DRAWDOWN HALTED AT GREEN PETER RESERVOIR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2024

Late in the evening on Friday, November 21, 2024, the cities of Lebanon, Sweet Home and Albany received notification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that they would be halting the Green Peter deep reservoir drawdown. This decision comes after coordinated advocacy by all three cities, informing USACE that the drawdown was creating extreme turbidity and causing substantial impact to the respective water treatment facilities' ability to produce drinking water.

Letters declaring water quality emergencies were sent to the USACE and the Oregon Health Authority outlining damaging levels of downstream turbidity at intake locations as well as potential damage to filtration systems and membranes after prolonged exposure to sediments. Both the USACE and the OHA had previously said that an emergency declaration would be necessary to halt the operations.

"We are incredibly grateful that USACE listened to the concerns of Lebanon, Sweet Home, and Albany" Lebanon City Manager Ron Whitlatch adding that stopping the drawdown was "the right thing for our residents and communities."

Although it will likely take several weeks for the water quality to improve in the South Santiam River due to the current amount of turbidity in both Green Peter and Foster Reservoir, the City of Lebanon continues to produce safe drinking water.