For more than 100 years our community has relied on and benefitted from the McKenzie River for safe, abundant drinking water and clean, reliable electricity. 

Now, in the aftermath of the Holiday Farm Fire, the safety and security of our community's sole source of drinking water is at risk. Wildfire can dramatically increase erosion in forests by reducing tree cover and altering the physical and chemical properties of soils. Post-fire ash, debris, and sediment can complicate water treatment, impact water quality for downstream communities, and challenge our source water protection efforts. 

We are working in partnership with watershed researchers, forest management agencies and local non-profits to identify threats to our water supply and public health, prioritize watershed restoration activities and help with long-term community recovery.