Local governments in Marion County are calling on the federal government to pause its plans to draw down Detroit Lake to its lowest levels in history this fall.
Lowering the lake is part of an effort to help threatened Chinook salmon move more easily along the Santiam River. But some local water systems located downstream of the lake are worried it could make the water dirtier, potentially damaging their systems.
Now, systems in cities ranging from Salem to Stayton are asking the federal government to pause the plan until the potential impacts can be studied further.
Marion County Commissioner Kevin Cameron told OPB that smaller communities that use the reservoir for their water, like Stayton, can’t afford to prepare their system for more turbid waters…