News Release
| Release Number: | 01-114 |
| Dated: | 7/31/2001 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- Throughout the spring and summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers successfully regulated extremely low water levels in the Lost Creek Reservoir in such a way that all the authorized purposes were met and a deadly warm-water fisheries disease was kept at bay much longer than expected. Once again the Corps is working hard to meet the needs of fisheries and at the same time plan for next year's water supply in the Rogue River Basin.
Is there still a way to modify the water management plans for Lost Creek to further improve project benefits? That was the question discussed last week as Corps and other members of the Rogue Basin Water Management Advisory Group revisited the water management plans for the Rogue River Basin. Members of the advisory group include: Oregon Water Resources Department, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Marine Board.
The answer? Yes. On Aug. 1, the Corps will increase its releases from the current 1,200 cubic feet per second out of Lost Creek up to 1,800 cubic feet per second-10 days earlier than originally planned. The increase will hit at the peak of the fall chinook run, providing cooler water and more of it, which normally decreases disease and causes fish to move upriver more quickly.
The Corps will hold the releases at 1,800 cfs until Sept. 10. Beginning on Sept. 10, the Corps will begin gradually reducing the releases for fall chinook salmon so that by Oct. 10 the releases are down to 800 cfs.
The situation at Applegate Reservoir on the Applegate River is slightly different. The Corps slightly increased its releases out of Applegate Reservoir on July 25. Inflow into the reservoir had not dropped off as much as expected because of a mid-month rainstorm. Therefore, Davidson said a small increase in releases was warranted. Releases from Applegate Dam increased from 55 cfs to 65 cfs and they will remain at that level until Sept. 30. Biologists expect this additional water also will provide some benefit to migrating fall chinook.