Fwd: CENWP WVP Master Plan FERN RIDGE
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Kayna Robison
Feb 11, 2026, 12:11:37 PM (11 days ago) Feb 11
to greater-eugen...@googlegroups.com
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From: Orazio Belsito <obel...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 11, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Subject: Fwd: CENWP WVP Master Plan FERN RIDGE
To: <ka...@eugenegears.org>
From: Orazio Belsito <obel...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 11, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Subject: Fwd: CENWP WVP Master Plan FERN RIDGE
To: <ka...@eugenegears.org>
The last day to comment on the Willamette Valley Plan for Fern Ridge Dam/Reservoir is 23 Feb 2026. W need a bikeway across FRR away from OR Hwy-126 which we know will become a FREEWAY. Get your members to write.
Thanks
orazio
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ ...) under mechanism of action
microcystins inhibit the activity of protein enzymes phosphatase PP1 and PPA2A.
cylindrospermopsin It has been proposed that an activated [cytochrome] P450-derived metabolite (or metabolites) of CYN is the main cause of toxicity.
anatoxin-a (Very Fast Death Factor,VFDF) is a CNS α4β2 and α4 and muscular (α1)2βγδ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist.
saxitoxin is a neurotoxin that acts as a selective, reversible, voltage-gated sodium channel blocker.
--
--
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Orazio Belsito <obel...@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Feb 7, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Subject: CENWP WVP Master Plan FERN RIDGE
To: <CENWP-WVP-Mast...@usace.army.mil>
From: Orazio Belsito <obel...@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Feb 7, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Subject: CENWP WVP Master Plan FERN RIDGE
To: <CENWP-WVP-Mast...@usace.army.mil>
Orazio Belsito
88936 Lisoski Ln.
Veneta, OR 97487
obel...@gmail.com
February 2025
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Willamette Valley Project
211 E 7th Street, Suite 480
Eugene, OR 97401
CENWP-WVP-Mast...@usace.army.mil
RE: CENWP WVP Master Plan Fern Ridge Dam/Reservoir
We know that the primary purpose of Fern Ridge Dam/Reservoir (FRR) is flood risk management, but some of the so-called 'secondary purposes' are probably at least as important and most in the mind of Fern Ridge users. Uses such as recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement, irrigation (and their concomitant water quality issues); especially considering such a vast area 14.625 Sq. mile of visibly 'unused' land/water. Here are presented suggestions for realization of some 'secondary purposes': swimming, irrigation/water storage, and bicycling, transportation and the possible mitigation of yearly eutrophication.
In terms of recreation and fish&wildlife FRR is problematic. Swimming in Fern Ridge Reservoir is, to say the least, mostly nasty; blue-green algae warnings issued by the Oregon Health Authority are common and, as we all know, this is because of the 'Fill & Draw' exercised on the lake yearly. While a possible remedy might be to maintain a certain level in the 'lake' above the 0% pool level -- this is a NO-GO that would negate the flood control 'primary purpose' of the Willamette Valley Project. Instead, decreasing the level of the reservoir's bottom so it was, at most, level with its lowest elevation (near the dam; or lower) would obviously add volume to the pond, maintain a non-zero level possibly decrease bottom/yearly-fill mixing and hopefully change the biodynamics of the normal algal bloom by decreasing the churning of the over-winter exposed, oxidized dried bottom sediment. A continuous pond level over most of the reservoir bottom might maintain such sediment in a static redox state and commensurately decrease the turbidity that is yearly evident in the pond and, at seasons' end dumped into the Willamette River when FRR is drawn down. If FRR were a wastewater point source, its effluent would exceed any NPDES standard of 30-30-30 (bod-ts-turbidity). Consider that the filled FRR as maintained acts as an 'out-of-balance' wastewater 'pond' facility and would be negligently in violation of the Clean Water Act at best. Luckily, the ACE is exempt(?). So, what to do?
Re-contour FRR's bottom to increase its depth, but what to do with the displaced earth? There are many options:
1) Oregon Department of Transportation (ODT)wants to increase the number of lanes on Highway OR-126, and will need fill - start the filling by dredging and grading -- in conjunction with their plan.
2) a) Build more islands in the lake, make them rise steeply so they have peaks,
b) build peaks on the existing flat islands.
