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A family recreates at Cottage Grove Reservoir, southeast of Eugene, Ore., during sunset, July 10, 2014. The land-use plan (Master Plan or MP) for Cottage Grove and Dorena lakes is out-of-date, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is in the process of updating it. This master plan will guide the management Corps-managed lands and waters of Cottage Grove and Dorena Lakes for the next 20 years.

Planning for the Future

Master Plans

Master plans are required for civil works projects administered by USACE and provide natural resource management planning strategies and ensure adherence to federal regulations and national goals in a comprehensive and consolidated manner.  They establish a vision for future natural resource management and guide responsible stewardship and sustainable use of project resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Fern Ridge Lake Master Plan

The Fern Ridge Master Plan and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents conceptually establishes and guides the orderly development, administration, maintenance, preservation, enhancement, and management of all natural, cultural, and recreational resources at Fern Ridge Lake.

About the Project
A family recreates at Cottage Grove Reservoir, southeast of Eugene, Ore., during sunset, July 10, 2014

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is updating the Master Plan with NEPA documentation for Fern Ridge Lake in the Willamette Valley. Master Plans (MP) are required for most civil works projects and serve as the strategic land use management document that guides management and development of all project recreation, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of the project. Items covered in an MP include, but are not limited to, water, fish and wildlife, vegetation, cultural, aesthetics, interpretation/education, and recreation. USACE managed lands and waters (including those leased to others and easements) are all considered. The goals of the Master Plan include:

  • Identify the best management practices to respond to regional needs, resource capabilities and sustainability, and expressed public interests consistent with authorized project purposes.
  • Protect and manage project natural and cultural resources through sustainable environmental stewardship programs.
  • Identify outdoor recreation opportunities that support project purposes and public demands created by the project itself while sustaining project natural resources.
  • Recognize the particular qualities, characteristics, and potentials of the project.
  • Provide consistency and compatibility with national objectives and other state and regional goals and programs.

Related Links

Related Missions

Mid-Columbia Projects

Rogue Projects

Public Participation

All Fern Ridge Lake Master Plan Public Scoping Meetings scheduled for October 2025 have been canceled due to the government shutdown.  This includes the:

  • October 22 virtual meeting
  • October 23 meeting at the Willamette High School in Eugene, OR
  • October 25 meeting at the Elmira Elementary School in Elmira, OR

Master plan development is a minimum two-year process for each watershed, with the first of six regional plans initiated in 2021.  All remaining master planning efforts will be initiated in the coming  years and are dependent on funding and other factors. 

  • Foster and Green Peter Lakes Master Plan and Environmental Assessment - Final plan completed April 2025
  • Cottage Grove and Dorena Lakes Master Plan and Environmental Assessment - Final completed August 2025  
  • Fern Ridge Lake Master Plan and NEPA 
  • Lookout Point, Dexter, Hills Creek and Fall Creek Lakes Master Plan and NEPA 
  • Blue River and Cougar Lakes Master Plan and NEPA 
  • Detroit and Big Cliff Lakes Master Plan and NEPA 

 

Master Plans for the Mid-Columbia and Rogue Rivers

Master plans improve natural resource management planning strategies and ensure adherence to federal regulations and national goals in a comprehensive and consolidated manner.

Portland District updated the Mid-Columbia River and the Rogue River Basin master plans in 2020. This included an integrated environmental assessment, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

The master plans and integrated environmental assessments address elements such as hydrology, fish and wildlife resources, ecological setting, cultural resources, and recreation facilities, among many other things. Outdated land classifications, sustainable natural resource management, boundary encroachments, aquatic and terrestrial invasive species management, and federal and state listed threatened and endangered species were also addressed. Updated master plans incorporate public comments and improve natural resource management planning strategies for the next 20 years.

Mid-Columbia River Regional Master Plan

Portland District completed this regional master plan and integrated environmental assessment (EA) for Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day and Willow Creek Projects. These projects begin at Bonneville Lock and Dam at river mile 146 and extend to the upper end of Lake Umatilla at approximately river mile 290. Along this reach, The Dalles Lock & Dam is located at river mile 192, and the John Day Lock & Dam is located at river mile 216.5. Willow Creek Dam is located at river mile 52.4 on Willow Creek, a tributary to the Columbia River at river mile 250. The final master plan and integrated environmental assessment can be downloaded here (please note the document is large and may take some time to download). Additionally, the Environmental Assessment resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) which can be found here. 

Rogue River Basin Regional Master Plan

Portland District completed a regional master plan and integrated environmental assessment (EA) for Lost Creek, Applegate, and Elk Creek projects. Lost Creek and Elk Creek projects are approximately 28 miles northeast of Medford, Oregon. Applegate Project is about 28 miles southwest of Medford, Oregon. The final master plan and integrated environmental assessment can be downloaded here (please note the document is large and may take some time to download). Additionally, the Environmental Assessment resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) which can be found here. 

The National Environmental Policy Act

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is one of the nation’s oldest environmental laws that encourages federal agencies to make environmentally responsible decisions. The law requires all federal agencies to consider and disclose the environmental effects of their proposed actions in an environmental assessment. The Citizen's Guide to NEPA explains this law clearly and in detail, as well as how to effectively submit your input.

To satisfy the requirements of the law, the Corps will be preparing an integrated environmental assessment for the master plan. The Corps prepares an environmental assessment to assist in the evaluation of the significance of environmental impacts of a proposed action. The environmental assessment will include brief discussions of the need for the proposal, possible alternatives, environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives and a listing of agencies and persons consulted.

Collecting the right level of information at the right time is important to developing this plan. This requires early and frequent engagement of all affected federal, state and local agencies, affected tribes, and interested groups and individuals.

Examples of areas for evaluation in the environmental assessment include: air quality, water quality, biological environment, socioeconomics, land use, recreation, aesthetics, historic and cultural resources, and transportation.