U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planners are considering changes that may impact the continued operations and maintenance of the Willamette Valley System, which includes Foster and Green Peter reservoirs.
Staff continues developing an Environmental Impact Statement for WVS operations and maintenance in accordance with authorized project purposes, while meeting Endangered Species Act obligations to avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of listed species, according to a Corps statement issued Monday.
The Corps has operated the complex system of 13 interrelated dams and reservoirs, riverbank protections and hatchery programs for 50 years. The last environmental impact statement was completed in 1980.
Since the completion of that EIS, operations have been modified, several local fish species have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and new information has become available that will affect the new EIS, the Corps said.
As part of the EIS development, the Corps encourages the public to attend an upcoming virtual information session to see its progress.
The meeting will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, and can be accessed at bit.ly/3HQOY9x. The access code is 2760 992 4137 # and the password is cxC49jdpJ7?.
Telephone access is available toll-free at 1-844-800-2712.
The information session and the virtual room are not a forum for public comment, but the Corps will be seeking public comment on the draft EIS in fall 2022.
Prior to the meetings, interested parties can view a “Virtual Room” at gather.cdmsmith.com/v/V6zaxVGM1eZ.
It contains videos, digital boards, slides and maps that should help attendees understand the purpose of the EIS and the National Environmental Policy Act. Additionally, the materials lay out the purpose of the EIS as well as the identified alternatives.
The information session and the virtual room are not a forum for public comment, but the Corps will be seeking public comment on the draft EIS in fall 2022.
The WVS EIS is reshaping future operations in the Willamette Valley and the Corps is analyzing a broad range of alternatives, including:
— High-value structural options which may include floating fish facilities and temperature control towers;
— Operations, which may be impactful for some authorized purposes, including various types of water releases that could affect recreation, water supplies and water temperature (quality); or
— A combination of the structures and operations.
Corps staff have developed these alternatives by combining numerous actions identified by the public during scoping and in coordination with cooperating government agencies, which are listed in the Virtual Room.
The alternate approaches to balancing authorized purposes “will not impact flood risk management” but will have important tradeoffs for stakeholders and decision makers to consider, the Corps said.