessment detailing our concerns about the reservoir's potential impacts and submitted them to OWRD as part of the public record.
The approach worked. Interim reviews by both the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) independently aligned with the concerns raised in our submission. Both agencies placed significant constraints on the amount of water that could be stored — reducing the proposed volume by more than 75%.
Where things stand
A final decision from OWRD has not yet been issued. The state will need to address the constraints placed by ODFW and ODEQ, at which point the applicant will decide whether the project is still viable at the reduced scale. CMWC is monitoring the process closely and will remain engaged through the final decision.
Why it matters
Applications to store surface water are increasing. Storage in upland areas is not altogether a bad thing but the specific facility design and intention for use matters to the local watershed and, potentially, to the groundwater supply.
