A large part of Bend’s drinking water comes from a deep, very high-quality and abundant aquifer beneath the City that is fed by snow melt high in the Cascade Mountains. The City and its residents are committed to protecting this valuable resource along with protecting surface water quality. Protection of all groundwater including perched water and seasonal high groundwater is required by the State of Oregon. To comply with the regulations for both stormwater and groundwater, the City prepared an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISWMP). The ISWMP is a living document that is updated as necessary to meet requirements of the permits and the needs of the City.

The ISWMP outlines a comprehensive program to protect the quality of the Deschutes River and the City’s groundwater. The ISWMP identifies a number of BMPs for preventing pollutants from entering stormwater or removing them before the water is discharged to the river or underground. The following BMPs are required elements of the Phase II (surface water) program:

Bend’s ISWMP also addresses monitoring and protecting drinking water sources provisions to meet UIC requirements.

In August 2014 the City adopted its first Stormwater Master Plan (SMP). The City relied on these documents and prior planning documents to develop a Goal 11 stormwater public facility plan (PFP) for the existing Bend UGB. This 2014 Stormwater PFP is incorporated as the Goal 11 public facility plan for stormwater and provides a stormwater management strategy and identifies the capital improvements needed to serve the existing and future development within Bend’s UGB.