The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold public meetings, including one in Sweet Home, to discuss its draft programmatic environmental impact statement for the Willamette River Basin’s 13 dams and reservoirs, including Foster and Green Peter.
The draft EIS essentially lays out the Corps’ proposed plan for the management of trillions of gallons of water from Detroit to Cottage Grove for the next 30+ years. Its purpose is to determine a path forward for achieving the primary operational goals (e.g., flood risk management) of the dams and reservoirs we oversee while improving conditions for endangered fish.
The public comment period for the document has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 23. It provides the public with a chance to weigh in on the proposal and help decide which direction the Corps should pursue. Erik Petersen, operations project manager for the Willamette Valley System, as well as project team members who have worked for the past three years to develop the draft EIS, will be at each one of these meetings.
Community meetings are scheduled as follows:
In Springfield, Monday: Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m.
Willamalane Bob Keefer Center
Ken Long North Room
250 S. 32nd St.
In Eugene: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Lane Community College
4000 E. 30th Ave.
Building 19, Room 102
In Sweet Home: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6-8 p.m.
Sweet Home Senior Center
880 – 18th Ave.
In Stayton: Thursday, Jan. 12, noon to 2 p.m.
Stayton Community Center
400 W. Virginia St.
To learn more about the plan, visit the Willamette Valley EIS webpage at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Willamette-Valley/System-Evaluation-EIS.