Big Butte Springs
Encyclopedia
Big Butte Springs are natural spring
s located near the south fork of Big Butte Creek
in Jackson County
, Oregon
, about 30 miles (48.3 km) north of Medford
. It provides 26000000 gallons (98,420,712 l) of high quality water per day.
The springs are fed by an 88 mi2 watershed. The water requires minimal treatment to meet water quality standards. The hardness
of the springs' water has declined in recent years. In 2007, the springs were tested in 120 different areas, exceeding federal standards in all of them.
Water temperatures average between 44 and 46 °F (6.7 and 7.8 C). The springs have very little chemical pollution, and low turbidity
. The flow of the springs remains steady throughout the year.
Beginning in 1908, Medford received drinking water from Fish Lake
.
Several years later, the surrounding land was not cleared of debris when the Fish Lake dam was expanded. Soon, the woody debris rotted, and the water was determined undrinkable. In 1923, the Medford Water Commission received water right
s to 30 ft3/s of water from Big Butte Springs. The Medford Aqueduct, a 31 inches (78.7 cm) pipeline, was finished in 1927, transferring about 40 ft3/s of drinking water
to residents of the Bear Creek watershed.
In 1951, another pipeline was added. The springs provide enough water to meet the needs of the valley for seven months of the year. During the remaining five months, water is pumped and treated from the Rogue River
. The springs provide water to over 115,000 customers.
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
s located near the south fork of Big Butte Creek
Big Butte Creek
Big Butte Creek is a long tributary of the Rogue River located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains approximately of Jackson County. The north fork of the creek begins on Rustler Peak and the south fork's headwaters are near Mount McLoughlin...
in Jackson County
Jackson County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, about 30 miles (48.3 km) north of Medford
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
. It provides 26000000 gallons (98,420,712 l) of high quality water per day.
The springs are fed by an 88 mi2 watershed. The water requires minimal treatment to meet water quality standards. The hardness
Hard water
Hard water is water that has high mineral content . Hard water has high concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions. Hard water is generally not harmful to one's health but can pose serious problems in industrial settings, where water hardness is monitored to avoid costly breakdowns in boilers, cooling...
of the springs' water has declined in recent years. In 2007, the springs were tested in 120 different areas, exceeding federal standards in all of them.
Water temperatures average between 44 and 46 °F (6.7 and 7.8 C). The springs have very little chemical pollution, and low turbidity
Turbidity
Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality....
. The flow of the springs remains steady throughout the year.
Beginning in 1908, Medford received drinking water from Fish Lake
Fish Lake (Jackson County, Oregon)
Fish Lake is a reservoir located above sea level in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. It is northeast of Medford.Originally a natural lake, it was enlarged by the tall Fish Lake Dam, which impounds the north fork of Little Butte Creek, in the Rogue River watershed.-Geology:Fish Lake is...
.
Several years later, the surrounding land was not cleared of debris when the Fish Lake dam was expanded. Soon, the woody debris rotted, and the water was determined undrinkable. In 1923, the Medford Water Commission received water right
Water right
Water right in water law refers to the right of a user to use water from a water source, e.g., a river, stream, pond or source of groundwater. In areas with plentiful water and few users, such systems are generally not complicated or contentious...
s to 30 ft3/s of water from Big Butte Springs. The Medford Aqueduct, a 31 inches (78.7 cm) pipeline, was finished in 1927, transferring about 40 ft3/s of drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
to residents of the Bear Creek watershed.
In 1951, another pipeline was added. The springs provide enough water to meet the needs of the valley for seven months of the year. During the remaining five months, water is pumped and treated from the Rogue River
Rogue River (Oregon)
The Rogue River in southwestern Oregon in the United States flows about in a generally westward direction from the Cascade Range to the Pacific Ocean. Known for its salmon runs, whitewater rafting, and rugged scenery, it was one of the original eight rivers named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act...
. The springs provide water to over 115,000 customers.