The Army Corps of Engineers manages the system of dams in the Willamette Valley for many different goals. These goals include flood control, irrigation, electric power generation, industrial uses and fish habitat and passage.
Corps representatives will hold two local public meetings this coming Monday and Tuesday to explain their proposed new dam management planning efforts. The Willamette Valley System Environmental Impact Statement will govern dam operations and management for the next 30 years.
A new 30-year being presented
The Corps must satisfy the Endangered Species Act requirements in order to continue to operate. It has prepared a proposed new 30-year management plan to mitigate the impact of its network of dams and hatcheries on listed species and wants your feedback on their new strategy. Public comment on the proposed plan will be accepted until January 19.
Without a change in dam management practices, only the McKenzie River Spring Chinook population is expected to survive long term. Even under the new proposed plan, prospects for Middle Fork Willamette Spring Chinook are not so good, either. The Corps has selected Alternative 5 as its preferred alternative. Prospects for survival of Middle Fork Spring Chinook are much better under Alternative 2A.
Man versus fish requirements need to be balanced
Difficult water use choices must be made, particularly in balancing dry season flow for human water needs with those of fish. The Corps’ preferred alternative would substantially reduce water storage in Middle Fork reservoirs to balance a deep drawdown of Cougar Reservoir. Their proposed alternative reduces long-term prospects for a healthy Spring Chinook population in the Middle Fork Willamette over coming decades.
The first in-person meeting will take place Monday January 9 at 6 PM at the Bob Keefer (Willamalane) Recreation Center on 32nd near Main in Springfield. A second meeting will be held on Tuesday January 10 at 12:30 PM in Building 19, Room 102 on the LCC campus.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be found here:
Written comments may be sent to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Attn: CENWP-PME-E / Willamette EIS
P.O. Box 2946
Portland, OR 97208-2946
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
OFFICE SERVICES AVAILABLE: Copying, Scanning, Emailing & Faxing Services are now available at The Herald’s office in Oakridge.
