What's new

A Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which identified the Estuary Alternative as the preferred approach to addressing decades-long issues in the waterbody, was released Oct. 31, 2022. It is available on the EIS project website.

Phase 3 - Implementation

Implementation consists of funding, design, permitting, and construction of the selected long-term management alternative.

Phase 2 - Environmental Impact Statement (2018-2022)

Funding of $4 million to begin Phase 2 of the long-term management planning – a project-specific Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – was approved by the Legislature in 2018. An additional $1.45 million was approved in 2020, along with $284,000 identified from local funding. The final $715,000 needed to complete the EIS was approved in 2021.

An EIS is required by the State Environmental Policy Act and provides information on potential significant environmental impacts, and how to avoid, reduce or offset, impacts.

Phase 1 - Information and planning (2016)

On Dec. 30, 2016, the Department of Enterprise Services submitted a Phase 1 Report to the Legislature. Key outcomes of the Phase 1 process include:

• Fostering long-term collaborative relationships essential for ensuring long-term management of the Capitol Lake/Lower Deschutes Watershed.

• Identifying shared goals for long-term management of the Capitol Lake/Lower Deschutes Watershed.

• Fulfilling requirements in a 2015-17 capital budget proviso in which the Legislature directed Enterprise Services examine six key issues.

• Garnering broad support for funding of an EIS, where a preferred alternative for long-term management can be identified.

The report and related information can be found on the Capitol Lake Reports webpage.