Marion County, along with a collection of Santiam Canyon cities and agencies, submitted a formal letter June 22 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urging it to cancel any deep drawdown of Detroit Reservoir in 2026 and reevaluate future draining plans.
The letter, which cites serious risks to downstream drinking water systems, local recreation and fish populations, was submitted on behalf of a community coalition that includes Stayton, Sublimity, Mill City, Detroit Lake Foundation, Detroit Lake Marina, Woodburn Area Chamber of Commerce and North Marion Tourism Collaborative.
The city of Salem also sent a letter in early 2026 urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take more steps to protect the city’s drinking water. It was not one of the cities that signed the June 22 letter…