By Mary Owen
A draft of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) on the Detroit Dam & Lake Fish Ladder Project will be released to the public by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late May.
“Five alternatives were on the table at the beginning of this exercise,” said Jeff Ament, project manager, about options for constructing the proposed fish tower. “We’ve been working since then to determine what the impact to all those alternatives would be.”
The Detroit Dam project came on the heels of a listing of several species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that required the Corps to perform an assessment of the Willamette Project and its operations’ impact on listed species. Based on this assessment, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) identified actions to avoid jeopardizing the existence of ESA-listed fish in the Willamette basin, including the downstream fish passage at Detroit Dam.
The Detroit project proposes to provide downstream juvenile fish passage for Upper Willamette River Chinook and temperature control at Detroit Dam, and has received mixed reviews.
Following a stakeholder meeting in Stayton last May, Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05), along with senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) notified the Corps by letter calling for a re-evaluation of the project. They raised serious concerns about the potential impact the project could have on Salem’s water supply and on communities throughout the Santiam Canyon.
Other concerns voiced by local citizens, business owners and city officials included impact on local economies and water quality.
“Whenever there is a problem in the Detroit Lake area – low water levels, toxic algae, wildfire smoke – small town economies are negatively impacted from Idanha and Detroit all the way to Salem,” said Allison McKenzie, executive director GROW-EDC. “Though this project still has some question marks, we are pleased that the Corps has taken the socioeconomic impact of this project seriously and listened to the many stakeholders who have voiced their concerns about its potential short- and long-term effects.”
As well as exploring the potential impacts of temperature control and downstream fish passage, the study evaluated air quality, cultural resources, floodplain management, water quality, land use, economic impacts, and other areas related to the project.
The EIS draft will kick off the proposed project’s formal review and comment period, which begins with the release of the draft and ends 60 days later.
“Our plan is to make recommendations once the draft is released,” Ament said.
Three public meetings have been scheduled to give people a chance to hear about the Corps’ findings: May 29 at the Gates Fire Hall, June 4 at USACE’s Salem headquarters, and June 6 at the Stayton Community Center. All meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m.
“We will go through our analysis, what our findings were,” Ament said. “Nothing will be final until the record of decision is signed by the division commander. We’re shooting for January 2020.”
Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to meet with project team members and ask questions at the meetings, Ament said.
The Corps operates and maintains 13 multipurpose dams and reservoirs in the Willamette River Basin, including Detroit Dam and Lake.
For more information, visit www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Willamette/Detroit/ fish-passage
Detroit Lake Fishing Derby offers prizes
The much-anticipated Detroit Lake Fishing Derby is a great annual family event hosted in Detroit. The lake is stocked with thousands of rainbow trout and 10 of the fish are tagged for cash prizes. Everyone is invited to joinin and get your FISH ON!
Event Times
Friday, May 17, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 18, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 19, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Prize Ceremony
May 19 at 3 p.m.
Hundreds of prizes including a Smokercraft Fishing Boat & Trailer! Participants must be present to win.
Entry
Adult Entry Fee: $17 + online registration fee. Child Entry Fee: $10 (13 years old and under) + online registration fee.
Register and more information at detroitlakeoregon.org/events
Ways to Win
14 and over Adult Prize Category for Largest Fish Caught – Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Places
13 and Under Boys and Girls Prize Category for Largest Fish Caught – Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Places
First 800 registrations receive a free hat.
Every adult registration includes a ticket for the grand prize drawing of the Smokercraft boat and trailer.
Every kid’s registration includes a ticket for the grand prize drawing for a bicycle.
Register once for all three days and receive one ticket for the grand prize drawing or register as many times as you want to receive a ticket for the grand prize drawing for each registration.
Proceeds will benefit the Detroit Fireworks display in July.
