USACE invites public to Rogue River Basin reservoir levels info session

Water managers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) invite the public to an online information session to learn about the summer reservoir forecast for Lost Creek and Applegate lakes at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 6.

As of May 30, the Rouge River Basin system is 97% full.

“Both of our Rogue River Basin reservoirs are nearly full and ready for recreation,” said Salina Hart, the Portland District chief of the Reservoir Regulation and Water Quality Section. “Inflows were healthy during the winter and spring refill season. Our water managers did a great job maintaining space in the Lost Creek and Applegate reservoirs to minimize flood risk and supporting fisheries in the river system while achieving optimal reservoir levels.”

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Water Resources Department—partner agencies that advise USACE on water release needs for irrigation supply, and support to fish survival and migration, respectively—will join the Corps for the virtual information session. The public is invited to learn more about current operations, future forecasts, and potential impacts to the Rogue River Basin system.

Date:  June 6, 2024, 6 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Join online: https://usace1.webex.com/join/WaterManagementNWP
Join by phone: (844) 800-2712
Access Code: 199 939 8180

USACE encourages questions: participants may type questions using the chat function in WebEx during the meeting or send an email to cenwp-pa@usace.army.mil with their question by June 5.

The Rogue River Basin Project’s two reservoirs are currently 97% full. System-wide reservoir storage is 3% below the rule curve. Year-to-date precipitation across the Rogue was 90% of normal, as of May 30, with most of the rain falling earlier in the year and this month. The snowpack (snow water equivalent) right now is 103% of median for the Rogue. Snowmelt helps keep reservoir elevations up in the summer if it lasts and matches outflows, but it accounts for less of the system’s storage than rain does.

USACE manages reservoir inflows based on a “rule curve,” which is the authorized maximum elevation on a given day to balance flood risk management and storage for other authorized purposes, such as hydropower and irrigation supply. USACE keeps the Rogue Basin’s reservoirs lower in the winter to reduce downstream flooding and refills them in the spring to prepare for recreation and adequate flows for fish.

USACE encourages the public to check the Rogue River Basin reservoir levels before visiting one of our recreation locations.