3) build raised causeway bikeways (obviously with bridges for, at least, kayaks and motor boats, and ... rivers) aligned with either
a) Royal Ave.-Jeans Road alignment (where there is the existing old road alignment causeway below the 100% pond level). This needs a bridge for coyote creek
b) Jeans Road to Perkins Peninsula Park to Royal Avenue. This needs two bridges for west & middle coyote creek forks and coyote creek.
c) Vista Rd to Perkins Peninsula Park to Royal Avenue. This, likewise, needs two bridges for west & middle coyote creek forks and coyote creek
to connect with the Amazon Creek bikeway in Eugene
The ODT wants to put a bikeway near/against Hwy OR-126 -- a truly stupid idea. No bicyclist wants to cycle a few feet from a freeway. ( https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Projects/Project%20Documents/OR-126-OH-2-ReportFinal-2_Accessible-2.pdf ) see page 3 (https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx?project=21231 ). Considering the $8.5 billion 'military quality-of-life initiatives' the One Big Beautiful Bill allocated for funding and the money already spent by ODOT for Hwy OR-126, it would seem that some of these funds should be available for FRR's use.
Side benefits from the re-contouring/deepening of the bottom, will be more storage for flood control, agricultural uses, and an extended recreational use season -- and hopefully, better water quality for fish, fowl and humans -- due to diminished churning. Note also that recurrent droughts due to intensified agricultural use and changes in monthly precipitation distribution, as suggested by hardiness zone changes (https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ ) might also be mitigated. ---And then there are the ancient cultural artifacts; if such are found during grading then plans must be written such that either an island would be placed over them to maintain their sacrality, or such artifacts could be re-intered by the appropriate cultural agency authorities to a more sacral site ( https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Projects/Project%20Documents/Section_106_Joint_Finding_Historic_and_Archaeological.pdf ). Perhaps better water quality, year round islands, and increased pond surface would enhance fish and bird populations by limiting predator access and aqueous vector growth (ie. cyanophyta, Oregon Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Advisory, see Appendix D)?
Finally, there are listed many named trails around FRR (I counted 34, and have used those I could find around "Jeans peninsula", (see appendix c, https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=#map=13/44.08888/-123.30777), but should one go and try to find many of these 'trails' they would be quite frustrated, as I recently was -- because mention on a map does not connote existence. Either trails should be upgraded to actual trails or maps should be updated to remove their names. I say the more trails, the better.
Thanks for allowing us Fern Ridge users the opportunity to comment on this upcoming project planning.
APPENDICIA
APPENDIX A Fern Ridge Dam
https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Willamette-Valley/
part of a system of 13 multi-purpose dams in the Willamette Valley
primary purpose
flood risk management
secondary purposes
recreation, irrigation, municipal and industrial water supply, fish and wildlife, water quality and hydropower
https://nid.sec.usace.army.mil/nid/#/dams/system/OR00016/summary
Congressional District 04, Oregon
Fern Ridge
one of four WVP dams that do not include a powerhouse.
volume max=121,000ac-ft avg=102,200 ac-ft area=9,360ac (14.625 Sq. mile) max dam height=384.9ft normal pool height=377ft
dam height = 46ft, 100% pool height = 40, 0% pool height = 337ft
ten rivers and creeks feed
During summer, normal pool height=377ft
stored water is used for recreation on the reservoirs,
some stored water is released in the river downstream
to improve water quality, support fish and wildlife habitat,
and provide water for irrigation and municipal uses.
Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake
last occurred in the year 1700.
can produce very large earthquakes that can cause up to 3 to 5 minutes of ground shaking.
extreme rainfall and snowmelt events may result in flooding in areas downstream of dams.
