News Release
| Release Number: | 97-007 |
| Dated: | 1/7/1997 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore-- For the second time in a year, the Willamette Falls Locks at West Linn, Ore., has reopened to river traffic following a bout of heavy rain and high water. The locks reopened today. The locks are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, closed the lock system to both river traffic and visitors Saturday, Dec. 28, when the Willamette River threatened to pour over the lock gate at the upper end of the locks. Only minor clean-up and re-installation of a hydraulic unit were required to get the locks operational.
The locks were closed for similar reasons last February. Flood waters caused considerable electrical damage, deposited a large amount of silt in the lock chambers and damaged the docks on the upriver and downriver sides of the locks. Total cost of the repairs was over $280,000. The locks remained closed for four months following that round of flooding.
The Willamette Falls Locks were constructed in the early 1870s by the People's Transportation Company to move river traffic around the falls. The Corps purchased the locks in 1915. In 1974 the project was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Willamette Falls Locks holds the distinction of being Oregon's first water resource development project.
Visitors are welcome to visit the Historical Information Center, located in the original lock master's office. Displays include exhibits describing life on the Willamette before and after construction of the locks. The center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The locks have historically handled about 4,500 commercial vessels and 2,900 recreational vessels each year. The Corps provides commercial and recreational lockages at Willamette Falls Locks 365 days per year.
During periods of high water, boaters wishing to use the locks should call the lockmaster's office before setting out to be sure the locks are open. The phone number is (503) 656-3381.