14 Feb 2024

USACE awards Russell Creek rehabilitation and improvement contract

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District has awarded a $1.9 million contract to Northbank Civil & Marine, Inc. to conduct a rehabilitation and improvement project on Russell Creek Canal, part of the Mill Creek Flood Control Project near Walla Walla, Washington.

2 Nov 2023

23-052 USACE to rehabilitate and improve Russel Creek Canal

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – This winter, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District will begin a rehabilitation and improvement project on Russel Creek Canal. The canal, a part of the Mill Creek Flood Control Project, is located downstream of Bennington Lake and runs approximately one mile from the lake to Russel Creek.

10 May 2023

23-031 Corps to begin refilling Bennington Lake for upcoming recreation season

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Walla Walla District will begin diverting water from Mill Creek to Bennington Lake today, May 10, in preparation for the upcoming recreation season.

14 Jun 2022

22-046 Corps stops diverting water as Mill Creek flows recede

WALLA WALLA, WA – Water Management officials at the Walla Walla District stopped diverting water into Bennington Lake at 5:45 a.m. in response to receding flows coming down Mill Creek. The diverted water will remain in Bennington Lake until Russell Creek and Cottonwood Creek flows recede.

29 Mar 2022

22-019 Mill Creek to begin refilling Bennington Lake for upcoming recreation season

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District (USACE) operations staff will begin diverting water from Mill Creek to Bennington Lake early next week in preparation for the upcoming recreation season.

29 Dec 2021

21-064 Mill Creek Reservoir Road Closes from Thursday, Dec. 30 - Saturday, Jan. 1 due to Inclement Weather

Walla Walla, WA. – Officials at the Mill Creek office are closing Reservoir Road on Thursday, December 30, 2021 through Saturday, January 1, 2022 due to inclement weather and limited plowing availability.

9 Nov 2021

21-060 Bennington Lake annual drawdown is underway in preparation for flood season

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Mill Creek Project staff began drawing down Bennington Lake on Nov. 8, 2021 to prepare for the upcoming flood season.

23 Sep 2021

21-054 Bennington Lake closed after toxic algae bloom discovered

WALLA WALLA, WA – The Walla Walla Department of Community Health (DCH) was notified by the Department of Ecology that cyanobacteria, otherwise known as blue-green algae, was discovered on Bennington Lake in Walla Walla. Cyanobacteria can be harmful to people and fatal to animals. Due to toxicity levels, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Walla Walla District, in coordination with DCH, has closed the lake to the public.

3 Aug 2021

21-045 Corps of Engineers increases fire restrictions at Rooks Park and Bennington Lake

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Due to increasingly dry and hot conditions, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Natural Resource Management officials are increasing fire restrictions in Rooks Park, Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake.

2 Jun 2021

21-031 Goats coming to graze at Mill Creek

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The Walla Walla District will be using a herd of goats to remove weeds and other vegetation growing on levees that border the creek shoreline extending from the Mill Creek diversion dam downstream to the metal division works foot bridge near the Mill Creek Office. They are scheduled to arrive June 3.