Presenter(s): Zane Eddy − Geography
Faculty Mentor(s): Alexander Murphy, Eric Sproles
Poster 35
Research Area: Physical/Social Science
The Willamette Valley has had a long history of flooding due to the physical geography of the region. In the 1930s, planning for flood control in the valley began. A plan for construction of a system of dams was approved in 1938, and construction of the first dam was completed in December of 1941. Over the following three decades, twelve more dams were constructed in the Southern Willamette Valley. In addition to flood control, the dams were supposed to help with irrigation. My research focuses on two main questions relating to the dam system: what went into the approval of the project during the 1930s and whether the project goals of flood control and improved irrigation were successful. To answer the first question, I looked at a variety of historic record and secondary sources relating to the project. Through these sources I was able to put together a narrative of the early project for a variety of different viewpoints. I analyzed streamflow data to answer the second question. I analyzed peak streamflow rates to determine the efficacy of flood control and at monthly average streamflow to determine the success of improving irrigation. I looked at data from before and after the dam were built and above and below the dams on the waterways to evaluate the effects of the dams. I concluded that the dams were effective at both of the stated goals.