News Release
| Release Number: | 99-047 |
| Dated: | 5/20/1999 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has stopped filling Lost Creek and Applegate lakes until June 15. This decision was made after the Corps listened to a number of community members' concerns at water management meetings on May 17 and May 18.
With a Rogue Basin snowpack twice as deep as normal and expectations of the highest runoff since 1929, the Corps had earlier proposed to delay filling the two lakes until June 1, although Lost Creek and Applegate lakes are normally full by about May 1. After hearing comments from members of the public, which included the rafting community, Corps hydrologists worked with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to modify the plan to keep the lakes at the current levels until June 15, said Corps hydrologist and reservoir regulator Russ Davidson. Even with the change, all boat ramps at the lakes are fully accessible.
"We were pleased to have so much public input on the proposed plans. Though we have to develop our water management plans in accordance with the authorized flood damage reduction uses of the lakes, we do take into account the expressed needs of all river users and, when possible, modify the plans to balance those needs," Davidson said.
Currently, the Corps is releasing about 3,614 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water from Lost Creek Lake. Continuing to release the amount of water entering the lake--instead of holding the water to fill--will provide storage space to capture the peak portion of high inflows. Even with this action, unusually high flows will occur this summer. All river users are urged to use additional caution due to the high flows.
The Corps coordinates its spring and summer operating plans with the Oregon Water Resources Department, ODFW, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the State Marine Board, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
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.