Related News
Related News
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The Big Freeze 2024: After Action Report
Winter 2024 was one for the records books, and we'll look back on it for years to come and say, "That was a doozy!" The back-to-back January Ice Storms caused widespread damage to EWEB’s service territory, affecting approximately 38,000 customers. Preliminary repair costs were over $8 million, and additional repairs to transmission lines are still required.
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Fixing the Unseen: Water Pipeline Replacement in Unincorporated Eugene
Learn more about EWEB's methods for monitoring and replacing aged water pipelines.
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Celebrate Earth Month by taking charge of your home's energy use
This Earth Month, learn how you can reduce your energy usage to help protect our planet and reduce carbon emissions.
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Spring Cleaning? How about Spring Emergency Preparedness!
Spring is officially here and that means the plants are blooming, the sun is (sometimes) shining, and the grass is green! We've had our fair share of severe weather already, but spring weather is notoriously unpredictable. While you're in the midst of spring cleaning and garden care, consider completing these emergency preparedness tasks.
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EWEB General Manager Delivers 2024 State of the Utility
General Manager Frank Lawson delivered his address at the March 5 public Board of Commissioners meeting
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Nine days without power: My ice storm story as an EWEB customer and employee
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EWEB achieves power restoration milestone over the weekend
Crews have so far restored power for 92% of customers who originally lost power at the height of the ice storm.
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Reenergized McKenzie River Valley transmission lines allow EWEB crews to restore power upriver
On Friday, a majority of EWEB crews tackled power restoration efforts upriver, after federally managed transmission lines were reenergized Thursday.
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EWEB estimates one week to complete power system restoration
On Wednesday, EWEB crews restored power for about 10,000 customers by repairing large equipment first.
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Second round of ice and ensuing thaw prompt mass power outages
On Wednesday, all EWEB crews, who have been working nonstop since Saturday, traversed EWEB’s service territory assessing the damage and restoring transmission lines and main power feeders.
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Power restored at EWEB’s water treatment plant
Crews restored electric power at EWEB's Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant Monday evening, allowing operators to switch off the generators and rely again on the grid. Meanwhile, EWEB crews brace for additional outages amidst second round of ice and during the coming thaw.
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EWEB crews making downed lines safe and restoring power across Eugene and the foothills
As EWEB works to restore electric service to customers affected by the ice storm, the customer-owned utility is following established policies and its “hierarchy of repair” to prioritize repairs that restore electric service to the greatest number of customers.
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Leaburg Decommissioning Action Plan
Plan details next steps through regulatory processes to begin dismantling Leaburg Dam by 2032.
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What’s ahead in 2024: General manager’s message to EWEB customer-owners
At the start of the new year, we back at accomplishments from 2023 and look ahead at what's to come in 2024.
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Start the New Year saving money with energy saving tips
We know that saving money is important to our customers. Using energy and water wisely is a great way to reduce your monthly utility bill, even as the costs of electricity and water rise. EWEB has several steps you can take to reduce your usage and even make your home feel more comfortable.
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4J students get hands-on salmon education thanks to EWEB grants
November 21, 2022
On a chilly November day, third graders from Adams Elementary School in Eugene learned about the lifecycle of native salmon on a field trip to Lake Creek near Triangle Lake. The field trips take place all month as part of a program funded by EWEB grants. EWEB dedicates a portion of customer rates to inspiring kids to explore the wonders of science and learn about watershed health, water quality, and emergency preparedness.
“Oncorhynchus tshawytscha… so this is the scientific name for Chinook Salmon…and it comes from the idea that the male’s nose is hooked,” Tana Shepard said to an attentive group of 8-year-olds. “So, it comes from a Greek word…”
The group of third-grade students gathered around teacher Tana Shepard under an awning set up on the creek banks. She showed them photos of Chinook salmon and explained they’ve traveled from the ocean to their spawning grounds here at Lake Creek.
Nearby, in the water, we saw several adult salmon who’ve made the 60-mile journey to this tributary of the Siuslaw River.
“So, if you look out into the rocks… and watch, don’t get too far out,” Shepard warned. “It’ll be a long, cold foot day.” “I have boots,” one student replied “So friends, listen carefully, do you see how there are 2 white shapes out there?” Shepard asked.
Shepard pointed out two female salmon in the creek. She explained that the females are laying eggs, the males fertilize them.
Shepard said this is the most salmon she’s seen come back to this creek since she started leading these field trips 6 years ago. Out here, students get to see salmon in the wild and learn about the lifecycle of this keystone species:
“That if that species disappears from the ecosystem then the ecosystem falls apart,” said Shepard. “Salmon, in particular, are just so important in the freshwater and saltwater environments and that’s really unique for them. So, having the kids learn about that and start to care deeply about a species that they’re raising in their classroom is really cool.”
The students are also raising salmon eggs in class. The salmon education program involves 30 different 4J schools and includes grades 1st-12th. Shepard and three other teachers lead these field trips for 3rd and 4th graders throughout November.
“And we use this trip to connect what they’re learning at school to the lifecycle here and what’s happening at the spawning stage,” Shepard said.
Shepard said the pandemic put these excursions on hiatus, and for the students and some of the teachers this is their first school field trip. She said the chance for students to experience hands on learning and engage in science is invaluable.
“It’s a proponent for getting kids outside more often… and so, I love being outside so sharing that passion with them makes this even better,” Shepard said.
Shepard shared that one student tugged on her elbow during a recent salmon field trip and said this was a once in a lifetime experience.
Shepard’s work is funded by EWEB grants. The 4J/ EWEB Education Partnership is an environmental science program that supports learning opportunities around climate change and its effects in the Pacific Northwest.