News Release Archive

McKay Dam Releases to Increase Causing Higher Stream Levels

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Jerry Cheek, jcheek@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: April 14, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation will increase flows from McKay Dam over the next several days in order to accommodate water entering the reservoir due to heavy precipitation and mountain snowmelt. The dam is located on McKay Creek about 6 miles south of Pendleton, Ore. Starting Monday, April 17, flows from the reservoir will be increasing every five hours at a rate of about 50 cubic feet per second. Reclamation anticipates flows to reach a level of about 1,000 cfs by Friday, April 21.

"We would like people who may be near or around McKay Creek to exercise caution due to the possible dangers of swiftly moving water," said Jerry Cheek, Reclamation civil engineer. "Water needs to be released from McKay Reservoir in order to make room for additional inflows into the system."

As of Friday, April 14, flows from McKay Dam were about 10 cfs. Reclamation officials anticipate the reservoir to be at its full pool elevation of 65,000 acre feet through next week.

McKay Dam is an earthfill structure constructed by Reclamation in 1926, standing about 1,330 feet high.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.