12 May 2026

Willamette Valley reservoirs face drought, Army Corps to discuss at public meetings

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. 

30 Sep 2025

Limited boat ramp availability at Willamette Valley reservoirs this fall and winter

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

10 May 2023

Corps to begin deep drawdowns at Green Peter, Lookout Point

Beginning in June, the Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin to gradually drawdown Lookout Point and Green Peter reservoirs to historically low levels. The goal of these reservoir “drawdowns,” which are part of an injunction ordered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, is to increase juvenile spring Chinook and steelhead survival and passage through the reservoirs and past the dams.

8 Feb 2022

Delayed refill at Corps reservoirs to impact boating, recreation

Army water managers will delay refilling Cougar and Fall Creek reservoirs and conduct spill operations at Foster Dam as required by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon’s Willamette Valley injunction because of recent litigation. The delay at Cougar and Fall Creek will impact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) ability to refill the reservoirs to their normal summer levels, which will impact boating and recreation activities.