Rogue River basin nearly full for 1st time in 3 years

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Late-season precipitation means reservoirs in the Rogue River basin are nearly full for the first time in three years.

The system, which includes Applegate and Lost Creek Lakes, is at 97% capacity for the first time since 2019, Jefferson Public Radio reported Thursday.

“It’s a good news story. Pretty much everyone who depends on water from those reservoirs is going to have the water that they need, even recreation,” said Chris Gaylord, a for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Portland district.

The water in the Rogue River Basin is used for irrigation and fish habitat.

“Even as we were heading into the end of April, things were looking really grim. It was looking like one of, if not the, worst water years in the history of these reservoirs. And things have really turned around and are better than they were last year or the year before,” Gaylord said.

Other nearby reservoirs in the Rogue Valley aren’t as lucky.

Talent Irrigation District’s Emigrant Lake is at 38% capacity and Hyatt Reservoir near Ashland is 11% full.