Corps to host North Santiam fish project info sessions

PORTLAND, Ore. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host two information sessions in late September to update North Santiam Basin businesses, residents and visitors about the status of efforts to help endangered fish species at Detroit Dam.

The first session will be held Monday, Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel & Convention Center, 3301 Market St. NE, Salem. The second session will be held Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Santiam Junior/Senior High School, 265 SW Evergreen St., Mill City.

The content of both sessions will be identical. Corps program and project managers will review the operation of the 13 Willamette Valley dams (including Detroit and Big Cliff) for competing water uses, the 2008 Biological Opinions and their recommendations for endangered fish species, and the status of Corps efforts to implement those recommendations on the North Santiam.

The Corps’ 13 Willamette Valley dams contribute to a water resource management system that provides flood risk management, power generation, water quality improvement, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat and recreation on the Willamette River and many of its tributaries. Since their completion, the dams have cumulatively prevented more than $22 billion in flood damages in the Willamette Valley. For more information, visit http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/WillametteValley.aspx.

For an overview of the Corps’ efforts to implement the 2008 Biological Opinions, visit http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environment/Fish/BiOpWillamette.aspx.