Local News

Army Corps lowering water level at Chief Joseph Dam

Jun 10, 2015

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is lowering the reservoir water level upstream of Chief Joseph Dam as low as 949 feet above mean sea level three hours each morning for the remainder of the week.

The reservoir will be drawn down from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. June 10-12 to facilitate bank stabilization project work.

The project will address erosion problems by placing bank-stabilizing rock armor and native plantings along 700 feet of shoreline on the Columbia River's northeastern bank downstream of Seaton's Grove boat ramp.

When complete, the structure will provide protection against reservoir erosive forces.

Throughout the planning process the Corps coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Reclamation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington Department of Ecology, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife.