News Release
| Release Number: | 01-125 |
| Dated: | 9/10/2001 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- Water releases at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lost Creek Dam in the Rogue Basin will drop periodically during September.
The planned decreases, which will begin next Monday, Sept. 10, will mean a drop of 6 inches to 7 inches at Grants Pass by Sept. 21. The decreases will be phased, however, so the changes will be gradual. Currently 1,800 cubic feet per second (cfs) is being released. That amount will decrease to 1,650 cfs at 8 p.m. Sept. 10, and drop again to 1,500 cfs on Sept. 11. That will mean a decrease of about 4 inches at Grants Pass over that two-day period. Releases will be held at that level until Sept. 20, when they will drop to 1,300 cfs. On Sept. 21 releases will drop to 1,100 cfs, where they will be held until at least Sept. 30. River levels are gradually reduced so that fish are not stranded in the shallows. This graduated approach also minimizes impacts on lake and downstream river users.
During the later part of September the Corps will evaluate lake levels and inflow to determine if any further reductions in outflow are necessary.
At Applegate, outflows are currently a minimal 65 cfs and that level will be held until at least Oct. 20. The Corps will evaluate any need for changes in mid-October.
The changes are part of annual preparations for the flood damage reduction season, although this year’s changes are more gradual than usual given the drought and low-water conditions that currently exist. Flood damage reduction season begins Nov. 1 each year. This year’s releases from Lost Creek are lower than last year’s were at this time, as the lake level and inflows are significantly lower.
Fisheries concerns also are addressed each year, with protection of adult migrants and spawning grounds a paramount concern as water management plans are outlined. Water releases are regulated to ensure spawning spring chinook can lay their eggs in downstream areas that will remain in water until the eggs hatch. If flows are too high in the river when the fish spawn, they may spawn in areas that will be dry once the river levels drop as lakes are refilled. Reduced water releases also allow use of the coldest water in the lake to keep egg temperatures in the streams closer to historic levels. Warmer water temperatures cause eggs to mature more quickly and hatch early when food is in short supply.
Lower river flows also discourage fall chinook from migrating further upriver into areas used as spawning grounds by the spring chinook. If they were to do so, both fish would be competing for the same spawning areas. Lower river flows also provide a boost to the one-half pounder steelhead fishery. One-half pounders are fish that migrate to sea, then return after only a few months. Their typical weight of about one-half pound gives these fish their nickname.
At Lost Creek, this year’s drought has limited boat ramp access since August to the Takelma Park Boat Ramp. At Applegate, only the French Gulch boat ramp has been available during this recreational season.
Lake users are urged to be extra cautious during this low water year as stumps and other hazards are exposed, and may lie just under the surface of the water. River levels also are lower than normal.
The Corps coordinated the water release changes with the Oregon Water Resources Department, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which handles the irrigation contracts.
Corps projects in the Rogue Basin are operated to serve multiple needs: flood damage reduction, irrigation, fisheries, water supply, water quality and recreation. The Corps’ goal is to effectively balance these competing needs to serve the region and its people.
Water management plans are subject to change if Mother Nature decides to lend a hand in providing either more or less rainfall than currently anticipated.