Leaburg Hydro Project Update

From Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), on Nov. 17:

EWEB begins investigative drilling along Leaburg Canal

Geotechnical drilling for soil and rock samples will advise strategies to reduce dam safety risks.

EWEB began drilling at multiple points along the Leaburg Canal this month to better understand the makeup of the canal embankment and the geology underlying the canal.

Sections of the Leaburg Canal Trail will be closed to visitors during drilling. Signs will mark trail closures to protect visitors from hazardous work and machinery.

The drilling program plan is a necessary step to inform EWEB’s strategies to mitigate dam safety risks. 

EWEB closed the Leaburg Canal intakes in 2018 and suspended hydropower generation at Leaburg Dam due to safety reasons after discovering internal erosion and excessive seepage through the canal berm. Since then, further studies have revealed that sections of the canal embankment are vulnerable to excessive stormwater flows and earthquakes.

EWEB commissioners voted in 2023 to decommission the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project rather than invest in the extensive repairs needed to bring the facility back online in compliance with regulations. 

While EWEB continues developing long-term plans to decommission the facility in the next decade, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has mandated that EWEB must address near-term risks that the canal’s vulnerabilities pose to adjacent infrastructure and residents of the McKenzie River corridor.

EWEB has already completed work to reduce canal risks by improving its ability to convey tributary and storm water to the McKenzie River. EWEB removed the turbine runner of one of the generating units in the Leaburg Powerhouse to accelerate flows out of the canal. Additional risk reduction measures include enhanced monitoring and adaptive operational protocols. 

Other proposals to reduce near-term risks include rerouting large tributaries along more direct paths to the McKenzie River. The drilling program will inform these plans. 

Separately, EWEB consultants also began working along the canal this month to gather hydrological and hydraulics data.

Residents with any questions as to the work going on can contact EWEB by emailing LeaburgInfo@eweb.org or by calling 541-685-7439.

For emergencies or suspected dam safety issues, please call the Leaburg Duty Operator at: 541-852-1906.

EWEB, FERC meet to discuss Walterville repair proposal

EWEB's Generation Engineering and Dam Safety teams met with representatives from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in late October to discuss EWEB's proposal to repair the Walterville Canal Forebay with an improved liner system.

The Walterville Canal has been dewatered since February 27, 2024, when a known seepage flow that had been under close surveillance at the Walterville Canal forebay dramatically increased.

EWEB has been directed by FERC to maintain the drawn-down condition until they authorize increased water levels. EWEB has been working with consulting engineers to develop a repair plan for the forebay.

The consultant team joined Portland-based and Washington, D.C.-based FERC representatives to discuss the repair proposal and identify any additional measures which may be necessary to improve the project design and construction planning.

Final design documents will be submitted to FERC for review in early 2026. The work is planned for fall 2026.

Once FERC's final approval conditions for the liner repairs are determined, EWEB will take another look at the cost-effectiveness of the project. The current FERC license to operate the Walterville Canal is set to expire in 2040. EWEB would ensure that any investments to fix the canal for power generation would be recuperated within this license period before proceeding. 

Based on current calculations, the cost of the proposed repair plan would be recoverable within a few years of returning to electricity generation – depending on the amount of water flows in the McKenzie and energy prices.

In 2026, EWEB will begin a study to evaluate the long-term future of the Walterville Project – whether to invest in additional upgrades needed for another 40-year FERC license or decommission the facility.

For any questions about the progress on the Walterville Hydroelectric Project, please email WaltervilleInfo@eweb.org.