15 Aug 2023

Drastic difference between air and water temperature could kill

With the onset of record-breaking heat across much of the Pacific Northwest, it’s imperative that people wear life jackets while swimming, boating and fishing. While air temperatures may be high, water temperatures can be much lower and can be deadly, according to water safety statistics.

4 Aug 2022

Heat wave fuels needless drownings, boating deaths in Oregon

Drownings and boating-related deaths needlessly continue claiming lives in Oregon, recently fueled by a heat wave. The Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) reported 19 boating-related fatalities in 2021 and the Oregon Health Authority recorded 57 drownings in natural waters in 2020, which is 160% increase from 2019 (35 drownings). Life jackets may have prevented many of these deaths.

28 Feb 2022

Corps expects rain event to help fill low reservoirs

Army water managers expect an atmospheric river that’s dumping heavy rain in the Pacific Northwest will help refill some reservoirs this week. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) officials anticipate this event will help bring Blue River and Dorena reservoirs up to normal lake levels for this time of year.

1 Sep 2021

Mother Nature can be comforting but has scolded (scalded) us this year

Mother Nature can be comforting and calm but this year it seems like she used our first, middle and last name as she scolded (or scalded) us … “Pacific North [emphasis added] West, what in the world were you thinking?!” … for punching our hypothetical little sister (California). Our punishment has been drought, record-breaking temperatures, wildfires and extremely dry conditions throughout the region. Even though the early part of this summer was a scorching hot nightmare, north western Oregon is fortunate to have a consistent flow of water – thanks to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ system of dams and reservoirs in the Willamette Valley.

19 Jul 2021

That sounds fishy: fish ladders at high-head dams impractical, largely unneeded

Humans. What other sentient being designs a tool requiring hands and feet and expects animals without limbs to use it? Alas, the answer is humans. Humans created a ladder for fish, which is quite effective in certain situations – but isn’t a blanket solution to every fish passage problem. And while most humans would agree that ladders can be useful for climbing short distances, perhaps 20-50 feet– another tool – like an elevator or truck – may be a better option to climb hundreds of feet. Otherwise, there would need to be more infrastructure to support that ladder, or perhaps it would need to be a staircase at that point. This is similar for fish when moving them up and downstream.

17 Jun 2021

That sounds fishy: twisting traps troll tributaries in the Willamette

The bulky contraptions float listlessly downstream of three dams in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The buoyant, metal devices hold large screws that the water flow turns. This twist of the screw – creating a creaking, rasping, scraping sound – generates enough hydraulics to keep small fish from escaping the slowly spinning, cone-shaped collectors – or, screw traps.

17 May 2021

Poor water year continues - Corps hosts info session

As warm, dry weather continues, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District is seeing a worsening water year as it strives to refill 13 Willamette Valley reservoirs for the upcoming recreation season.

1 Feb 2021

Containing the Flood of 1996

One of the biggest floods the Portland District faced in the late 20th century occurred in February 1996 and caused millions of dollars in damage to the region. The District played a crucial role in combating this flood 's impact through a variety of short-term and long-term activities.

9 Nov 2020

Corps modifies operations to improve salmon passage at Detroit Dam

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is modifying operations at Detroit Dam to improve juvenile salmon downstream passage survival by releasing water exclusively through the upper regulating outlets when downstream passage rates are high.

7 Sep 2018

We … want … a shrubbery … or some volunteers to plant shrubberies

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites volunteers who aren’t afraid of the “Knights who say Ni” or shrubberies (Monty Python reference) to help it celebrate the 25th anniversary of National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 22.