PORTLAND, Ore. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers alerts boaters and other users of Foster Reservoir near Sweet Home, Ore., that the reservoir’s normal spring refill schedule has changed again this year to accommodate ongoing fish passage research. The reservoir’s summer elevation will also be slightly lower again this summer.
The Corps is maintaining the reservoir at an elevation of 616 feet above sea level for the entire months of March and April, and then will start refilling to a summer elevation of 635 feet at the beginning of May; about two feet lower than usual.
These reservoir elevations help attract migrating juvenile fish to a notched wall segment called a fish weir in one of the dam’s spillway bays.
These weir operations are part of a study that is helping the Corps determine how to better operate Foster Dam to improve the survival of spring Chinook salmon, winter steelhead and other fish species in the South Santiam River Basin.
The study has revealed new details about run timing, distribution of fish in the reservoir, and preferred passage routes through the dam. The Corps is continuing research this year to get more specific information to help with decisions on long term operations for fish passage.
Release no. 15-010