11 Dec 2025

Public comment period extended, additional public info session added for Detroit Reservoir deep drawdown, potential end to Willamette Valley hydropower

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District is extending the public comment period by 15 days and adding an in-person information session in Stayton, Ore., for a draft study that considers changes to how the agency operates its Willamette Valley dams.

16 May 2025

Corps opens public comment period for ending hydropower production, deeper Detroit reservoir drawdowns

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, is accepting public comments May 16 through June 6 as part of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).

15 Mar 2021

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.

9 Nov 2020

Corps modifies operations to improve salmon passage at Detroit Dam

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is modifying operations at Detroit Dam to improve juvenile salmon downstream passage survival by releasing water exclusively through the upper regulating outlets when downstream passage rates are high.

30 Oct 2020

Spillway gate rehab closes Detroit Dam road

A second season of rehabilitation of the Detroit Dam spillway gates begins Nov. 2, which will close the road on top of the dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers anticipates the work window and road closure to last through February 28, 2021.

16 Jul 2018

Corps releases report addressing public comments for Detroit Dam fish passage project

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed its analysis of the public’s comments regarding the Corps’ proposed plan to provide downstream fish passage, including temperature control, at Detroit Dam and Lake. The report is available here: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll7/id/7438. This report describes the public scoping process, provides analysis on comments collected, and concludes with a summary on how these comments will be incorporated into the project’s Environmental Impact Statement analysis. Public scoping is the process by which federal agencies solicit public input on the scope of issues and alternatives the agency should address in an EIS as a part of the National Environmental Policy Act.