Low-head dams likely won’t catch the attention of a person floating down a river on a paddle board or inner tube. The unassuming structures can have drops as low as 1 foot, appearing as little more than a smooth bump in otherwise calm waters. But the continuous motion of water over the top of the dam creates a dangerous vortex at its base. As recently reported in the Register-Guard, the churn can trap swimmers, kayakers and others recreating in the water, earning them the nickname “drowning machines.”
Haleigh Kochanski covers breaking news and public safety for the Register-Guard. She joins us with more details about these dams and the dangers they present.
The following transcript was created by a computer and edited by a volunteer:
Dave Miller: This is Think Out Loud on OPB. I’m Dave Miller. Happy Friday. What are known as low-head dams might not catch your attention if you’re floating down a river on a paddle board or an inner tube. These unassuming structures can have drops as low as one foot and often appear as little more than a smooth bump in otherwise calm water – but they can be deadly. As recently reported in the Register-Guard, the hydraulic churn on the down river side can trap swimmers and boaters, earning them the nickname “drowning machines.”
Haleigh Kochanski covers breaking news and public safety for the Register-Guard. She joins us now with the details. Haleigh, welcome to the show.
Haleigh Kochanski: Hi, Dave. I’m happy to be here.
Miller: What sparked your interest in this topic?
Kochanski: I started researching low-head dams after receiving a report from the Eugene Springfield Fire Department in May regarding a near drowning event on the Willamette River, here in Lane County. Seven college-aged people were rescued from the waterway after passing over what the department referred to as a “defunct dam” with debris in it. All of the involved individuals were floating down the river and non-rated floatation devices without wearing life jackets. Most of the swimmers were forced underwater by the currents and obstacles called strainers. And the majority of swimmers were washed downstream and eventually rescued by public safety personnel. But this event led me to wonder what the story was behind this dam, low-head dams in general and why they’re often referred to as the silent killers in our river.
Miller: How are these different from more traditional dams?
Kochanski: That’s a great question. So low-head dams are man-made, manufactured structures, designed so that water flows continuously over the top from bank to bank of the river. And they usually have a 1 ft to 15 ft drop off. The falling water creates a strong circulated current, basically an undertow that can trap objects and people under water. The only data I was able to locate regarding just how dangerous these dams are were from a report from the National Weather Service that found more than 110 deaths, due to incidents caused by low-head dams, were reported between 2018 and 2020 alone.
Miller: Just in those three years?
Kochanski: Right. Yeah, just those three years. Countless search and rescue operations have been sort of carried out at or near low-head dams along the Willamette River and other waterways in Oregon. But per my research, I haven’t found reliable data to determine just how many.
Miller: Do you have any sense for how common these dams are across the state or across the country?
Kochanski: I can’t say I do. No. According to my research, low-head dams have been built in Oregon and across the U.S., in general, in rivers and in streams to raise the water level for purposes of improving municipal and industrial water supplies, hydropower production and diverting irrigation water.
For example, the Millrace Dam, which borders Eugene and Springfield and lies beneath the Interstate 5 Bridge – the focus of my research – is a structural remnant from the former Eugene Millrace. The Millrace was dug in 1851 to spin water wheels that generated power for industrial and commercial development in Eugene. And the wing dam, now known as the Millrace Low Head Dam, was built in 1891 to divert more flow from the river to the race. So the last industrial user on the Millrace closed in 1928 and the dam has sat abandoned ever since. While researching for dams on the National Inventory of Dams website, I could not locate any reports or history of the Millrace Dam in Eugene.
Miller: Oh, so even though this is one of the low-head dams and one that has actually been the site of fatal drownings in the past – and new ones as well, more recently – it wasn’t on a list that you found?
Kochanski: Yes.
Miller: Which does make one wonder how many other ones are not on that list.
Kochanski: Precisely.
Miller: You went out on the Willamette with a couple of local advocates to visit the Millrace Dam recently. What did it look like as you were headed towards it?
Kochanski: Well, the dam really appears unassuming to the human eye as you’re floating down the river. It doesn’t even look like there’s a dam there. I’d say once you’re in the throes of the current, it’s almost too late. And there’s only one safe space for recreationists to venture down – far river right. It’s about an 8 ft to 10 ft safe space. There’s no signage really alerting people to this danger that lies ahead of them in the river.
Miller: Oh, so obviously you were with people who were taking you there specifically to see it. They were well aware of this …
Kochanski: They were.
Miller: … But otherwise, you would have no idea of knowing what you were floating towards.
Kochanski: No, not at all.
Miller: I mean, how common is that for there not to be a warning sign before recreationists approach these dams?
Kochanski: I can’t say for sure. I am aware of a lawsuit right now. The families of a couple who drowned after tumbling over the Stroda Dam in 2022 – while kayaking down the Long Tom River – filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Oregon, Lane County and the US Army Corps of Engineers in April, alleging the Army Corps failed to restrict water users from accessing the dam and failed to post sufficient signage alerting water users to the danger. The Register-Guard is actively following the lawsuit so we’ll see what kind of comes out of that. But I think that can point to maybe the lack of statewide signage alerting recreationists.
Miller: What are advocates hoping to see, or pushing for, for the Millrace Dam?
Kochanski: A local advocate I spoke with, Mike McFarlane, started a petition in February demanding action from relevant state and local authorities to inspect, and ultimately remove or repurpose, the Millrace Dam here in Lane County. There’s also been a discussion of funding a feasibility study that could clearly dictate the next steps and make recommendations for mitigation removal, or even modification for recreational purposes like whitewater rafting and whatnot. So we’ll see what comes out of those discussions.
Miller: Well, who actually owns this dam?
Kochanski: I guess that’s the big question, right? At this current juncture, we don’t know for sure.
Miller: Oh, that seems like a real challenge. So the advocates are saying, hey, we want someone to do something with this dam or at least put up a sign, but it’s not clear whose jurisdiction it is or whose responsibility it is?
Kochanski: Correct.
Miller: Well, before a dam like this is either taken out or modified, or a sign is put up right before it, what did advocates you talk to say that boaters, floaters or paddlers should keep in mind?
Kochanski: Well, I think the first thing people should do is be alert – knowing the hazards in the river, studying a map beforehand to locate potential dams and hazard locations. If there is signage, obey all posted signage and barriers to the area, whether it be along the river or at boat launches. And always let someone know when you’re heading out on the water and where you plan on traveling.
Miller: Haleigh, thanks very much.
Kochanski: Thank you.
Miller: Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register-Guard. She wrote recently about the dangers of low-head dams.
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