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  • May

    Southern Oregon and the Rogue River Basin are experiencing another dry spring as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District struggles to refill two reservoirs for the recreation season. Corps operated reservoirs in the Rogue depend on spring and early summer rainfall to refill and a severe lack of precipitation is hampering those efforts. This is how Lost Creek Lake looked on April 21, 2021.

    Rogue River Basin seeing poor water year - Corps holds virtual meeting

    Southern Oregon and the Rogue River Basin are experiencing another dry spring as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District struggles to refill two reservoirs for the recreation season.
  • Lookout Point Dam's reservoir is currently 52% full, as of May 17 (photo from May 5). System-wide reservoir storage are 33% below the rule curve. Year-to-date precipitation in the Valley is 76% of normal. As warm, dry weather continues, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District is seeing a worsening water year as it strives to refill 13 Willamette Valley reservoirs for the upcoming recreation season. The Willamette Valley Project depends on spring and early summer rainfall to refill and lack of precipitation is making it difficult to fill multiple reservoirs.

    Poor water year continues - Corps hosts info session

    As warm, dry weather continues, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District is seeing a worsening water year as it strives to refill 13 Willamette Valley reservoirs for the upcoming recreation season.
  • A sailboat uses a lock on the Columbia River. Motorized recreational boaters needing to pass through the three lower Columbia River dams must follow a lock schedule taking effect May 15. Commercial vessels will continue to lock through upon arrival except during the times specified for recreational vessels.

    Corps announces summer recreational lock schedule

    Motorized recreational boaters needing to pass through the three lower Columbia River dams must follow a lock schedule taking effect May 15. Commercial vessels will continue to lock through upon arrival except during the times specified for recreational vessels.
  • If you've forgotten your life jacket, borrow ours! An adult can drown in 60 seconds, but it can take 10 minutes for a strong swimmer to put on a life jacket while in the water. The life jackets we loan are essential safety equipment for visitors to our recreation areas, so return them when you're done. Our life jacket loaner stations are listed below. Life jackets are available on a first come, first served basis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage people to disinfect loaner life jackets before use as recommended by the U.S Coast Guard.

    Summer brings hot temps, water sports and potential danger

    Last year, 27 Oregonians died in recreational boating-related incidents – the most in three decades. Incidents overall spiked in 2020. Of 96 fatal and non-fatal occurrences – a 20-year high – three happened at Portland District reservoirs. The Oregon State Marine Board tracks these and officials attribute the increase – in part – to the pandemic.

  • April

    A pier at a lake of water, with hills and a blue sky in the background.

    Corps anticipates insufficient water year

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District is anticipating an insufficient water year as it refills its 13 Willamette Valley and two Rogue River Basin reservoirs for the upcoming recreation season.

  • March

    Detroit Dam, 45 miles southeast of Salem, Ore. sits across the North Santiam River. It has six spillway gates that are 42 feet wide by 31 feet tall. In 2020, as a part of Portland District's comprehensive dam safety program, staff completed an updated seismic hazard analysis for Detroit Dam to better understand the potential earthquake ground motions at the site. Corps engineers used this his hazard study to analyze the performance of the spillway gates and found the risk to be higher than we previously assessed. Structural analysis of the spillway gates has shown there is a possibility for buckling of the spillway gates' supporting arms, which could result in an uncontrolled release of water from the dam. Because Detroit Dam is located upstream of many communities including the state capital of Salem, Oregon, there is potential for devastating flooding to affect large portions of the narrow North Santiam River canyon and urban areas.

    Corps considers plan to reduce Detroit Reservoir maximum pool elevation

    Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considers a plan to reduce Detroit Reservoir’s maximum pool elevation by five feet beginning this summer to reduce the likelihood of overstressing the spillway gates during a large earthquake, which might impact boat ramp access in some years.