On Thursday, October 10, 2024, the South Santiam Watershed Council hosted a meeting in Sweet Home regarding the deep drawdown of Green Peter Reservoir. The US Army Corps of Engineers, as the lead agency for this action, offered a short talk that recapped last year’s operations, provided some information about impacts on fish populations and water turbidity from the 2023 drawdown, and shared the revised plans for the 2024 drawdown. There were around 30 community members who attended the meeting at the Sweet Home High School Auditorium, including all three Linn County commissioners, Sweet Home’s mayor, and at least one Sweet Home city council member. Following the 45-minute talk, meeting participants had another 45-minute question/answer period. While there were several questions about water quality for human uses, which the Corps staff addressed to the best of their ability, this meeting was intended to be narrowly focused on operations at Green Peter Dam and potential implications for fish.

We learned a lot. The meeting participants expressed their appreciation for the Corps’ candor; although what the Corps had to share was often difficult and even painful to hear and digest, we are grateful for accurate information. We came away without answers to many of our questions, and with new questions that we didn’t have last year. Ecological questions are often complex, and the Corps responded to the best of their abilities. Now the drawdown has begun. Today, as I write this, the sun is shining, but there is rain in the forecast, and we don’t know what the South Santiam will look like once it starts. Down at Lookout Point, the Corps is performing the same operations they did last year and so far, there hasn’t been a significant downstream sediment signature in the Middle Fork Willamette River. Operations at Green Peter will be different this year than last year—what will that mean for the South Santiam?

Honestly, we’ll only know the answer to this question as it unfolds. The South Santiam Watershed Council will continue to convene community meetings and share information about this and other issues that impact the place we call home. You can find up-to-date information from the Corps about the injunction in the Willamette Basin here, and can sign up to receive emailed information from them as well. If you know about something going on related to watershed health, or have questions, don’t hesitate to be in touch. We love hearing good news too!

Finally, to those folks who were able to make it to the meeting: I ended the evening with deep gratitude for the community members, elected officials, and Corps staff who came together to try and understand this action and its impacts. No one had to be there. It takes a commitment to community, a sense of curiosity, and a measure of courage to seek information, share concerns, and remain open to conversation. Thank you.

See you out there-

Shannon