



2008 Willamette Project Biological Opinion
Carrying out the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) from the 2008 Willamette Project Biological Opinion requires a suite of actions determined necessary to protect Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed Upper Willamette River spring-run Chinook salmon and Upper Willamette River winter-run Steelhead.
Key actions which apply for all of the Willamette Project dams covered under NOAA Fisheries’ 2008 Biological Opinion include:
Below is additional information about the Willamette Project dams and RPA actions for each.
Detroit Dam is located at river mile 49 on the North Santiam River, about 45 miles southeast of Salem, Oregon. Detroit Dam has two hydropower generating units capable of producing 50 megawatts each.
Big Cliff Dam is also on the North Santiam River three miles downstream of Detroit Dam and re-regulates water released from Detroit.
RPA actions for Detroit and Big Cliff Dams include:
Green Peter Dam is located at river mile 5.5 on the Middle Santiam River, 11 miles northeast of Sweet Home, Oregon. Green Peter Dam has two hydropower generating units capable of producing a total of 80 megawatts.
Foster Dam is located at river mile 38.5 on the South Santiam River, at the confluence of the South Santiam and Middle Santiam rivers, four miles northeast of Sweet Home, Oregon. Foster Dam is located about 7 miles downstream of Green Peter Dam, and is used to regulate water releases from Green Peter Dam and flows in the South Santiam River. Foster Dam has two generators capable of producing 10 megawatts each.
RPA actions for Foster Dam include:
Cougar Dam is located at river mile 4.4 on the South Fork McKenzie River, about 42 miles east of Eugene, Oregon. Cougar Dam has two hydropower generating units capable of producing 25 megawatts in total.
RPA actions for Cougar Dam include:
Lookout Point Dam is at river mile 21.3 on the Middle Fork of the Willamette River, about 22 miles southeast of Eugene, Oregon. Lookout Point Dam has three hydropower generating units capable of producing 50 megawatts each. Dexter Dam is located three miles downstream and is used to regulate power-generating water releases from Lookout Point Dam. Dexter Dam has one generator capable of producing 15 megawatts.
RPA actions for Lookout Point and Dexter Dams include:
Fall Creek Dam is located at river mile 7.2 on Fall Creek, a tributary of the Willamette River, about 20 miles southeast of Eugene, Oregon. In coordination with Lookout Point and Hills Creek Dams, the three dams work together for the purposes of flood risk management, water quality improvement, irrigation, and fish and wildlife habitat and recreation.
RPA actions for Fall Creek Dam include: