Wednesday April 29, 2026
KEZI —
A major river restoration project will begin in early May along the South Fork McKenzie River, reconnecting flowing water to more than 335 acres of the river’s historic floodplain.
The USDA Forest Service, McKenzie Watershed Council, Eugene Water & Electric Board and McKenzie River Trust are launching the Lower South Fork McKenzie River Valley Reconnection Project – Phase 3. The work builds on more than a decade of collaborative restoration in the McKenzie basin.
The project will take place across 1.8 miles of the South Fork McKenzie River. The terrain is a wide, alluvial valley upstream of Blue River along Forest Service Road 19 and includes rich habitat for spring Chinook salmon, bull trout and other native plants and animals.
Over time, the South Fork McKenzie River has been cut off from its floodplain due to land use, flood control activities and the effects of Cougar Dam. These changes have led to faster-moving water, less complex habitat and reduced natural capacity for water storage during extreme rains, which increases the risk of flooding in the area.