News Release
| Release Number: | 99-109 |
| Dated: | 12/15/1999 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. – The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, announced today that agency facilities will be closed to the general public several days during the holiday season.
All Corps visitor facilities and some fishing areas will be closed to public access Dec. 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
At Bonneville Dam, most fishing areas and all public facilities will be closed during these dates. They will reopen at 6 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 26 – following the Christmas Day closure, and at 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan.2 – following the New Years Day closure. Only the Hamilton Island and North Shore fishing areas will remain open throughout the closures. Visitor centers are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except on the specified dates.
The Dalles and John Day dams also will be closed Dec. 26, Dec. 30 and Jan. 2. Public areas adjacent to the dams will reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 27 – following the Christmas weekend closure, and at 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3 – following the New Years weekend closure. Parks, campgrounds and fishing areas upriver of The Dalles and John Day dams will remain open daily.
In the Willamette Valley and Rogue River Basin Corps parks and fishing areas will remain accessible to visitors throughout the winter.
The Willamette Falls Locks remains closed to boat traffic due to on-going maintenance work on one of the chamber gates. Operators hope to reopen the facility Tuesday, Dec. 21. When operating, the locks are open to river traffic 365 days a year. Winter hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. A historic visitor center is located at the locks; tours are available by calling (541) 374-8820.
The Corps of Engineers invites the public to stop at its visitor centers on all the other days of the year.