Marion County, OR. — Marion County officials have formally raised concerns about proposed operational changes at Detroit Reservoir, urging federal agencies to extend public input opportunities and fully address potential local impacts before final decisions are made.
In a letter requesting additional time for public review, Marion County asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to extend the comment period for the Detroit Reservoir Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), citing the scope and complexity of the proposed changes. County officials said residents, emergency responders, businesses, and local governments need more time to evaluate how long-term drawdowns could affect public safety, infrastructure, recreation, and economic activity in the North Santiam Canyon.
Separate written comments submitted by the Marion County Board of Commissioners emphasize concerns about the depth, duration, and frequency of proposed drawdowns at Detroit Reservoir. Commissioners warned that deeper or prolonged drawdowns could increase risks related to slope stability, debris flows, and access for emergency services, while also harming tourism and recreation that local communities depend on.
The county’s comments also highlight potential downstream effects, including impacts on water quality, fish habitat management tradeoffs, and uncertainty for communities that rely on predictable reservoir operations. Commissioners stressed that while salmon recovery is an important goal, operational changes should be based on clear evidence of benefit and should not shift disproportionate risks onto local residents without adequate mitigation.
Marion County officials reiterated their support for transparent decision-making and requested that federal agencies provide clearer modeling, risk assessments, and community impact analyses before moving forward. They also called for continued coordination with local governments as the SEIS process advances.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has not yet announced whether additional extensions or modifications to the review timeline will be granted.
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