News Release
| Release Number: | 99-020 |
| Dated: | 3/9/1999 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- Visitors to the Lost Creek and Applegate lakes in the Rogue Basin during March and April will see lower lake levels than normal at this time of year.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the dams, usually begins to fill the Lost Creek reservoir about Jan. 1, and the Applegate reservoir about Feb. 1. Both are usually full by about May 1. This year, because of the near record level snowpack and potential for quick snowmelt and heavy runoff, the Corps has stopped filling the two lakes to maintain flood storage space.
Applegate and Lost Creek lakes will be 10 feet to 15 feet lower than usual at this time of year for at least the next month. "Even though we aren't filling the reservoirs as early," said Russ Davidson, who schedules reservoir operations for the Corps, "Lost Creek and Applegate will both be full for the Memorial Day weekend."
About one-half of the available flood damage reduction storage space is currently full at both reservoirs. Corps operators do not want to take the risk of filling the remaining space. Because water that cannot be stored must be released, the public will notice additional water in the Applegate and Rogue rivers if the weather warms before the lakes begin filling again. Currently Davidson expects to begin filling Applegate in mid-March and Lost Creek about April 1. Lake conditions will be monitored closely and changes made as appropriate.