Water System Improvements

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the Oregon Caves National Monument (ORCA) original concrete water storage reservoir in 1935 with a storage capacity of 35,000 gallons. Water was supplied to this reservoir via a 3-inch steel pipe that connected the storage reservoir to a small collection pond approximately 3 miles away in the Lake Creek drainage area located within the National Forest. An additional 75,000-gallon concrete water reservoir was added to the Monument’s water system in the early 1950’s. These two tanks are interconnected with manual valves and supply the Oregon Caves with domestic water and fire protection via a water distribution system consisting of multiple pipe sizes and types of varying age. The project consisted of two major system modifications: (1) the replacement of the deteriorating and leaking 35,000-gallon water reservoir with two new storage reservoirs providing adequate water storage to meet the needs of the Monument.

This stage also included modifications to the storage facilities existing valving to allow for future separation of the reservoirs into a domestic supply and fire suppression water supply. The Second stage consisted of water distribution facility upgrades that removed the Monument’s fire suppression appurtenances, including hydrants, building sprinkler systems, and building deluge systems from the domestic water system. This upgrade included a new domestic water line from the new water reservoirs replacing an existing 4” water line located between the new reservoirs and the Monuments Chalet building. Additional water lines were replaced or installed as required to entirely separate the two systems.

Services Provided by HECO Engineers:

• Project management
• Project design
• Survey
• Condition assessment