City Presents Millrace Dam Feasibility Study
Eugene officials will present a study on the inactive Millrace lowhead dam on the Willamette River at a public open house.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Emergency Response
Live Poll
Do you think your local government should fund fixing dangerous abandoned dams?
The City of Eugene is presenting a feasibility study on the Millrace lowhead dam, an inactive structure on the Willamette River east of the I-5 bridge between Eugene and Springfield. Officials are seeking public input on the study's findings.
Why it matters
Eugene Springfield Fire reports that about one-third of its water rescue calls occur near the structure, and the dam has been linked to several near-drownings. Residents of Eugene and Springfield have a direct stake in how the hazard is addressed.
Eugene Springfield Fire reports that about one-third of its water rescue calls occur near the Millrace dam, with the eddy below the structure roughly 20 feet wide. The source does not say how many rescue calls were recorded in total, and what fixes the feasibility study will propose remain undisclosed.
The players
Eugene Springfield Fire
The fire department serving Eugene and Springfield, which reports that about one-third of its water rescue calls occur near the Millrace dam.
City of Eugene
The municipal government presenting the feasibility study on the Millrace dam, funded in part by city contributions.
Department of State Lands
Oregon's state agency that managed the state's submerged and submersible lands and contributed funding to the feasibility study.
The details
Water flows over the top of the abandoned dam, built in the 1800s, creating an eddy about 20 feet wide that circulates water back toward the structure. Swimmers caught in this current struggle to stay afloat, and debris including rebar and concrete remains at the site.
Timeline
Built in the 1800s: the Millrace lowhead dam was constructed.
1900s: the dam was abandoned.
Earlier this summer: Eugene Springfield Fire discussed the dam's rescue calls.
5:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 2026: the city presents its feasibility study at an open house at the Eugene Public Library.
Seasonal Patterns
Lowhead dams like the Millrace structure are a recurring drowning hazard on U.S. rivers, and the city's study follows a pattern of local governments reassessing abandoned dams after repeated near-drownings. The source does not compare the local rescue rate to regional or national baselines.
Residents who swim or recreate near the Willamette River should stay well away from the Millrace dam, where the eddy can trap swimmers. Attend the open house at the Eugene Public Library at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2026, to review the feasibility study.
The takeaway
A structure that is no longer in use can still pose a lethal hazard, and the study's findings will shape whether the Millrace dam is addressed. Readers near the river should treat the site as dangerous regardless of the outcome.
Further reading
For more on how water rescues are handled locally, see Emergency Response coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KVAL.
Live Poll
Do you think your local government should fund fixing dangerous abandoned dams?
