Marion County Urges Pause To Planned Draining Of Detroit Lake
- 01/07/26
SALEM, OR — Marion County called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen its analysis of turbidity, drinking water impacts, and community risks associated with the proposed deep drawdown of Detroit Lake.
In the letter dated January 6, 2026, the County noted that a turbidity report required by federal law has not yet been completed, despite Congress directing the Army Corps to publish it by January 4, 2026. Because that report is expected to directly inform the environmental effects of a deep drawdown, including learning from mistakes in recent deep drawdowns at nearby lakes, the County argued that the public cannot meaningfully evaluate the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) without it and urged the Corps to extend the public comment period.
“The Army Corps must complete and publish the turbidity report required by federal law,” the January 6 letter stated. It further stated that the Army Corps’ draft analysis “does not include sufficient evaluation of how turbidity from a deep drawdown at Detroit Lake will harm numerous aspects of the environment.”
The letter follows a previous letter sent on December 16, 2025, where the Marion County Board of Commissioners raised significant concerns about the SEIS for the Willamette Valley System. The Board highlighted the potential for severe turbidity and sediment impacts to drinking water systems downstream that serve more than 200,000 residents. There is also a lack of scientific evidence demonstrating that a deep drawdown at Detroit Lake would achieve its intended biological benefits instead of harming both the environment and the surrounding communities.
“Our residents depend on clean, reliable drinking water,” said Commissioner Kevin Cameron. “The Army Corp should complete the required analysis before taking on any risks that could harm our community’s drinking water.
“We’re simply asking the Corps to follow the law, finish the required work, and give residents a fair chance to review it.”
Marion County Urges Pause To Planned Draining Of Detroit Lake
- 01/07/26
SALEM, OR — Marion County called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen its analysis of turbidity, drinking water impacts, and community risks associated with the proposed deep drawdown of Detroit Lake.
In the letter dated January 6, 2026, the County noted that a turbidity report required by federal law has not yet been completed, despite Congress directing the Army Corps to publish it by January 4, 2026. Because that report is expected to directly inform the environmental effects of a deep drawdown, including learning from mistakes in recent deep drawdowns at nearby lakes, the County argued that the public cannot meaningfully evaluate the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) without it and urged the Corps to extend the public comment period.
“The Army Corps must complete and publish the turbidity report required by federal law,” the January 6 letter stated. It further stated that the Army Corps’ draft analysis “does not include sufficient evaluation of how turbidity from a deep drawdown at Detroit Lake will harm numerous aspects of the environment.”
The letter follows a previous letter sent on December 16, 2025, where the Marion County Board of Commissioners raised significant concerns about the SEIS for the Willamette Valley System. The Board highlighted the potential for severe turbidity and sediment impacts to drinking water systems downstream that serve more than 200,000 residents. There is also a lack of scientific evidence demonstrating that a deep drawdown at Detroit Lake would achieve its intended biological benefits instead of harming both the environment and the surrounding communities.
“Our residents depend on clean, reliable drinking water,” said Commissioner Kevin Cameron. “The Army Corp should complete the required analysis before taking on any risks that could harm our community’s drinking water.
“We’re simply asking the Corps to follow the law, finish the required work, and give residents a fair chance to review it.”