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City of The Dalles, OR

Dog River Pipeline Replacement Project

New Pipe Ready for InstallationThe new Dog River Pipeline is now in service and helping to bring high-quality drinking water to City of The Dalles’ residents. Through two seasons of mountain construction, the City installed roughly 3.5 miles of drinking water pipeline built to last for the next 100 years or more. The modern pipeline replaces the original wood stave aqueduct in Mt. Hood National Forest that was aging and more likely to leak or fail.

The Dog River Pipeline Replacement is the culmination of many years of City effort to improve reliability and resilience of the water system.

Along with new pipeline, the project includes a rock ramp fish passage and screening systems, a new culvert near Brooks Meadow Creek, and interpretive signage for historic features.

Project Milestones

Construction of the new pipeline is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

  • March 2022: Design Complete
  • June 2022: Site Preparation Complete
  • July-November 2022: Construction Season One Complete
  • May-November 2023: Construction Season Two Complete
  • Spring 2024: Final Site Restoration

Project Location

The underground pipeline is located in a protected area in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The City continues to partner with the Forest Service to coordinate work activities as needed.
Dog River PIpeline Project Map


Pipeline History

The modern Dog River Pipeline marks a new chapter in the long history of the City of The Dalles’ water system. The Dalles relies on Dog River as an important source for its drinking water supply. As early as 1887, a 4-mile ditch helped carry water from Dog River to South Fork Mill Creek to serve a woolen mill and lumber mill. In 1913, the Dalles Water Commission had obtained control and ownership of the Dog River supply and upgraded the open ditch to a wood stave aqueduct to better protect water quality. Today, the Dog River Pipeline is built from modern high-density polyethylene but still follows a similar path along Dog River Mountain to bring water by gravity from the municipal watershed to serve the community.

What's New?

Click the link to read each news feature.
Dog River Pipeline: Stronger, Modernized, and in Service! Published December 20, 2023

Springing into Season Two of Dog River Pipeline Construction Published May 30, 2023

Dog River Pipeline Construction Winter Break Published November 21, 2022

Old Surveyor’s Ridge Trail Closed for Safety through Mid-November Published October 21, 2022


Jul 19, 2022
The City of The Dalles, Oregon is replacing a 110-year-old wooden pipeline that provides more than half the City's water, but leaks up to a million gallons a day during peak stream flows. This video records the groundbreaking ceremony on July 18, 2022. Filmed and edited by Rodger Nichols.

Click the link to read each news feature.

Groundbreaking Event Celebrates Start of Dog River Pipeline Construction Published July 19, 2022

Summer 2022 Dog River Pipeline Construction is Underway Published July 7, 2022

Dog River Pipeline Replacement Design Complete, Getting Ready for Construction Published May 6, 2022

Dog River Pipeline Project Update Published October 10, 2022