Salem vs Corps Over Water Safety | Portland News

Salem is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to halt plans to drain the Detroit Reservoir, warning that sediment could contaminate their water supply and shut down treatment systems for over 220,000 residents. The Corps’ move, tied to a federal salmon recovery mandate, claims no impact on drinking water — but Salem says they’ve been ignored in negotiations for safeguards. With Marion County already filing a similar lawsuit over missing impact reports, Salem’s city manager insists legal action is necessary before the drawdown begins after November. The Corps won’t comment on litigation but says current low levels stem from drought and emergency plans are underway with state partners — yet Salem demands assurances their water infrastructure won’t be compromised, especially since the reservoir serves as a critical backup for neighboring cities. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/dade31fe0aff1cf7