The Salem City Council will consider declaring a state of emergency due to an expected water shortage in 2026. The move comes in anticipation of potential water quality and supply disruptions resulting from a planned drawdown of Detroit Lake reservoir, scheduled for Fall 2026.

The emergency declaration would allow emergency spending to improve Salem’s water system resiliency. If the declaration is adopted, the city can also authorize agreements with vendors and other agencies for alternative water supply developments.

When the reservoir is lowered, sediment and other fine particles will flood into the North Santiam River, the primary source of drinking water for the cities of Salem, Turner, and Slayton. The higher levels of sediment and fine particles could overwhelm Salem’s sand filtration system, reducing the city’s ability to meet its water demand.

“Salem’s drinking water system relies on slow sand filtration. Salem’s water system uses a method called slow sand filtration to clean water, but this process doesn’t work well when the water is full of dirt and sediment,” said a Salem City Spokesperson.

The high levels of sediment in the water will require the city to stop using river water at its water treatment plant, possibly for many weeks.

The spokesperson for the city stated that during this period, the city will utilize alternative water sources to meet the anticipated demand. These include existing groundwater wells on Geren Island, the Aquifer Storage and Recovery system in South Salem, and an emergency supply of drinking water through a connection with the City of Keizer.

The spokesperson added that these sources may not meet all of the expected water demand during the drawdown and recovery period in 2026 or the years following.

The City’s Public Works Department stated that it is undertaking several initiatives to address the need for alternative water sources. These include a project to construct up to four additional groundwater wells on Geren Island.

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The department is also developing a program to enhance its filters at the water treatment plant. It will initiate a project to install a pump station on a second water connection with the City of Keizer.

These initiatives are not expected to be operational until 2027 under standard procurement processes. However, the city said the projects can be completed by August 2026, ahead of the planned drawdown under an expedited procurement schedule authorized by the proposed emergency declaration.

The U.S. Corps of Army Engineers originally planned the drawdown for this fall, but announced a one-year delay in April. According to a statement from the corps, the pause will provide more time to gather input from the public and complete a supplemental environmental impact statement for long-term planning, ensuring the project meets federal requirements.

A biological opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service in December 2024 requested the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers lower the Detroit Reservoir to historically low levels to support endangered salmon migration.

The City Council will decide whether to adopt the declaration during a City Council Meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday.