SALEM, Ore. — The City of Salem filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ plan to drain Detroit Lake this fall, arguing the action could put the city’s drinking water supply at risk.
The lawsuit follows a similar legal challenge filed by Marion County in May against the Army Corps. Both lawsuits seek to stop the planned drawdown of Detroit Lake until the federal agency completes a required turbidity study that is now more than six months overdue.
Salem officials say the study is necessary to evaluate potential impacts of the lake drawdown on water quality and the communities that rely on Detroit Lake as a drinking water source.
Marion County Commissioners Colm Willis, Kevin Cameron, and Danielle Bethell issued a joint statement Wednesday welcoming Salem’s legal action.
“We welcome the City of Salem joining the County in fighting to protect the drinking water of our communities,” the commissioners said. “Clean, reliable drinking water should never be thoughtlessly put at risk anywhere in the County.”
The legal challenges ask a federal court to pause efforts by the Army Corps to drain the reservoir until the required environmental review is completed.
Officials from both Marion County and the City of Salem have raised concerns that lowering Detroit Lake could increase sediment and turbidity levels, potentially affecting water treatment operations and the reliability of the region’s drinking water system.
Detroit Lake serves as a primary water source for Salem and surrounding communities. The city says protecting the quality and availability of that water supply is critical for residents, businesses, and public services throughout the region.
The lawsuits will now move forward in federal court as local officials continue seeking a delay of the Army Corps’ planned lake drawdown until additional analysis is completed.
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