News Release
| Release Number: | 08-076 |
| Dated: | 5/16/2008 |
| Contact: | Scott Clemans, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has increased the flow of water from Applegate and William L. Jess Dams in the Rogue River Basin.
Applegate Dam is now releasing about 2,500 cubic feet per second, up from 1,000 earlier in the week. William L. Jess Dam is releasing about 5,600 cubic feet per second from Lost Creek Lake rather than the recent 4,200.
These higher than usual flows could last for a couple of weeks, said Laurie Rice, a Corps hydraulic engineer who oversees reservoir regulation for the Rogue River Basin Project.
“We deliberately delayed filling the two reservoirs, so both are still about three percent below full right now,” Rice said. “We’re going to use the remaining storage to take the edge off the runoff caused by the extremely warm weather we have now.”
Rice said she expects both reservoirs to fill by early next week. Continued warm weather acting on the ripe snowpack may mean that high flows continue for some time after that.
“Irrigators have been calling the Oregon Water Resources Department, asking if they can put their pumps in now,” Rice said. “We ask them to be patient – we should have a better sense of longer-term water levels and river conditions in about a week.”
Rogue River Basin Project manager Jim Buck encouraged all river users to use caution due to the high river levels.
The Rogue River Basin Project provides flood damage reduction, fishery and wildlife enhancement, irrigation, improved water quality, municipal and industrial water supply, hydroelectric power production and recreation opportunities for the Rogue Valley.
For more information about the project, please visit the Portland District’s Web site at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/r/home.asp.