Drilling Will Impact Access to Leaburg Canal Trail

The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) will begin drilling this month at several locations along the Leaburg Canal to collect soil and rock samples that will help engineers assess and reduce dam safety risks.

The geotechnical drilling will temporarily close portions of the Leaburg Canal Trail to the public. EWEB said warning signs will be posted to keep visitors clear of heavy machinery and hazardous work areas.

The project marks the next phase in EWEB’s effort to address safety concerns first identified in 2018, when the utility shut down the Leaburg Canal and suspended hydropower generation after discovering internal erosion and excessive seepage through the canal berm. Later studies found that sections of the embankment remain vulnerable to high stormwater flows and potential earthquakes.

In 2023, EWEB commissioners voted to permanently decommission the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project rather than undertake costly repairs required to meet regulatory standards. Full decommissioning is expected to take up to a decade, but federal regulators have ordered EWEB to reduce immediate safety risks to nearby homes and infrastructure.

To meet those requirements, EWEB has already taken several interim steps. The utility improved stormwater conveyance to the McKenzie River, modified one of the Leaburg Powerhouse turbines to release water more quickly, and expanded monitoring and operating procedures.

The upcoming drilling will help guide additional risk-reduction strategies, including potential rerouting of large tributaries directly into the McKenzie River. Consultants will also collect new hydrological and hydraulic data along the canal this month.

Residents with questions can contact EWEB at LeaburgInfo@eweb.org or 541-685-7439. To report emergencies or suspected dam safety concerns, call the Leaburg Duty Operator at 541-852-1906.