City of Eugene Public Works

Eugene faces two key water management challenges: managing urban stormwater to meet multiple objectives and reducing pollutant discharges in local waterways. For the past two decades Eugene has worked to deploy stormwater management strategies that are both effective at addressing water quality and flooding challenges and are affordable. The city’s choice to include city-wide green infrastructure projects on both public and private properties has helped to meet stormwater program goals.

Project at a Glance

Utility Overview

Utility: City of Eugene Public Works, Stormwater Program
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Population served: 168,000
Service area: 41 square miles

Challenges

Managing urban stormwater to meet multiple objectives
Reducing pollutant discharges in local waterways

Solution

Comprehensive stormwater management program including city-wide green infrastructure program implementing localized stormwater best management practice (BMP) solutions on public and private property.

Costs and Funding Sources

Stormwater Utility Fund: $24.9 million
- Public Works: $16 million
- Capital Projects: $2.7 million
- “Green Infrastructure Staffing” of one full-time employee: $100,000
- Partnership with Long Tom Watershed Council to construct voluntary retrofits on private property, Stormwater Funds: $100,000 (total, between 2012 and 2018)
Funding Sources:
- Stormwater User Fees: $19 million
- Stormwater System Development Charges (SDCs): $4.6 million