Corps: Boaters Be Aware! of Woody Debris in Mid-Valley Reservoirs

As the water in the reservoirs climbed to summer recreation levels earlier this week, the rising water collected the debris and set it afloat in the reservoirs

Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is advising boaters to Be Aware! of floating debris while recreating in Willamette Valley reservoirs this Memorial Day weekend.

Earlier this winter, large amounts of woody debris were carried downstream by unusually high flows and deposited high on the banks of reservoirs in the Willamette Valley.

The increased debris could pose safety risks to boaters or other reservoir users.

This thought is at the forefront of Corps employees` minds since National Safe Boating Week began Monday and runs through Memorial Day weekend.

`Public safety is our primary concern as we manage our reservoirs," said Bryan von Bargen of the Willamette Valley Project.

`It`s important to us that all boaters and recreational users are aware of the potential hazards the increased debris poses and use utmost caution while using our lakes."

Each spring, the Corps clears debris on the reservoirs to protect the dam and facilitate its operation for flood control, hydropower, water storage and passage. Although boaters often benefit from this maintenance activity, the Corps does not remove woody debris solely for the benefit of recreation.

Other agencies that manage recreation facilities on Corps lakes are responsible for responding to floating hazards in their particular areas.

`Debris removal takes a lot of time and resources, so it is not possible for us to remove all the material from all the reservoirs," said von Bargen.

The Corps must prioritize debris operations for the Willamette projects based on highest need and available resources.

This week, Corps crews are using boats and booms to collect as much debris as possible near the dam at Foster Reservoir.

The Corps of Engineers is the nation's second largest federal provider of recreation and the largest federal provider of water-based recreation.

Corps reservoirs in the Willamette Valley also are managed to serve multiple needs: flood damage reduction, hydropower, irrigation, fisheries, water supply and water quality.