Flooding can be caused by high flows resulting from unregulated portions of the watershed and/or high flow that must be passed through the dam outlets and spillways when reservoir storage capacities are exceeded.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_Subduction_Zone 15% 9.5 earthquake in 15 years
APPENDIX B Tributaries
(https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=#map=13/44.08888/-123.30777)
inman creek
hannavan creek
long tom river
-----
west fork coyote - job swale creek
middle fork coyote creek
coyote creek
------
amazon diversion channel
APPENDIX C named 'trails'
(https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=#map=13/44.08888/-123.30777)
Royal Ave to Bangs Rd
sideridge trail
fanola trail
amazon delta trail
amazon to fern ridge trail
fern dam service road
richardson north trail
Bangs Rd to Subrideo Dr
south bangs trail
minor west fern trail
inlet trail
fern west
north bend trail
chroma trail
orion loop
crescent trail
ventura trail
Subrideo Dr to Umanski Ln
curl-wind trail
------
west fern trail
bean path
Umanski Ln to Jeans Rd
forest inlet trail
forest head trail
pretzel trail
levi trail
pawn loop
Jeans Rd to Vista Dr
fern west loop trail
cannary loop
zumwalt loop
west fern trail
Vista Dr to 126
fern ridge minor west trail
murk trail
---
fern ridge south trail
perkins trail
Perkins Peninsula Park Rd
fern ridge minor trail
fern ridge major trail
Hwy OR-126
APPENDIX D Oregon Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Advisory Archive
(https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/01f798892ecb48d8ac99ef9b4ebe37c8/page/Homepage#data_s=id%3AdataSource_2-18e62c97e5d-layer-2%3A109)
Fern Ridge Reservoir, LaneCounty
"Remember: Only a fraction of all water bodies in Oregon are visually monitored or sampled due to limited physical and monetary resources"
Advisory 9/21/12
Lifted 11/14/12
Cyanobacteria Microcystis
Toxin Measure (cells/mL)2,156,000
Advisory 8/15/13
Lifted 12/18/13
Cyanobacteria Microcystis
Toxin Measure (cells/mL)2,156,000
Advisory 6/18/25
Lifted 6/24/25
Advisory issued due to satellite imagery and visible bloom
(https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/HealthyEnvironments/Recreation/HarmfulAlgaeBlooms/Pages/Blue-GreenAlgaeAdvisories.aspx)
[----]What toxins are found in these blooms?
The most common toxins in harmful algal blooms in Oregon are microcystins and cylindrospermopsin, however anatoxin-a and saxitoxin have also been detected.
[----]What are the symptoms of exposure?
If enough water is swallowed or inhaled you may experience one or more symptoms that mimic food poisoning; headaches, cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, numbness, dizziness, fever. Children and pets are at increased risk of exposure because of their size and level of activity. Symptoms generally begin within 24 hours and last 72 hours.
[----]Are there treatments available if someone gets sick from a cyanotoxin exposure?
There are no antidotes for cyanotoxins.
(https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/RECREATION/HARMFULALGAEBLOOMS/Pages/faqs.aspx)
88936 Lisoski Ln.
Veneta, OR 97487
obel...@gmail.com
February 2025
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Willamette Valley Project
211 E 7th Street, Suite 480
Eugene, OR 97401
CENWP-WVP-Mast...@usace.army.mil
RE: CENWP WVP Master Plan Fern Ridge Dam/Reservoir
We know that the primary purpose of Fern Ridge Dam/Reservoir (FRR) is flood risk management, but some of the so-called 'secondary purposes' are probably at least as important and most in the mind of Fern Ridge users. Uses such as recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement, irrigation (and their concomitant water quality issues); especially considering such a vast area 14.625 Sq. mile of visibly 'unused' land/water. Here are presented suggestions for realization of some 'secondary purposes': swimming, irrigation/water storage, and bicycling, transportation and the possible mitigation of yearly eutrophication.
In terms of recreation and fish&wildlife FRR is problematic. Swimming in Fern Ridge Reservoir is, to say the least, mostly nasty; blue-green algae warnings issued by the Oregon Health Authority are common and, as we all know, this is because of the 'Fill & Draw' exercised on the lake yearly. While a possible remedy might be to maintain a certain level in the 'lake' above the 0% pool level -- this is a NO-GO that would negate the flood control 'primary purpose' of the Willamette Valley Project. Instead, decreasing the level of the reservoir's bottom so it was, at most, level with its lowest elevation (near the dam; or lower) would obviously add volume to the pond, maintain a non-zero level possibly decrease bottom/yearly-fill mixing and hopefully change the biodynamics of the normal algal bloom by decreasing the churning of the over-winter exposed, oxidized dried bottom sediment. A continuous pond level over most of the reservoir bottom might maintain such sediment in a static redox state and commensurately decrease the turbidity that is yearly evident in the pond and, at seasons' end dumped into the Willamette River when FRR is drawn down. If FRR were a wastewater point source, its effluent would exceed any NPDES standard of 30-30-30 (bod-ts-turbidity). Consider that the filled FRR as maintained acts as an 'out-of-balance' wastewater 'pond' facility and would be negligently in violation of the Clean Water Act at best. Luckily, the ACE is exempt(?). So, what to do?
