News Release
| Release Number: | 00-115 |
| Dated: | 6/28/2000 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently released its final operating plans for Applegate and Lost Creek lakes in the Rogue River Basin.
Variations in the water release schedules reflect rainfall and runoff forecasts, as well as prescribed water releases for downstream fisheries protection. Revisions also were made to incorporate comments received at the public meetings held in May and June.
The Corps schedules its water releases to help meet target pool elevations and fisheries needs. The summer operating plans for Lost Creek Lake call for the Corps to release 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water until the end of June, and between 1,500 cfs and 1,600 cfs of water through July--about half as much water as last year’s flows. Flows from the dam will gradually increase in mid-August to 2,000 cfs to minimize fall Chinook mortality. In mid-September, the Corps will gradually reduce releases, passing only inflow, which is expected to be less than 1,000 cfs, also to meet fishery objectives.
Lost Creek Lake’s target elevation for June 30 is 1,852 feet. The average elevation for this time of year (Fourth of July) is 1,858 feet. The plan is to gradually drop the lake’s elevation down to 1,812 feet by Sept. 20. For the Labor Day weekend, Lost Creek Lake’s elevation is expected to be at about 1,821 feet, about one foot higher than the average elevation of 1,820 feet for that time of year.
The Corps’ plans for Applegate Lake also reflect a need to meet target pool elevations throughout the summer. The Corps will maintain a water release of 275 cfs from June 30 to mid-September. Releases will gradually increase to 356 cfs by Oct. 8 to support distribution of spawning fall Chinook; after Oct. 15, the releases will gradually be reduced to 230 cfs.
Applegate Lake’s target pool elevation for June 30 is 1,979 feet. The Corps’ plan is to gradually drop the elevation to 1,889 feet by Nov. 15. The average elevation for this time of year (Fourth of July) is 1,977 feet. For the Labor Day weekend, Applegate Lake is expected to be at about 1,947 feet, about three feet lower than the average elevation of 1,950 feet. The boat ramps and docks on the lakes will be usable through the Labor Day weekend, Corps hydrologist Russ Davidson said.
"It’s a delicate balancing act," said Davidson. ‘We must operate our projects first and foremost for our authorized flood damage reduction and fisheries purposes, but we also recognize the vast number of river users who depend on us to balance our operations as equitably as possible," he said. "We do our best to develop our plans to meet as many needs as possible throughout the summer, optimizing our near-average water levels."
Corps projects in the Rogue River Basin are operated to serve multiple needs: flood damage reduction, irrigation, fisheries, water supply, water quality and recreation. The Corps’ goal is to effectively balance these competing needs to serve the region and its people.