For More Information Contact:
Joe Harwood, 541-685-7471
Eugene Water & Electric Board

Aug. 18, 2011

EWEB to ramp up water volume in Walterville Canal

River guides and other frequent users of the McKenzie River should prepare for two Eugene Water & Electric Board construction projects on the river over the final two weeks of August.

EWEB generation crews will begin slowly increasing the water volume into the Walterville Power Canal beginning Saturday morning, Aug. 20, ahead of planned in-water construction work on the canal’s fish return channel.

Crews on Monday, Aug.22, will begin removing about 2,000 cubic yards of flood-deposited gravel from the fish return channel entrance, which is located at the end of the canal’s tailrace. The removal of the gravel is necessary to maintain safe passage for fish from the barrier through the return channel to the McKenzie River.

EWEB anticipates the total canal diversion will be at approximately 1,500 cubic feet per second by Monday morning. Volume in the main stretch of the river will not drop below 1,000 cfs. This in-water work, which will not interrupt boat traffic, should be complete by Saturday, Aug. 27.

On a related note, repair of the damaged thrust bearings that took the Walterville generator offline in early July could be complete by the middle of next week, depending on several variables.

EWEB shut down the Walterville Powerhouse on July 6 due to mechanical issues with the bearings. The utility has maintained an average water volume in the canal of about 500 cfs since then. That volume will increase by about 1,000 cfs between Saturday morning and Monday morning.

On Monday, Aug. 29, crews will begin additional in-water work at the entrance of the Walterville Power Canal. This project will largely focus on repairing the Walterville chevrons, which will improve boat passage conditions through the chevrons. Boaters will be required to use the south channel during this work, or exit the north channel at the Walterville Boat Landing. EWEB will post warning signs at Kaldor Island, upriver of the north channel, before the work begins.

All in-water work will be completed by Saturday, Sept. 3.

EWEB will alert river guides, irrigators and recreation enthusiasts should this schedule change.