News Release
| Release Number: | 05-148 |
| Dated: | 11/4/2005 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites community members to help celebrate the completion of repairs to Fern Ridge Dam.
At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, the Corps will host a ribbon cutting and dam re-dedication ceremony at Orchard Point Park. The event will feature brief remarks by Rep. Peter DeFazio and Sen. Gordon Smith, as well as speakers from local organizations who weathered the loss of a reservoir for a season and came out stronger on the other side.
“Our goal was to repair the dam in one season to minimize the impacts to the locals, as well as return the benefit of the dam to the communities,” said project manager Mark Dasso. “While we met our goal, we realize the one season without a reservoir was still a hardship on many people. We sincerely appreciate the support and patience of area businesses and citizens.”
The Corps’ Portland District Commander Col. Thomas O’Donovan agreed. “The community responded unbelievably well during the repairs,” he said. “Many organizations pulled up their boots by the straps and turned a potentially negative situation into a positive one,” he said, noting work done by the Eugene Yacht Club, Lane County Parks and the city of Veneta.
Barnard Construction of Bozeman, Mont., was awarded the $16.5 million contract in May to fix the failed internal drainage system by excavating the downstream face of the dam, replacing the drainage system and rebuilding the embankment.
The last of the repair work, including replacing topsoil and placing rip rap on the upstream slope, was completed in mid-October, Dasso said.
Repairs to Clear Lake Road by the dam and re-establishment of the power line along the shoulder of the road are the key remaining items, Dasso said. Both should be completed by the end of the month, if not sooner.