For More Information Contact:
Lance Robertson, 984-4716
Eugene Water & Electric Board

Oct. 27 , 2006

Water level in McKenzie to rise due to canal work

The flow in a five-mile stretch of the McKenzie River will increase on Tuesday (Oct. 31) due to work on the Leaburg Power Canal.

A contractor hired by the Eugene Water & Electric Board will be installing automated water-level monitoring equipment in the canal. To do the work, the water flow into the Leaburg Power Canal will have to be shut down for most of the day on Tuesday, increasing the water flow in the McKenzie River by about 1,300 cubic feet per second between Leaburg Dam and the powerhouse about five miles downstream.

EWEB will slowly ramp down the amount of water going into the canal beginning at 2 a.m. on Oct. 31, with the canal shut down by 7 a.m. EWEB will begin to slowly restore water flows into the canal beginning at 6 p.m.

The equipment is being installed to improve the monitoring of the canal to ensure early detection of earthen movement or displacement.