With the community water supply in Mosier long under threat, motivation has been high to find a solution. Concerns dated back to the mid-1970s, when orchardists began complaining about steadily declining water levels, a 2012 federal report said.

Ted Walker pool is closed for the summer in anticipation of replacing the aged pool, so some folks may be inclined to head to the river for a cooling dip.

Water levels upstream of the John Day Dam are expected to be lower than normal between March 1 and March 8, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced.