Records per page:
DateNameCompanyComment
07/10/2026Cameron La FolletteOregon Coast AllianceSince the groundwater permit for this application has not been approved, this reservoir permit may also not be approved. However, the groundwater permit cannot be approved without study of the unknown but probably significant effects on surface water flows of the Elk River and any other surface waters likely to be affected. The Elk is an important fishery, and it is well known that groundwater extraction frequently has deleterious effects on surface waters, because groundwater movements are usually undetectable. ODFW has raised fish concerns related to this reservoir application.Furthermore, this reservoir would likely impact Garrison Lake, which is a very important alternate water source for the City of Port Orford. No water availability basin study has been done for Garrison Lake, and this must be done before a reservoir at this location could even be considered, much less approved. Port Orford may need to depend on this water source as climate changes, and to impact it by approving this application would be imprudent to say the least. There are currently no databases of information providing information on water availability, i.e., the capacity of the resource if this reservoir were to be approved. Given the sensitivity of the Elk ecosystem and its fisheries, this is a critical lack.
07/10/2026Florence PrescottKalmiopsis Audubon SocietyGreetings. I am writing on behalf of Kalmiopsis Audubon. Our group has more than 400 members in Curry County who are concerned about habitat for birds, fish and wildlife and we have a long heritage of advocating tor the extraordinary values of the Elk River. For that reason we are concerned about the proposal for a reservoir that taps ground water in the vicinity of Elk River. In particular, we are concerned that the project application review indicates that there is “potential for injury to in-stream and out-of-stream water rights in the Elk River and Garrison Lake drainages.” We strongly urge OWRD to follow the water master’s recommendation to require a water measuring device and to limit the reservoir fill season to ensure that in stream flows will be maintained. In many places, ground water and surface water flows may be connected in ways that are not directly apparent. Already the Elk River flows are extremely low over the summer, a situation exacerbated by drought, and so it will be extremely important to ensure that groundwater diversions will not reduce river flows during low flow periods that are crucial to the well being of our juvenile salmon. We have members who live along both Elk River and also Garrison Lake who appreciate the values of clean water and wildlife provided by these two local water bodies. Garrison Lake already suffers from an excess of aquatic vegetation and so it will be important to not reduce flows into the lake during summer months either. Lower flows could potentially impact water quality. We strongly urge OWRD to follow the water master’s recommendation to require a water availability analysis to determine timing for filling limit requirements. Thank you for considering our comments. Sincerely, Florence Prescott, Vice President, Kalmiopsis Audubon Society
07/10/2026Brian PosewitzWaterWatch of Oregon1. The proposed sources of water include groundwater under a permit that has not been approved. No reservoir permit should be granted unless/until the groundwater permit is approved. No groundwater permit should be approved without full review for water availability and the capacity of the resource, including impacts to surface water flows and whether water is available from those surface water sources, and whether impacts to those sources would adversely impact fishery resources. 2. Pursuant to the watermaster's recommendation to prevent injury, OWRD should develop a water availability basin for Garrison Lake and determine water availability relative to that basin in addition to the Elk River basin. 3. Any permit should incorporate conditions recommended by the watermaster, including a storage season limited to, at most, 11/1 to 4/30, subject to any reductions based on development of a water availability basin for Garrison Lake. 4. Any permit should include conditions recommended by ODFW, including the recommended restrictions on fish stocking and the recommended water quality condition. 5. In addition, ODFW raised concerns regarding potential releases of polluted water. Thus, any reservoir permit should also include the "Off-Channel Stored Water Releases" condition from ODFW's menu of conditions. 6. Any reservoir permit should be conditioned to prevent storage of runoff outside the permitted storage season. Thank you for considering these comments.