Marion County, OR. — Marion County has formally called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen its environmental analysis related to the proposed deep drawdown of Detroit Lake, citing unresolved concerns over turbidity, drinking water safety, and community impacts.
In a letter dated January 6, 2026, the county noted that a turbidity report required by federal law has not yet been completed, despite Congress directing the Army Corps to publish the report by January 4, 2026. County officials argued that the absence of this report prevents meaningful public review of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).
Because the turbidity analysis is expected to directly inform the environmental consequences of a deep drawdown—including lessons learned from recent drawdowns at nearby reservoirs—the county urged the Army Corps to extend the public comment period until the required study is released…