News Release
| Release Number: | 01-059 |
| Dated: | 4/26/2001 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-Warmer temperatures and the knowledge about how water that is too warm can affect fish has prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin releasing more water from its Lost Creek Reservoir on the Rogue River.
Beginning late Sunday, April 29, the Corps will increase water releases from the reservoir in an effort to lower the temperatures in the Rogue River, said Corps hydraulic engineer Russ Davidson.
"In a water-tight year, this is how we are attempting to conserve water while protecting the spring chinook," he said. We are concerned about protecting the adult salmon migrating upstream from elevated water temperatures, which might cause an epizootic (disease that spreads quickly) outbreak. In years past, this disease has decimated a large percentage of the runs.
The dam's intake tower regulates water temperatures by combining lake water from different depths in a mixing chamber and releasing it downstream. This cools the normally too-warm summer water of the Rogue River so that fish can flourish. "Corps-funded research on how river temperatures can affect fish has allowed us to make this call for increased releases," Davidson said. The decision was made in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, he added.
The increased water releases will vary day to day and will be weather dependent. "In other words," Davidson said, "on warmer days, more water will be released; on cooler days, less water will be released." Changes to the water releases will be made in the evening beginning at 8 p.m. and continue into the night as needed to make the change gradually. Davidson said the releases will not exceed 3,000 cubic feet per second or drop below the minimum flow, which varies over the next few months. Following is the schedule for the minimum flows: May 1 to May 15, 1,000 cfs; May 16 to May 31, 1,300 cfs; June 1 to June 10, 1,500 cfs; June 11 to June 30, 1,800 cfs.
As a service to users along the Rogue River, the Corps will record daily averages for water releases on a toll-free phone line: 1-800-472-2434. This information will be updated each night at midnight. Additional information also may be found on the Corps' water management website at http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nwp/. Once at this site, click on "reports" then "Lost Creek."
Corps projects in the Rogue 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.