Curry County approves resolution urging USACE and ODFW to keep Rogue River flow at 1,500 cfs

The Curry County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution July 21 urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to maintain a minimum flow of 1,500 cubic feet per second on the Rogue River at the Agnes meter through the middle of September.

A commissioner outlined recent meetings with the Corps and ODFW, saying low winter rain and virtually no snowpack left Lost Creek Reservoir at roughly 75% capacity and raised concerns for both recreation and spring Chinook salmon. "We think it's a good idea to keep the river flow consistent at 1,500 cubic feet per second throughout the summer through the middle of September," the commissioner said.

The board's motion to approve the resolution was made and seconded during the meeting and the chair called the question; the resolution passed on a unanimous vote. The motion text recorded at the meeting asked the county to provide the resolution to the Corps and ODFW advocating for the 1,500-cfs minimum at the Agnes meter.

Supporters said the flow level would help avoid trapping salmon in canyon sections where heat and disease present risks, and would sustain river recreation opportunities, including jet-boat runs. Commissioners noted that while winter flows can exceed 10,000 cfs and reach far higher during major events, a 1,500-cfs summer baseline is substantially lower than peak flows and considered a safety minimum for recreation and fisheries.

The resolution is advisory: it asks federal and state agencies to maintain the specified flow but does not compel action. County staff said the resolution would be sent to the Corps of Engineers and ODFW as the board requested. The board did not attach an implementation timetable to the resolution; no subsequent administrative directives were recorded at the meeting.