News Release
| Release Number: | 98-027 |
| Dated: | 4/6/1998 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- Two agencies, working together to determine if there is a better way of using water stored in certain Willamette Valley reservoirs, are seeking public input at their second round of public workshops later this month.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) are working together through a four-year study-The Willamette Basin Reservoir Study-to identify existing and future water needs and demands in the Willamette Valley. To meet those demands, they also are evaluating the benefits and tradeoffs associated with several different ways of allocating stored water and operating the Corps' 13 Willamette Valley reservoirs over the next 50 years.
In April, during the second round of public workshops, the agencies will present information and solicit feedback on ways of allocating water that emphasize various uses. Strategic options for allocating stored water from the lakes range from operating the lakes primarily for out-of-stream demands to fish and wildlife to recreational uses to balancing the needs of all users.
Members of the public are invited to share their thoughts in small group discussions on the advantages and disadvantages of the emphasis areas. The meeting dates and locations are: April 21, 1998 (Tuesday) 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. South Salem High School Cafeteria, South Side 1910 Church S.E. Salem, Oregon April 29, 1998 (Wednesday) 7 p.m.-9 p.m. South Albany High School Cafeteria 3705 Columbus S.E. Albany, Oregon April 23, 1998 (Thursday) 7p.m. -9 p.m. Robert Duncan Plaza 3rd Floor Conference Center 333 S.W. First Avenue Portland, Oregon April 30, 1998 (Thursday) 7 p.m.-9 p.m. South Eugene High School Cafeteria 400 E. 19th Eugene, Oregon
The Willamette Basin is one of the nation's fastest growing areas. New residents and job-creating businesses will place even more demand on stored water. Through the study, which will be completed in 2000, the agencies are considering a wide range of anticipated growth in water uses during the next 50 years, including irrigation, flows for fisheries and water quality needs, municipal and industrial water supply and recreation.
They also will analyze how water released from the reservoirs is now used, determine how well this current allocation system will meet future needs and consider other allocation systems that may better serve the long-term needs of the Willamette Basin.
The Corps operates the Willamette Valley lakes primarily for flood damage reduction and hydropower generation. During the summer, the lakes also are managed for irrigation, fish and wildlife protection, navigation and water quality. The Corps and OWRD will not address new reservoir construction, nor will they look at changing current flood damage reduction services of the projects.
Water stored in Corps lakes has many uses. Some communities in the basin get their drinking water from the Willamette River system. A number of major employers use river water in their manufacturing processes and farmers and nursery operators use water for irrigating their crops. In addition, Corps lakes also support recreational activities, such as boating, fishing and windsurfing. Thousands of people also fish, canoe and sail on the Willamette River and its tributaries.
Many cities, districts and industries are providing financial and technical support to the Willamette Basin Reservoir Study. Also, stakeholders affected by water resource issues in the Willamette Basin-environmentalists, fishing and recreational interests, industry and federal, state and municipal government employees -are serving on an advisory board, which helps the Corps and OWRD streamline their efforts to specific future water needs of the region. Public comments from the workshop will help shape the development of final water allocation options and strategies. Additionally, a final public hearing is planned for the fall of 1999.
If you would like your name included on a mailing list for more information about the study, or for more information about the workshops, call the Corps' Matt Rea at (503) 808-4732 or OWRD's Tom Kline at (503) 378-8455, ext. 234. You may also find more information about the study on this web site: http://www.wrd.state.or.us/programs/will_res/index.html.