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

July 11, 2011

EWEB to lower Walterville Power Canal by 850 cfs

Eugene Water & Electric Board generation crews will begin drawing down the Walterville Power Canal late Monday morning in an effort to strand a large tree just above the MJ Chase Road Bridge off of Camp Creek Road.

Operators of EWEB’s Walterville hydroelectric project are concerned that the tree could snag up against the abutments of the MJ Chase Road Bridge and threaten the structure’s integrity.

The drawdown of the canal will take most of Monday. When complete, water volume in the canal will be running at about 150 cfs. This volume will protect native fish species in the canal, but will likely not be high enough for some irrigators to draw water.

Once generation crews have removed the tree, operators will begin slowly re-watering the canal to a volume of about 500 cfs. Ramping up of the canal is expected to begin on Friday unless crews encounter unanticipated problems.

EWEB on July 6 had to take the Walterville Powerhouse offline due to mechanical problems. That action led to a decrease in the diversion rate of McKenzie River water into the canal. Since the unit has been offline, EWEB has kept the canal volume at about 1,000 cfs. In order to strand and remove the tree threatening the MJ Chase Road Bridge, operators will decrease the diversion rate to the canal by about 850 cfs.

The utility expects repair of the Walterville Powerhouse to take several weeks.