News Release
| Release Number: | 02-090 |
| Dated: | 5/14/2002 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a public meeting next week to discuss the current fisheries project underway at Cougar Reservoir and the resulting impacts on water quality downstream of the project.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, at the Walterville Grange Hall at 39259 Camp Creek Road in Walterville.
Corps of Engineers presenters will explain the need for, and benefits of, the Willamette Temperature Control (WTC) Project, talk about some expected impacts to river recreation as a result of the work and provide a status update on the construction itself.
Representatives with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service also will be on hand to talk about fisheries and water quality monitoring in the reservoir and in the McKenzie River.
This meeting was planned after the amount of turbidity in the McKenzie River exceeded forecasted levels, said project manager George Miller. The turbidity is a result of drawing down Cougar Reservoir to allow for construction of a multi-level intake tower. The tower will allow the Corps to draw water from differing depths in the reservoir, mixing it to the optimum water temperature for release below the dam to more closely match natural conditions needed by fish. The changes will improve river conditions for salmon and resident fish in the South Fork McKenzie and McKenzie rivers over a 50-year project life.
Because of the drawdown, stream sediments that have accumulated during the 39 years since the reservoir was constructed are being exposed and eroding into the pool, resulting in the turbid water, Miller said. The good news is that the turbidity--or lack of water clarity--is temporary. No long-term impacts on fish or the aquatic ecosystem are expected.
The challenges now, Miller said, are two fold: determining how long the turbidity can be expected to last so people can adjust their recreation plans; and reviewing technical data to see if there are any ways to of reduce either the levels or duration of the turbidity.
The Corps expects to complete work on the Cougar tower in 2004.