The Wastewater Regionalization Project is a collaborative effort to connect the cities of Creswell and Junction City, the unincorporated community of Goshen, and the Short Mountain Landfill to the metropolitan Eugene-Springfield wastewater treatment system managed by the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC).
Why is this project necessary?
Currently, both Creswell and Junction City are facing strict state-mandated development restrictions and are unable to build more housing because their aging, standalone local systems cannot reliably meet modern environmental water-quality standards. Standalone system upgrades would be financially overwhelming for these small communities, costing upwards of $50 million to $72 million for each of the cities.
A shared regional pipeline is the most cost-effective long-term solution. It would:
- Unlock Housing: Lift local development freezes to allow for the construction of 500+ homes across both rural cities.
- Protect the Environment: Eliminate municipal wastewater discharges into tributaries of the Willamette River that increase pollution in our waterways.
- Reduce Trucking Emissions: A direct pipeline to the Short Mountain Landfill would eliminate the current practice of driving 10 to 12 semi-tanker trucks of landfill wastewater over regional roads every day.
- Spur Economic Development: Provide the critical utility infrastructure required to attract jobs and businesses to the 300+ acres of industrial land in the Goshen corridor.
What is Lane County's role?
Because Lane County does not own or operate a wastewater utility of its own, the County’s role is to serve as the regional coordinator and project facilitator. Lane County is bridging the gap between state regulators, rural cities, and metropolitan partners by:
- Hosting Unified Project Leadership: Lane County has dedicated a project manager to coordinate technical work and intergovernmental agreements.
- Advocating for Land Use Approvals: Leading the effort to amend regional planning guidelines (the Metro Plan) to authorize service outside of urban growth boundaries.
- Securing Funding: Actively pursuing state and federal grants—including a pending $2 million federal earmark—to offset planning and design costs so local ratepayers are protected.
What is the timeline for this project?
Lane County is currently working with Junction City, Creswell, and local partners on critical studies that will clarify costs of the project and evaluate the available capacity in the existing wastewater system. In the spring of 2027, Lane County will begin to conduct work sessions with the planning commissions and councils of Eugene and Springfield. Public Hearings are being scheduled for Fall 2027. Final decision-making is expected in November 2027.
How can I stay informed?
This project website will be updated as meetings and events are scheduled.
Upcoming public meetings:
October 9th and November 13th – updates to the
Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC)
Both meetings will be at 7:30 AM in the Springfield City Hall Library Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, OR.