A low-head dam that has pulled swimmers underwater and trapped at least one person against its concrete face is now the subject of a city-commissioned study recommending it be torn out of the Willamette River entirely. The draft feasibility study, covering the Millrace Low Head Dam and a nearby rock weir just east of the Interstate 5 bridge between Eugene and Springfield, calls full removal the preferred option after years of dangerous water rescues at the site.
In the draft report, the engineering firm recommends full removal, according to Lookout Eugene-Springfield. The study also looked at ways to modify the structure instead of removing it, and two alternatives remain under consideration beyond full removal, according to the Daily Journal of Commerce, which reported that the study examined three total alternatives for removing or modifying the concrete dam and its associated rock weir.
Whichever option moves forward, it won't come cheap. Both of the alternatives still on the table would cost between $4 million and $5 million, and no funding currently exists to pay for either one, the Daily Journal of Commerce reported. The study itself is informational and does not commit Eugene to any action, Lookout Eugene-Springfield reported, leaving the dam's fate unresolved even as the recommendation lands on paper.
A Forgotten Structure Nobody Claims
The dam dates back to the 1850s, when it was privately built to divert water into a millrace that once powered sawmills and flour mills, per the Daily Journal of Commerce. According to KATU, the structure was abandoned in the 1900s and is now an inactive structure that no government agency claims. It remains unclear whether Eugene, Springfield or another government agency bears responsibility for it, Lookout Eugene-Springfield reported — a gap that has complicated efforts to address the hazard even as rescue calls pile up.
KATU reported the feasibility study was funded through a combination of City of Eugene contributions and funds from the Department of State Lands. On the question of when that funding was set in motion, the record is mixed: Lookout Eugene-Springfield reported the study launched this year with a $50,000 budget, while the Daily Journal of Commerce reported that Eugene set aside $50,000 for the study in 2025 in partnership with Dowl Engineering.
Currents That Pull Swimmers Back Toward the Dam
The hazard itself comes down to physics. Water flowing over the top of the dam creates an eddy that extends about 20 feet wide and circulates back toward the structure, according to KATU. Eugene Springfield Fire said that circular flow causes swimmers to struggle to stay afloat, and the department reports the area around the dam is a frequent site of emergency calls, with about one-third of its water rescue calls occurring near the dam.
Eugene Springfield Fire Battalion Chief Riley Martinka said debris and water movement make the dam dangerous, per KATU, noting the structure contains rocks, concrete, rebar and chunks of concrete underneath the surface. KEZI separately described the area as a dangerous obstacle made more hazardous with cold water, changing flows, and debris collected nearby, according to KEZI.
A Pattern of Close Calls
The dam has been the source of multiple water rescues in recent years, Lookout Eugene-Springfield reported. On July 11, fire crews responded around 5:30 p.m. and rescued two people near the dam, one of whom had become stuck in the structure; both were wearing life jackets, and neither needed medical assistance, the outlet reported.
In a separate incident on May 18, emergency responders assisted seven college-age men following a near-drowning incident near the dam, KEZI reported. Fire officials said currents and obstacles forced some of the victims underwater, and most were washed downstream from the dam, according to the same report.
Open House Set for Next Week
Eugene will present the feasibility study at a community open house next Monday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Bascom-Tykeson Room in the Eugene Public Library, according to the Daily Journal of Commerce. The city has framed the study as a step toward helping prevent future water rescues, though with no confirmed funding and no determination of who is responsible for the structure, what happens next remains an open question.
