News Release
| Release Number: | 05-040 |
| Dated: | 3/16/2005 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.--The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on its plan to repair Fern Ridge Dam on the Long Tom River near Eugene, Ore., and the expected impacts of the work.
The Corps prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) addressing the anticipated impacts to endangered species, cultural resources and socioeconomics. The EA also describes the repair option that has been selected. The goal is to accomplish the repair as quickly as possible with the least impact to the environment and the surrounding communities.
The EA is available on the Corps’ website at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/fernridge/home.asp.
Written comments must be received by April 15, 2005, and should be mailed to: District Engineer, Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR, 97208. Hard copies of the EA also may be requested by calling Marci Cook at (503) 808-4765.
The Corps is executing an aggressive repair strategy with the goal of completing repairs before the start of the 2005/2006-flood damage reduction season in November.
“What we are doing is compressing a two-year construction schedule into one year,” said Portland District Engineer Col. Richard Hobernicht. Though a November 2005 completion is the goal, Hobernicht acknowledged that weather-related delays and other unknown factors could delay completion of the repairs. “We may not complete the work until 2006,” he said, meaning communities would be without the reservoir for a second year. “Be assured, though, everyone I have spoken with has committed to do all they can to meet the one-year schedule.”
The repair work, estimated to cost about $30 million, will begin by early June 2005. More information about Fern Ridge Dam and why repairs are needed can be found on the Corps’ Top Issues web site at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/fernridge/home.asp