Safeguard the Watershed

Crystal Springs Zone of Contribution

Water is a precious resource.

The Crystal Springs Watershed provides 25% of the drinking water to Hood River County residents. Water is provided by a shallow underlying aquifer that is highly permeable to the vertical movement of water, and is unconfined, meaning it is not protected by an impervious layer of material above it.

When Mt. Hood Meadows proposed a large destination resort at Cooper Spur, many became concerned about the future of the watershed. Large areas of the Crystal Springs zone of contribution would have been impacted by the development. Runoff from paved areas, herbicides and pesticides used to maintain a golf course and other resort features could contaminate the water supply.

CSWF worked to get special protections for the Crystal Springs Zone of Contribution into the 2009 Omnibus Public Lands Act.