News Release
| Release Number: | 08-158 |
| Dated: | 10/9/2008 |
| Contact: | Amy Echols, 503-808-4510 |
Corps hosts information open houses for area residents
PORTLAND, Ore. – Foster Reservoir will have limited water storage capacity and the communities downstream of Foster Dam can expect to see higher water levels in the South Santiam River through mid-January while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes repairs to one of the spillway gates.
“We must act now to repair this gate,” said Portland District Commander Col. Steven Miles. “This will reduce flood risks from heavy seasonal rain, especially if combined with snow melt.”
To maintain the reservoir at an elevation that safely supports repairs to Gate 1 and to reduce the pressure of stored water on the remaining three gates, the Corps will draw down the reservoir to below normal minimum pool.
The Corps typically uses storage in the reservoir to minimize downstream flooding during rain events. However, the repair of Gate 1 will diminish storage by about 50 percent from mid-October to mid-January.
The Corps will release water coming into Foster Reservoir through the three remaining gates. These three gates also need repair but can be operated in a limited manner until their repair later in 2009.
“The bottom line is that what comes into the reservoir must go out immediately,” said Erik Petersen, operations manager for the Corps' 13 Willamette Valley dams. “There might be a
lot of water to release or there might be a little, depending on inflows. We doexpect higher river flows downstream after a heavy rain.”
The repaired gate will restore flood protection benefits and allow the Corps to manage the reservoir as usual.
The Corps developed a comprehensive plan to respond to several types of emergency conditions that might arise depending on the anticipated inflow, functionality of gates and progress of repairs. In addition, the Corps is meeting with local and regional emergency response agencies to share information about the repair project and winter operations; the Corps will update those agencies as repairs progress.
With this repair, the Corps plans to fill the reservoir in the spring to at least elevation 622, allowing use of the Sunnyside and Gedney boat ramps for the 2009 summer recreation season.
The Corps is hosting two open houses for the communities downstream of Foster Dam to discuss the gate repair, changes to winter operations and anticipated flow levels. Corps leadership and staff will provide information and answer questions.
Tuesday, October 28, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Sweet Home Senior Center, 880 18th Ave.
Wednesday, October 29, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Lebanon High School Common Room, 1700 S. 5th St.
For additional information on the Foster Dam gate repair project and changes to winter operations, the public is encouraged to visit: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/v/foster_status.asp.