Long Creek STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Long Creek, Oregon

Long Creek STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Long Creek, Oregon, a small community in Grant County. The plant serves a population of 177 and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 113.56 thousand cubic meters per year and an actual discharge volume of 64.35 thousand cubic meters per year, the facility operates below its design capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the John Day River basin, a tributary of the Columbia River. The John Day River is one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the contiguous United States and supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and steelhead populations.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the John Day River, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The John Day River basin is an ecologically significant area, supporting critical habitat for native fish species such as Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. The region's semi-arid climate and reliance on surface water for agriculture and ecosystems make proper wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality.