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Resident tells council draining of Lake Louise killed turtles, urges caution over dam removal
Summary
During public comment William Hanson urged the council to consider ecological impacts when discussing future actions such as removal of Junction Falls Dam and possible elimination of Lake George, and recounted the October 2020 draining of Lake Louise.
William Hanson of N 8723 1020 Fifth Street addressed the council during the public comment period to urge the council to consider environmental impacts as the city weighs future actions involving local dams and lakes.
Hanson said Turtle Month runs from Earth Day to World Turtle Day and asked the council to "consider some Lake Louise history." He told the council that on June 29, 2020, the area experienced an "extremely heavy rainstorm" and that on Oct. 4, 2020, "the city chose to drain Lake Louise," saying the dam's six-foot waste gate was opened and "Lake Louise was destroyed." Hanson asserted that turtles that overwinter in lake bottoms were trapped and suffocated when the lake was drained and said the council should "consider our past and future actions and their impact on all of the fellow residents" as it makes decisions about water and dam projects.
Hanson framed his remarks as appeal for the council to "do better in the future." The council did not take action on the remarks during the meeting; the comments were delivered in the public comment period and recorded in the meeting minutes.
