Bonamici Recognizes National Dam Safety Awareness Day at Scoggins Dam with Clean Water Services, Bureau of Reclamation, Community Leaders

On National Dam Safety Awareness Day, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) toured Scoggins Dam and received an update about federally-funded safety and storage improvements to the dam currently being studied by Clean Water Services and the Bureau of Reclamation. Scoggins Dam is one of the most seismically vulnerable facilities in the Bureau's inventory.

"Smart improvements to infrastructure are some of the best investments we can make because they will benefit generations to come," said Congresswoman Bonamici. "I appreciate the efforts of Washington County, Clean Water Services, Reclamation, and local leaders who are working to make storage and safety improvements at Scoggins Dam and Hagg Lake. I have been proud to partner with them to secure support at the federal level for this important project. We know that a major earthquake could happen at any time, and we have a responsibility to make infrastructure upgrades that will protect lives and communities in a Cascadia event."

"Protecting the public and securing Washington County's primary water supply against a major earthquake is critical," added Washington County/Clean Water Services Chair Andy Duyck. "We're working closely with Reclamation and local water managers to ensure our region has a safe, secure and reliable source of water for the future."

Congresswoman Bonamici has helped secure and continues to lead requests for federal funds and the appropriate authority to support pre-construction activities, and necessary safety and storage improvements to Scoggins dam. Clean Water Services has been working with the Bureau of Reclamation to study alternatives to address safety concerns and increase water supply at Hagg Lake. Scoggins Dam uses water from Hagg Lake to provide water to nearly 400,000 Washington County residents.

Washington County Chair Andy Duyck, Mayor Steve Callaway (Hillsboro), Mayor Pete Truax (Forest Grove),Tualatin Valley Irrigation District Chair Jim Love, Bureau of Reclamation's Pacific NW Region Safety of Dam Coordinator Chris Regilski, and Columbia-Cascades Area Manager Dawn Wiedmeier joined the Congresswoman on the tour and briefing.

National Dam Safety Awareness Day occurs annually on May 31 to encourage the public to learn about the benefits and risks associated with dams. The event was started after the 1889 failure of the South Fork Dam in Pennsylvania, which had a death toll of more than 2,200 people.