WaterThursday, November 5
A judge denied Salem and Marion County's bid to stop the Detroit Lake drawdown
The Daily Salem team
If you live in the Mid-Willamette Valley, this one's about your water. A federal judge denied requests Wednesday from the city of Salem and Marion County to stop the deep drawdown of Detroit Lake. The reservoir could now drop to a level tied for its lowest on record as soon as this month.
1,425 feetabove sea level: where Detroit Lake would drop
That ties the lowest the reservoir has ever been and is 25 feet lower than it normally drops in winter.
Source: Statesman Journal
Judge Mustafa Kasubhai said the plaintiffs showed harm was possible, not likely. The denial is without prejudice, so the city and county can ask again if new data emerges. KATU reports the Corps has an emergency plan that can pause the drawdown if the state shows drinking water would suffer.
- Drawdown start: late November or early December
- People the city and county say are at risk: 220,000
- Also warning of sediment: Stayton, Santiam Water Control District
The Detroit Lake fight moved from lawsuits to a ruling
- MayMarion County files a federal lawsuit to block the drawdown.
- JulyThe City of Salem files a similar suit.
- AugustThe county files its latest motion against the new policy.
- Oct. 6Lawyers argue in federal court that the drawdown would cause irreparable harm.
- Nov. 4The judge denies the requests, and the county says it will appeal.
- Late Nov.The drawdown is set to begin in late November or early December.
Sources: Statesman Journal, KPTV
Marion County says it will appeal immediately to the Ninth Circuit and ask for an emergency injunction. "This fight is far from over," Commissioner Colm Willis said. The county cites the 2023 Green Peter Lake drawdown, which it says killed thousands of salmon, and says the Corps hasn't finished a required turbidity report. The Corps says drawdowns protect endangered fish.
Sources: Statesman Journal, KATU, KPTV, 1430 KYKN