The Army Corps extended public comment on its Willamette Valley dam SEIS to Jan. 13, 2026, adding a Stayton meeting to gather feedback.
Oregon — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District has extended the public comment period by 15 days and scheduled an additional in-person information session in Stayton for its draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) examining potential changes to Willamette Valley dam operations.
The new deadline to submit written comments is Jan. 13, 2026. The SEIS builds on a six-year study completed in April 2025 and responds to new legal and regulatory requirements that emerged shortly before that study concluded.
Among the updates addressed in the SEIS is a new Biological Opinion (BiOp) issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The BiOp calls for a deeper fall drawdown at Detroit Reservoir to support endangered fish species. USACE officials say the drawdown is not expected to occur until late fall or early winter 2026, and the SEIS evaluates potential impacts to water quality, recreation, and nearby communities…