News Release Archive

Reclamation to Begin Releasing Water from Mckay Reservoir

Media Contact: Barbie Hill , (541) 564-8616

For Release: March 18, 2004

HERMISTON, OR - Officials from Reclamation's Umatilla Field Office announced today that they will begin releasing spring runoff from McKay Reservoir into McKay Creek as soon as March 21, 2004. Initial releases from McKay Reservoir will start at a rate of 75 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and will be increased to match spring inflow volumes.

As of March 18, 2004, the storage level of McKay Reservoir is 3500 acre-feet below the active capacity of 65,500 acre-feet. By April 1, Reclamation will have reached the active capacity storage level and will continue to pass through spring inflows. The current inflow rate of spring runoff into the reservoir is now approximately 480 cfs.

McKay Dam is part of Reclamation's Umatilla Project and is located south of Pendleton, Oregon.

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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.