Walterville Canal to be drained

EWEB to drain Walterville Canal for maintenance                                          

The Eugene Water & Electric Board will begin dewatering the Walterville Power Canal on Friday, June 12, to clean and make repairs to the Walterville fish screen at Partridge Lane, complete maintenance on the Walterville Powerhouse, as well as to inspect the canal and make any necessary repairs.

The work requires the utility to drain the canal to minimum levels, which may impact some irrigators. Dewatering the canal will also allow crews to remove trees and other debris further downstream at the Walterville Tailrace barrier.

Water levels in the McKenzie River will slowly increase over a 24-hour period as utility generation crews divert progressively less water from the river into the power canal.

Crews anticipate the annual maintenance activities will take about 16 days. If the work goes as planned, EWEB personnel will complete refilling of the canal around June 28, and begin generating electricity shortly after that.

McKenzie River Reflections