Beginning in the spring of 2010, the Bureau of Reclamation initiated a Corrective Action Study for Scoggins Dam to identify options for addressing the seismic issues discovered in 2008. The schedule and costs for the Water Supply Project have been significantly delayed as a result of Reclamation's study. The study is expected to be completed in 2012 and federal funding to repair or replace the dam could be beyond 2020. Learn more in the 2010 Update newsletter.

Water Supply partners cannot make a regional decision until the costs of repairing or replacing Scoggins Dam are determined as part of the Corrective Action Study. The latest cost estimate from the 2009 Dam Raise Appraisal Study is about $1 billion for the dam raise, seismic improvements and other elements of the project.

In 2010, the City of Hillsboro initiated a separate study (in coordination with water supply partners) of additional water supply options that could address Hillsboro’s needs. They have developed a website that describes the alternatives being studied. This study is expected to be completed in 2012. The results will assist the partners in considering the best regional alternative.   

Water Supply Project in the news

Region has solid option for increasing supply of safe, clean water (August 2009). Read the news release.

Senator Merkley met with public officials and local business leaders from Washington County for a briefing and tour of the water supply project (May 2009). Read the article.

Congressional delegation secures $300,000 for water supply project and title transfer process (March 2009). Read the news release.

Long-term resident of Scoggins Valley discusses the proposed dam raise in Capital Press article (December 2008). Read the article (PDF, 424KB).