[OSMB-News] Boaters Beware of Obstructions on McKenzie, Willamette Rivers

Fri May 26 10:27:29 PDT 2017

For Immediate Release                                          Date: Friday, May 26, 2017

Boaters Beware of Obstructions on McKenzie, Willamette Rivers

[cid:image008.jpg at 01D2D60A.A835A270]On May 10, the Lane County Marine Patrol and the Eugene/ Springfield Fire Department attempted to mitigate a very large log jam on the McKenzie River near Riverbend.

With the use of three boats and significant chainsaw skills, roughly 1/3rd of the obstruction was removed, creating safe passage for motorized boats.  Officials warn however, that this area remains dangerous for paddlecraft.  Signs have been posted at nearby boat ramps and paddlers are encouraged to put in further downstream and to avoid this area.  Paddlers who elect to run this section of the river are strongly advised to choose the river right channel at Riverbend (pictured below) which has fewer obstructions to navigate.

Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be drawing down three reservoirs for dam repairs this summer.  The Hills Creek Reservoir will be drawn down in June, and Cougar and Blue River reservoirs in mid-July.  This means that area water levels will be higher and will have a stronger flow throughout the summer on the McKenzie and Middle Fork rivers.

With the added river volume, expect downed trees and other obstructions.  Boaters are encouraged to visit www.boatoregon.com<http://www.boatoregon.com> to learn where there have been reported navigation obstructions.
###

[cid:image009.jpg at 01D2D60A.A835A270]
[cid:image005.jpg at 01D2D606.3A4E17F0]
Pictured: First image is river left after mitigation.  Second image is looking upstream at the fork in the river at Riverbend. Stay river-right.  Third image is looking downstream showing clear passage.

Ashley A. Massey
Legislative Coordinator
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
[EmailOSMB_logos_cmyk_300dpi]

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20170526/dbac5e5c/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 220497 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20170526/dbac5e5c/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 170978 bytes
Desc: image003.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20170526/dbac5e5c/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 129117 bytes
Desc: image005.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20170526/dbac5e5c/attachment-0002.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image008.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 36238 bytes
Desc: image008.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20170526/dbac5e5c/attachment-0003.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image009.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 57312 bytes
Desc: image009.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20170526/dbac5e5c/attachment-0004.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image010.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 4959 bytes
Desc: image010.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20170526/dbac5e5c/attachment-0005.jpg>