PORTLAND, Ore. – Water managers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will hold a virtual public information meeting July 23 to share the latest summer water forecast and discuss ongoing drought conditions across the Willamette Valley’s 13 federal reservoirs.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this year is the sixth-driest across the valley in terms of overall rainfall and snowpack since 1980. The historically low water levels have created widespread drought conditions across the region, making it difficult to refill the reservoirs and keep them at normal summer levels.
"We are stretching every drop as far as it can go, balancing upstream reservoir storage and downstream flows needs in support of the authorized purposes and legal requirements,” said Salina Hart, chief of reservoir regulation and water quality with USACE’s Portland District. “We are committed to being completely open about how we make these tough decisions to hold or release water, and this public meeting is part of that transparency."
Through the year, USACE must balance the congressionally authorized purposes of these dams: The dams must hold and release water to manage flood risk, generate hydropower, supply irrigation, and maintain adequate downstream river flows for fish survival.
Public Meeting
Thursday, July 23
Noon to 1 p.m.
🌐Click here to join the meeting online
Meeting ID: 993 512 475 785
📞 Dial in by phone
601-262-2433
Conference ID: 793 097 017#
Reservoir Conditions
The Portland District encourages the public to check real-time reservoir elevations before recreating. Real-time data is available on the district's website: https://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nwp/teacup/willamette/.
Reservoir/Percent Full (as of July 14, 2026)
Fall Creek: 78%
Detroit: 77%
Dorena: 80%
Cottage Grove: 68%
Blue River: 53%
Fern Ridge: 73%
Lookout Point: 40%
Green Peter: 23%
Hills Creek: 23%
Cougar: 20%
Foster: 96%
Overall Willamette Valley System: 48% full
Reservoir Operations
USACE manages reservoir inflows based on a “rule curve,” which establishes the authorized maximum water elevation on a given day. This curve helps balance flood risk management with water storage for other authorized purposes, such as hydropower and irrigation supply. 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.
Release no. 26-025