2024 - Updates to the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP)

Rainbow Water District is part of the multi-jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) with the Cities of Eugene and Springfield, the Eugene Water and Electric Board, and the Springfield Utility Board.

Area public agencies are joining Lane County's larger multi-jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan to encourage greater regional collaboration and and geographic representation. Information specific to Rainbow will be adopted as an Annex to the existing 2023 Lane County NHMP.

Per 44 CFR 201.1(b), "The purpose of mitigation planning is for state, local and Indian tribal governments to identify the natural hazards that impact them, to identify actions and activities to reduce any losses from those hazards, and to establish a coordinated process to implement the plan, taking advantage of a wide range of resources." To collaborate with our neighhboring agencies and to be eligible for FEMA reimbursements associated with some disaster declarations, Rainbow participated in the 2020 update of the Eugene-Springfield Area Multi-Jurisdictional NHMP along with the Cities of Eugene and Springfield, EWEB, and SUB.

The Oregon Health Authority requires community water systems to plan at least 20 years in advance to ensure that the water system infrastructure is in place to support community development. See OAR 333-061-0060 (5). Rainbow's latest version of our Water System Master Plan was prepared in partnership with SUB. 

The Oregon Water Resources Department requires community water systems to efficient and sustainable use of water resources. We are required to report how much water we use, what programs we have in place to find leaks, and how we educate customers to promote and encourage water conservation. See OAR 690-086-0010. Rainbow's latest version of our Water Management and Conservation Plan was prepared in partnership with SUB. A five-year progress update was provided in June 2023.

 The Oregon Lane Conservation and Development Department, in support of Statewide Goal 11, requires cities to develop and adopt a public facility strategy for areas with an urban growth boundary (UGB). See OAR 660-011-000. Since Rainbow's service area lies within the UGB that the City of Springfield is responsible to plan for, Rainbow has supported the efforts of the City of Springfield and other agencies to include Rainbow water facilities within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area Public Facilities and Services Plan. The current version is dated December 2001 with amendements as of December 2011, but an update is in process as a joint effort by the City of Springfield, City of Eugene, and Lane County. A of October 2024, the Cities of Eugene and Springfield are working to separate materials into two plans.