PORTLAND, Ore. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, urges boaters to confirm boat ramp availability this fall and winter before heading to Willamette Valley reservoirs.
Lack of spring rainfall and scheduled reservoir drawdowns have lowered water levels and limited boat ramp access at several locations.
Most reservoirs will have at least one low-water boat ramp open through winter except for Cougar, Blue River, and Green Peter. Lookout Point is expected to lose boat ramp availability in mid-October.
USACE annually lowers the Willamette Valley reservoirs to make room for the extra water from winter rains and prevent flooding. Some reservoirs are lowered further to help endangered juvenile fish migrate downriver and to reduce stress on the dams in case of a potential earthquake.
Key notes:
- Always check availability before visiting. The best source for real-time information is the Corps’ Willamette Valley reservoir levels webpage. There, users can click on the red dam icons to compare reservoir elevations to boat ramp elevations.
- Expected ramp availability may change due to weather, operations, and environmental needs.
- Reservoirs expected to have at least one boat ramp open through winter: Cottage Grove, Detroit, Dexter, Dorena, Foster, and Hills Creek.
The full list of current and expected boat ramp availability below is subject to change.
Blue River reservoir
• Lookout Boat Ramp (1330’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Saddle Dam Boat Ramp (1295’ elevation) – CLOSED
Cottage Grove reservoir
• Lakeside Boat Ramp (749’ elevation) – OPEN, expected to be open through winter
• Wilson Creek Boat Ramp (779’ elevation) – CLOSED
Cougar reservoir
This location is operating in compliance with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2024 Biological Opinion that requires USACE to reduce reservoir levels in the fall and delay refill in the spring.
• Echo Park Boat Ramp (1635’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Slide Creek Boat Ramp (1635’ elevation) – CLOSED
Detroit reservoir
• Cove Creek Boat Ramp (1541’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Hoover Boat Ramp (1543’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Mongold Boat Ramp (1450’ elevation) – OPEN, expected to be open through winter
• Southshore Boat Ramp (1542’ elevation) – CLOSED
• State Park D Boat Ramp (1556’ elevation) – CLOSED
• State Park G Boat Ramp (1530’ elevation) – CLOSED
Dexter reservoir
• Dexter Park Boat Ramp (684’ elevation) – OPEN, expected to be open through winter
• Lowell Park Boat Ramp (684’ elevation) – OPEN, expected to be open through winter
Dorena reservoir
• Baker Bay Boat Ramp (765’ elevation) – OPEN, expected to be open through winter
• Harms Park Boat Ramp (820’ elevation) – CLOSED
Fall Creek reservoir
This location is operating in compliance with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2024 Biological Opinion that requires USACE to reduce reservoir levels in the fall.
• Cascara Campground Boat Ramp (815’ elevation) – CLOSED
• North Shore Park Boat Ramp (729’ elevation) – OPEN, likely closed mid-November and expected to reopen by December and remain open through the rest of winter.
• Winberry Park Boat Ramp (803’ elevation) – CLOSED
Fern Ridge reservoir
• Fern Ridge Shores Boat Ramp (367’ elevation) – OPEN, likely closed in October
• Orchard Boat Ramp (364’ elevation) – OPEN, likely closed in October
• Perkins Boat Ramp (368’ elevation) – OPEN, likely closed in October
• Richardson Boat Ramp (365’ elevation) – OPEN, likely closed in October
Foster reservoir
• Calkins Park Boat Ramp (631’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Gedney Boat Ramp (619’ elevation) – OPEN, likely closed in October
• Sunnyside Boat Ramp (613’ elevation) – OPEN, expected to be open through winter
Green Peter reservoir
This location is operating in compliance with measures to reduce risks posed by earthquakes and the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2024 Biological Opinion that requires USACE to reduce reservoir levels in the fall.
• Thistle Creek Boat Ramp (919’ elevation) – CLOSED, expected to reopen in January and remain open through the rest of winter.
• Whitcomb Creek Park Boat Ramp (970’ elevation) – CLOSED
Hills Creek reservoir
• Bingham Boat Ramp (1520’ elevation) – CLOSED
• CT Beach Boat Ramp (1507’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Packard Boat Ramp (1441’ elevation) – OPEN, expected to be open through winter
Lookout Point reservoir
This location is operating in compliance with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2024 Biological Opinion that requires USACE to reduce reservoir levels in the fall.
• Thistle Creek Boat Ramp (919’ elevation) – CLOSED, expected to reopen in January and remain open through the rest of winter.
• Black Canyon Boat Ramp (900’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Hampton Landing Boat Ramp (911’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Meridian Park Boat Ramp (911’ elevation) – CLOSED
• Signal Point Boat Ramp (821’ elevation) – OPEN, likely closed mid-October and expected to reopen in January and remain open through the rest of winter.