Oregon — Members of Oregon’s congressional delegation are asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to give the public more time to weigh in on a proposal that could significantly affect communities across the Santiam Canyon and Willamette Valley.
In a joint letter, Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05) led Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden in requesting a 45-day extension to the public comment period for the Corps’ Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) regarding operational changes at Detroit Dam. The current deadline is December 29, following a November 14 release of the draft document.
Lawmakers said the existing 45-day window is too short for a complex environmental review that spans several major holidays. “The currently scheduled comment window also spans Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah,” the members wrote, noting that holiday travel, reduced staffing, and family obligations will limit constituents’ ability to participate. “The combined effect of a shortened timeline and a holiday-dominated review period will significantly hinder the ability of Oregonians to provide thoughtful and informed feedback.”
The SEIS evaluates potential operational changes—including deep drawdowns—to aid fish passage and recovery under federal environmental requirements. Communities downstream have raised concerns about turbidity, drinking-water disruptions, and economic effects, citing recent experiences with deep drawdowns at Green Peter Reservoir. According to the delegation, more than 200,000 residents rely on drinking water systems that could be affected by changes at Detroit Dam.
The lawmakers also emphasized potential impacts on recreation and the local kokanee fishery, as well as economic risks for towns still recovering from past wildfires and seasonal downturns.
“Given the anticipated impacts of potential operational changes at Detroit Dam…it is essential that the review process maximize transparency and accessibility,” the letter states.
The delegation is urging USACE to extend the comment period by an additional 45 days to allow local governments, tribal governments, water utilities, businesses, and residents adequate time to review the technical SEIS and prepare substantive comments.
USACE has not yet announced whether it will grant the extension.
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