For More Information Contact:
Joe Harwood, 541-543-5788
Eugene Water & Electric Board

Jan. 19, 2011
4 p.m.

EWEB clears debris plug at Leaburg Dam

Eugene Water & Electric Board crews at about noon on Wednesday cleared the large clump of logs, root wads and other debris that had been blocking the Leaburg Dam’s No. 1 roll gate since late Sunday night.

The utility, working with Eugene-based construction contractor Wildish Co., brought in an excavator with an extended-reach arm to try to dislodge the debris blocking the gate at about 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. EWEB crews and Wildish personnel worked until almost midnight Tuesday trying to remove the debris plugging the 100-foot-wide roll gate. They returned at 7 a.m. Wednesday and were able to break through the debris at about noon.

The dam’s other two roll gates were largely unaffected. The roll gates regulate the downstream flow of the McKenzie River. EWEB is now in the process of examining the No. 1 roll gate for damage related to the log jam but the dam is now operating normally.

The debris, including logs measuring more than 100 feet in length, started gathering against the roll gate late Sunday night during the high water event brought on by heavy rains, unseasonably warm temperatures and rapid mountain snowmelt.

The river volume peaked at almost 35,000 cubic feet per second early Monday morning. Normal flow for this time of year is 4,000 to 5,000 cubic feet per second.

EWEB crews starting early Monday morning were able to remove about two-thirds of the debris stacked up against the dam. However, the weight of the debris blocking the No. 1 roll gate coupled with the water pressure of the swollen river, frustrated efforts to remove the remainder of the timber.


NOTE to EDITORS: Still photos available upon request.