13 Oct 2020

Corps, utilities restore power to McKenzie River area after Holiday Farm Fire

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and several utilities successfully bring reliable power to the McKenzie River, Oregon area using Cougar Dam, Oct. 6. Lane Electric, Petersen Cat, Bonneville Power Administration and the Corps worked to “island” Blue River with the nearby dam.

14 Jul 2017

Caution to boaters - Reservoir drawdowns to impact flows on McKenzie River

The Oregon State Maine Board and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are alerting boaters to expect higher water levels due to drawdowns on Cougar and Blue River reservoirs that feed into the McKenzie River.

23 Jun 2017

Living with dams: deluge an ever-present possibility

If Cougar were to completely fail, that water would rush 60 miles down the McKenzie River, washing away everything in its path, until it reached the Eugene and Springfield area. The deluge could make Eugene and Springfield look like Corvallis, Oregon City and Portland after the Flood of 1996; although no dams failed during that event. That image, and the desire to do everything possible to keep it from becoming reality, was the backdrop for a recent inspection at Cougar Dam, May 24.

17 Dec 2012

Cougar Reservoir going deep this week

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is performing a “deep drawdown” of Cougar Reservoir this week, lowering the reservoir’s surface to 1,500 feet above sea level to test a possible method of improving downstream fish passage past Cougar Dam.