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Building Strong® at Foster Dam and Reservoir

Foster Dam and LakeFoster Dam is located at river mile 38.5 on the South Santiam River, at the confluence of the South Santiam and Middle Santiam rivers, four miles northeast of Sweet Home, Ore.

 

Foster Dam is a rock-fill structure with a concrete gated spillway, and was completed with Green Peter Dam in1968 at a cost of $82.3 million.

 

Foster Dam is used to regulate power-generating water releases from Green Peter Dam and regulate flows from the south Santiam River. Foster Dam has two generators capable of producing 10 megawatts each. Foster Dam works in coordination with Green Peter Dam for flood risk management, hydropower, water quality improvement, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation.


Link to larger version of Foster Dam map graphic
Recreation web ad130206-A-GJ792-001

For more information

Foster pamphlet

Contact us about Foster:
General: 541-684-4300
Recreation: 541-942-5631

Email us about Foster

Latest News Releases

  

Willamette Valley Project images

aerial photo of Fern Ridge
Caption
aerial photo of Fern Ridge
  • aerial photo of Fern Ridge
  • Foster Dam aerial photo
  • Green Peter aerial photograph
  • Hills Creek aerial phoot
  • aerial photo of Blue River
  • aerial photo of Cottage Grove Dam
  • Blue River Dam
  • Lookout Point aerial photo
  • aerial photo of Cottage Grove Dam
  • aerial photo of Fall Creek Dam
  • aerial photo of Dorena Dam
  • aerial photo of Dexter Dam
  • aerial photo of Detroit Dam
  • aerial photo of Cougar Dam
  • aerial photo of Big Cliff Dam

Foster hydropower

Generators / total output two 20 mw

Foster project data

Dam length 4,565 ft 1,391.4 m
Height 126 ft 38.4 m
Elevation (NGVD*) 702.5 ft 214.1 m
Lake length 3.5 mi 5.6 km
Area when full 1,220 ac 493.7 ha
*National Geodetic Vertical Datum

Foster recreation

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Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Andrew S. Wiley Park (Corps-operated)

This day-use park is open year-round and is free to use. Amenities include flush and chemical toilets, picnic tables, barbecue grills and a paved boat ramp with access to the South Santiam River below Foster Dam.

For more information, call the Willamette Valley Project Park Ranger Office at 541-942-5631.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Linn County Parks at Foster Lake
For information about these parks, contact the Linn County Parks at 541-967-3917.
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Calkins Ramp (operated by Linn County Parks)
Click the link below for Calkins Ramp's web page:
For information, contact Linn County Parks at 541-967-3917.
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Gedney Creek Park (operated by Linn County Parks)
Click the link below for Gedney Creek Park's web page:
For information, contact Linn County Parks at 541-967-3917.
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Lewis Creek Park (operated by Linn County Parks)
Click the link below for Lewis Creek Park's web page:
For information, contact Linn County Parks at 541-967-3917.
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Sunnyside Park (operated by Linn County Parks)
Click the link below for Sunnyside Park's web page:
For information, contact Linn County Parks at 541-967-3917.
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Shea Point (privately operated)
This viewpoint and day-use area is located off Highway 20 on the south side of Foster Lake. The area includes flush toilets, interpretive displays, and a paved shoreline trail.  For more about this area, call the Edgewater RV Resort and Marina at 541-818-0431, or visit http://www.edgewateroregon.com/.

Foster map

Operations: Foster

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Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Environmental stewardship

The Foster Lake Project covers more than 1,800 acres and provides habitat for several rare species including the northern spotted owl, steelhead and cutthroat trout, Chinook salmon, the western pond turtle, and several amphibians.

 

The Willamette Valley Environmental Stewardship program focuses on restoration of degraded uplands, wetlands and streams on Corps lands. Recent efforts to improve habitat quality for wildlife on Corps’ lands in these areas center on replacing invasive plants with native trees and shrubs, and restoring hydrology and topography to support native plant communities and wildlife habitat.

 

To mitigate impacts of Corps dams on Chinook salmon and winter steelhead within the South Santiam River Basin, the Corps constructed the South Santiam Fish Hatchery and a fish collection facility at the base of Foster Dam. Fish collected at the facility are transported back to the hatchery or released above Foster Dam to access upstream spawning habitat. These facilities are operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife with funds provided by the Corps. Additionally, the Corps supports ongoing efforts for recovery of the Oregon chub within the South Santiam basin.

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