To comply with the required flows, water is needed from the other reservoirs, including Yale reservoir

COUGAR — Starting Thursday (Oct. 31), the boat launch at PacifiCorp’s Yale Park will be closed due to low Yale Reservoir water elevation. 

In mid-October, the flows required to be released at Merwin Dam by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission increased to 2,500 cubic feet per second, and these flows will increase to 4,200 cubic feet per second on November 1, 2024. To comply with the required flows, water is needed from the other reservoirs, including Yale reservoir.

Operations of the Lewis River Hydroelectric projects are currently driven by several factors, most notably the inflows into the project reservoirs (Swift, Yale and Merwin). In early September, Swift Reservoir was drawn down to accommodate a dam safety construction project at Swift Dam, impacting flows at the downstream reservoirs. 

Although Yale Park Boat Launch will be closed until inflows increase, the boat launch at PacifiCorp’s Speelyai Park on Merwin Reservoir will be available starting November 1, 2024.

For questions about Lewis River recreation site operations or PacifiCorp’s new event policies, contact our recreation department at 503-813-6666 or via email at recreation@pacificorp.com.