Re-contour FRR's bottom to increase its depth, but what to do with the displaced earth? There are many options:
1) Oregon Department of Transportation (ODT)wants to increase the number of lanes on Highway OR-126, and will need fill - start the filling by dredging and grading -- in conjunction with their plan.
2) a) Build more islands in the lake, make them rise steeply so they have peaks,
b) build peaks on the existing flat islands.
3) build raised causeway bikeways (obviously with bridges for, at least, kayaks and motor boats, and ... rivers) aligned with either
a) Royal Ave.-Jeans Road alignment (where there is the existing old road alignment causeway below the 100% pond level). This needs a bridge for coyote creek
b) Jeans Road to Perkins Peninsula Park to Royal Avenue. This needs two bridges for west & middle coyote creek forks and coyote creek.
c) Vista Rd to Perkins Peninsula Park to Royal Avenue. This, likewise, needs two bridges for west & middle coyote creek forks and coyote creek
to connect with the Amazon Creek bikeway in Eugene
The ODT wants to put a bikeway near/against Hwy OR-126 -- a truly stupid idea. No bicyclist wants to cycle a few feet from a freeway. ( https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Projects/Project%20Documents/OR-126-OH-2-ReportFinal-2_Accessible-2.pdf ) see page 3 (https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx?project=21231 ). Considering the $8.5 billion 'military quality-of-life initiatives' the One Big Beautiful Bill allocated for funding and the money already spent by ODOT for Hwy OR-126, it would seem that some of these funds should be available for FRR's use.
Side benefits from the re-contouring/deepening of the bottom, will be more storage for flood control, agricultural uses, and an extended recreational use season -- and hopefully, better water quality for fish, fowl and humans -- due to diminished churning. Note also that recurrent droughts due to intensified agricultural use and changes in monthly precipitation distribution, as suggested by hardiness zone changes (https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ ) might also be mitigated. ---And then there are the ancient cultural artifacts; if such are found during grading then plans must be written such that either an island would be placed over them to maintain their sacrality, or such artifacts could be re-intered by the appropriate cultural agency authorities to a more sacral site ( https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Projects/Project%20Documents/Section_106_Joint_Finding_Historic_and_Archaeological.pdf ). Perhaps better water quality, year round islands, and increased pond surface would enhance fish and bird populations by limiting predator access and aqueous vector growth (ie. cyanophyta, Oregon Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Advisory, see Appendix D)?
Finally, there are listed many named trails around FRR (I counted 34, and have used those I could find around "Jeans peninsula", (see appendix c, https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=#map=13/44.08888/-123.30777), but should one go and try to find many of these 'trails' they would be quite frustrated, as I recently was -- because mention on a map does not connote existence. Either trails should be upgraded to actual trails or maps should be updated to remove their names. I say the more trails, the better.
Thanks for allowing us Fern Ridge users the opportunity to comment on this upcoming project planning.
APPENDICIA
APPENDIX A Fern Ridge Dam
https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Willamette-Valley/
part of a system of 13 multi-purpose dams in the Willamette Valley
primary purpose
flood risk management
secondary purposes
recreation, irrigation, municipal and industrial water supply, fish and wildlife, water quality and hydropower
https://nid.sec.usace.army.mil/nid/#/dams/system/OR00016/summary
Congressional District 04, Oregon
Fern Ridge
one of four WVP dams that do not include a powerhouse.
volume max=121,000ac-ft avg=102,200 ac-ft area=9,360ac (14.625 Sq. mile) max dam height=384.9ft normal pool height=377ft
dam height = 46ft, 100% pool height = 40, 0% pool height = 337ft
ten rivers and creeks feed
During summer, normal pool height=377ft
stored water is used for recreation on the reservoirs,
some stored water is released in the river downstream
to improve water quality, support fish and wildlife habitat,
and provide water for irrigation and municipal uses.
Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake
last occurred in the year 1700.
can produce very large earthquakes that can cause up to 3 to 5 minutes of ground shaking.
extreme rainfall and snowmelt events may result in flooding in areas downstream of dams.
