PORTLAND, Ore. – Army water managers will hold two virtual information sessions on Tuesday, May 19, to discuss severe drought conditions and the summer forecast for the Willamette Valley’s 13 reservoirs.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, it is the sixth driest in terms of water year precipitation to-date since 1980 in the Willamette Valley. Low rainfall and snowpack have created widespread drought conditions across the region, impacting the efforts to refill the reservoirs and keep them full.
“It’s always a delicate dance to balance all the Congressional purposes of these dams and reservoirs,” said Salina Hart, Chief of reservoir regulation and water quality with USACE’s Portland District. “Because of these historic lows, it’s even more challenging to achieve a balance between purposes like recreation, hydropower, irrigation, wildlife habitat, and downstream river flows for water quality and fish survival.”
Despite the low water levels, officials note that without the 13 dams capturing and storing the limited rain and snowmelt received so far, the entire Willamette River Basin would currently be in a much worse condition.
"We know how deeply the communities of the Willamette Valley value this river system and rely on these reservoirs, so we are doing everything we can to carefully manage every drop of water we have," said Salina Hart, chief of reservoir regulation and water quality. “Our priority is to support the people, the local economy, and the environment by balancing these critical, competing needs through the difficult months ahead."
The public information session will include the forecast for summer reservoir levels and time for questions from the public.
🗓️ Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Session 1: Noon-1 p.m.
Session 2: 6-7 p.m.
🌐Click here to join the meeting online
Meeting ID: 993 838 686 442
Passcode: f775Qk9o
📞 Dial in by phone
1-601-262-2433
Conference ID: 124 893 446#
Reservoir Conditions
USACE’s “teacup diagrams” provide real-time water elevations for USACE-managed reservoirs. The Portland District encourages the public to check the “teacup diagrams” before heading out to recreate to determine boat ramp availability: https://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nwp/teacup/willamette/
Overall, the Willamette Valley system of dams and reservoirs is 68% full as of May 11. Specific reservoirs are listed below.
Blue River: 87% full
Cottage Grove: 88% full
Cougar: 19% full
Detroit: 92%
Dorena: 91% full
Fall Creek: 97% full
Fern Ridge: 84% full
Foster: 7% full
Green Peter: 64% full
Hills Creek: 33% full
Lookout Point: 72% full
Year-to-date precipitation: 85% of normal
Snow-water equivalent (amount of water in snow): 4% of normal
Background
USACE manages reservoir inflows based on a “rule curve,” which establishes the authorized maximum water elevation on a given day to balance flood risk management with water storage for other purposes. USACE intentionally keeps the Willamette Valley’s reservoirs lower in the winter to reduce downstream flooding risks, and refills them in the spring to prepare for summer and ensure adequate river flows.
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Contact
Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Media Desk
503-808-4510
DLL-CENWP-MEDIA-DESK@usace.army.mil