"2,500 Attend Dedication of Dorena Dam Sunday," 27 October 1949
A crowd estimated at 2,500 attended the dedication ceremonies at the Dorena Dam Sunday
afternoon, which was the first unit of the Willamette Valley Flood Control Project completed in
the post-war period. An interesting fact brought out during the speaking program was that
favored by good weather, the Dorena Dam was finished a year ahead of schedule.
Starting at 11 a.m. about one hundred visitors were guests of the Cottage Grove businessmen at a
cocktail hour and this was followed by a luncheon served at the noon hour at the mess hall to 160
people, mostly out of town visitors. The luncheon, sponsored by the Dorena Construction Co.,
was an invitational affair. The mess hall closed about a month previous was reopened for the
occasion and the luncheon prepared and served largely by volunteer help, was especially
appreciated by the visitors.
Two numbers by the high school band opened the dedication program. Elmo Chase of Eugene,
member of the Willamette Basin Commission, made a brief talk at the beginning of the program
introducing Marshall Dana, editor of the Portland Journal and master of ceremonies and
explained that Mr. Dana was chosen for the occasion because he had been connected with and
interested in flood control since before the inception of the flood control project.
The Rev. Hugh Penistone, representing the local ministerial association gave the invocation. Mr.
Dana gave a brief resume of the background for the starting of the project and introduced H.E.
Eakin, representing the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Eakin expressed
appreciation of this community for the interest of the Willamette Basin Commission and for the
work of the U.S. Engineers, in the completion of the first three flood control units.
Gov. Douglas McKay, a featured speaker on the dedication ceremony told the start of the flood
control idea with the appointment of a committee in 1935 by Governor Martin. The outlook for
any relief from floods was not bright at this time, but it was on the suggestion of Toastmaster
Dana that the U.S. Engineers be invited to inspect the Willamette Basin which finally brought
the result and passage of funds sufficient to make a survey. Governor McKay contended that the
flood control backers were aided by providence in a minor flood which occurred at the time the
engineers made their first inspection of the basin. He predicted that in addition to flood control
benefits, the Willamette Valley would really come into its own through irrigation and that the
state would continue its rapid growth.
Rep. Harris Elsworth of Roseberg reviewed the legislation necessary for setting up the flood
control project, stating that although getting a project of this nature through congress looked like
a time consuming ordeal, actually the time had been short in measuring an event of this sort. He
took occasion to hit the CVA proposal, stating that the engineers were doing a good job of
developing the Columbia River thus far and if the CVA proposal were passed, its operation
would be left up to a board of three, none of whom might be resident of the Northwest or know
anything about the regional problems…
July 14, 1949 – The Sentinel
"Dorena Dam Now Stops Flow of Row River"
A story of the progress of the Dorena reservoir from its inception to the present time was related
by W.A. Swartz, resident engineer of the Dorena project before the members of the Cottage
Grove Chamber of Commerce Tuesday noon. Charts showing the flood area of the Willamette
Basin together with charts showing materials of which the reservoir is made was displayed by
Mr. Swartz, who told the story of the construction of the dam for the past two years.
Tuesday night the height of the earthen dam reached a total of 455 feet (Measure from sea level).
The dam is now 86% completed. Work on a concrete spillway is completed with the exception
of one concrete block (or commonly referred to as block 11 by the engineers), which will be built
up as the earthen dam is finished. Two thirds of the earth work is now completed and the
proposed finished date of the dam has been set at November 1949. Mr. Schwartz stated that the
dam could be used now, should the necessity arise. The remaining block left low will be
finished within 65 days or approximately October 15. Progress on the remaining concrete is
slow on account of the heat generated by the concrete. Now dam has ever been built that did not
leak a little at the start, but the leaks will eventually be sealed off.
Among the unusual features connected with construction of the Dorena reservoir is the fact that
instruments to measure the internal pressure of the dam have been constructed at 14 different
locations. When you drive out to watch work on the dam, movements of the earth moving
equipment look as though the drivers are trying to weave a crazy quilt pattern, the speaker said,
but the driver gets his load at a certain spot and receives a signal as to what zone or particular
spot of the dam the dirt must be left.
Mr. Schwartz said that the river channel was diverted on June 7th. In the passed 21 days 67 feet
of fill has been placed in the dirt dam. When completed the dam will have the maximum storage
of 79,000 acre feet of water, or have a floor control storage of 70,000 acre feet, the total drainage
area involved is 265.5 miles, the area of the normal pool is 2,314 acres; length of lake will be 5.3
miles, depth of spillway will be 115 feet, maximum depth of the earth fill will be 140 feet. Cost
of the dam was originally estimated at $3,500,000. At current estimates the dam will cost
$14,900,000. Of general interest and particularly to sportsmen is the fact that a fish hatchery is
probable on the site at the contractors shop and office. To assist the state or federal game and
fish commission, the thermometers will be located on dam every ten feet to tell the temperature
of the lake water at the various depths. While Mr. Schwarts admitted that he was no fish expert,
he said that the arrangement was designed to aid the experts in determining what kind of fish was
best suited.