Flooding can be caused by high flows resulting from unregulated portions of the watershed and/or high flow that must be passed through the dam outlets and spillways when reservoir storage capacities are exceeded.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_Subduction_Zone 15% 9.5 earthquake in 15 years
APPENDIX B Tributaries
(https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=#map=13/44.08888/-123.30777)
inman creek
hannavan creek
long tom river
-----
west fork coyote - job swale creek
middle fork coyote creek
coyote creek
------
amazon diversion channel
APPENDIX C named 'trails'
(https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=#map=13/44.08888/-123.30777)
Royal Ave to Bangs Rd
sideridge trail
fanola trail
amazon delta trail
amazon to fern ridge trail
fern dam service road
richardson north trail
Bangs Rd to Subrideo Dr
south bangs trail
minor west fern trail
inlet trail
fern west
north bend trail
chroma trail
orion loop
crescent trail
ventura trail
Subrideo Dr to Umanski Ln
curl-wind trail
------
west fern trail
bean path
Umanski Ln to Jeans Rd
forest inlet trail
forest head trail
pretzel trail
levi trail
pawn loop
Jeans Rd to Vista Dr
fern west loop trail
cannary loop
zumwalt loop
west fern trail
Vista Dr to 126
fern ridge minor west trail
murk trail
---
fern ridge south trail
perkins trail
Perkins Peninsula Park Rd
fern ridge minor trail
fern ridge major trail
Hwy OR-126
APPENDIX D Oregon Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Advisory Archive
(https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/01f798892ecb48d8ac99ef9b4ebe37c8/page/Homepage#data_s=id%3AdataSource_2-18e62c97e5d-layer-2%3A109)
Fern Ridge Reservoir, LaneCounty
"Remember: Only a fraction of all water bodies in Oregon are visually monitored or sampled due to limited physical and monetary resources"
Advisory 9/21/12
Lifted 11/14/12
Cyanobacteria Microcystis
Toxin Measure (cells/mL)2,156,000
Advisory 8/15/13
Lifted 12/18/13
Cyanobacteria Microcystis
Toxin Measure (cells/mL)2,156,000
Advisory 6/18/25
Lifted 6/24/25
Advisory issued due to satellite imagery and visible bloom
(https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/HealthyEnvironments/Recreation/HarmfulAlgaeBlooms/Pages/Blue-GreenAlgaeAdvisories.aspx)
[----]What toxins are found in these blooms?
The most common toxins in harmful algal blooms in Oregon are microcystins and cylindrospermopsin, however anatoxin-a and saxitoxin have also been detected.
[----]What are the symptoms of exposure?
If enough water is swallowed or inhaled you may experience one or more symptoms that mimic food poisoning; headaches, cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, numbness, dizziness, fever. Children and pets are at increased risk of exposure because of their size and level of activity. Symptoms generally begin within 24 hours and last 72 hours.
[----]Are there treatments available if someone gets sick from a cyanotoxin exposure?
There are no antidotes for cyanotoxins.
(https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/RECREATION/HARMFULALGAEBLOOMS/Pages/faqs.aspx)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ ...) under mechanism of action
microcystins inhibit the activity of protein enzymes phosphatase PP1 and PPA2A.
cylindrospermopsin It has been proposed that an activated [cytochrome] P450-derived metabolite (or metabolites) of CYN is the main cause of toxicity.
anatoxin-a (Very Fast Death Factor,VFDF) is a CNS α4β2 and α4 and muscular (α1)2βγδ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist.
saxitoxin is a neurotoxin that acts as a selective, reversible, voltage-gated sodium channel blocker.
--
Richard Hughes
Feb 12, 2026, 8:17:11 AM (10 days ago) Feb 12
to ka...@eugenegears.org, Greater-Eugen...@googlegroups.com
The bike path would be separated by a low wall. Cyclists would be closer to high speed traffic for seven miles than the current I-5 path which is less than a mile and most riders avoid. Not likely to be popular? I suggested to ODOT to consider Cantrell Rd for bikes which is gravel. Their focus was only on Hwy 126 which is one of the most dangerous highways in Oregon.
Richard
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Bob Lewis
Feb 12, 2026, 10:34:47 AM (10 days ago) Feb 12
to hughe...@gmail.com, ka...@eugenegears.org, greater-eugen...@googlegroups.com
Yes paved bike path on Cantrell then path from central to veneta away from 126 much cheaper then bridges over frr. Also path from fern rodge path overlook to 126 along green hill
Sent from my iPad
On Feb 12, 2026, at 5:17 AM, Richard Hughes <hughe...@gmail.com> wrote:
Richard Hughes
Feb 12, 2026, 10:45:09 AM (10 days ago) Feb 12
to Bob Lewis, ka...@eugenegears.org, greater-eugen...@googlegroups.com
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