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The Willamette Falls Locks, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, connect the upper and lower sections of the Willamette River, providing the only safe passage for boats around the 40-foot high Willamette Falls. The locks have recently been in danger of being closed, as the locks were in need of repair, and are no longer a Corps' budget priority.
However, closure of the locks would divide the river in half at a time when communities and businesses are focused on reconnecting to the river. Cities all along the river from Eugene to Portland are doing river-based projects that play a vital role in their community revitalization and economic development efforts. The Governor has emphasized the importance of the Willamette as a recreational resource, with the opening and further development of Willamette River Water Trail.
After three years, and Oregon Solution has emerged, as more than 20 public-sector, private-sector, and civic-sector partners have worked together and with the Oregon Congressional delegation to provide funding for operations, conducting an engineering study, and through inspection and repairs to the lock gate system. Clackamas County will help convene the Coalition in the future, to continue work on resuming operations for the locks.
- Willamette Falls Locks Declaration of Cooperation May 2006
 [pdf]
- Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation Newsletter Spring 2007 [pdf]
- OregonLive.com, "Locks Getting the Attention they Deserve", February 7, 2007 [pdf]
- OregonLive.com, "Locks Supporters see Task Force as Key", February 2, 2006 [pdf]
- OregonLive.com, "Locks deserve much more than a trickle", January 11, 2006 [pdf]
- Willamette Falls Locks Economic Impact Analysis: Final Report, prepared for Clackamas County Tourism Development Council and Oregon Tourism Commission, March 2005 [pdf, 1.29mb]
- Oregon Solutions Team meeting notes March 6, 2005 [pdf]
- HSS Inspection [pdf]
- Engineering Study Report, July 27, 2007 [pdf]
- Oregon Solutions Team meeting notes September 4, 2008 [pdf]
- CEDER presentation October 20, 2008 [pdf]
- Final CEDER Report October 23, 2008 [pdf]
- Oregon Solutions Team meeting notes January 30, 2009 [pdf]
- CEDER Report Appendices (included in Final CEDER report):
- Fox River System Management Plan - 2007 [pdf]
- Fox River Memorandum of Agreement [pdf
- Kentucky Locks Quit Claim Deed [pdf
- Muskingum Transfer Agreement [pdf
- Pictures from 1997 and 1999 refurbishing [pdf
- Willamette Falls Locks Command Briefing Presentation by Jeremy Weber, USACE August 2008 [pdf]
- Willamette Falls Locks Fact Sheet [pdf]
- Oregon Solutions Declaration of Cooperation, draft May 2009 [pdf]
- West Linn Tidings, May 7, 2009: Cash locked in - The Willamette Falls Locks receive stimulus money to continue repairs [pdf]
- Convener: Vern Duncan
- Oregon Solutions Project Staff: Steve Greenwood
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