Morning Lookout: Competing uses at Dexter Lake

Good morning,

At Dexter Lake, Jet Skis, anglers and rowing crews all compete for space on the water. Leo Heffron explains that the reservoir is home to a 2,000-meter rowing race course, but is also popular with recreational boaters, people riding personal watercraft and anglers. Some say there is plenty of room for all, but others worry about safety as well as simmering tension between different users.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study to evaluate what Springfield’s 42nd Street levee needs to meet federal flood control standards is back underway after a federal funding pause appears to have been resolved. Lillian Schrock-Clevenger reports.

Also, this weekend, if you missed it:

A national ultimate frisbee tournament was underway up in Salem, and South Eugene High School’s gender-diverse team — seeking a fourth title in five years — came up just short. Payton Bruni has the story, in words and photos, on the team’s hard-fought win in its semi-final game before losing in the finals to a team from Minneapolis.

The NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships took place at Hayward Field in Eugene. The Oregon Ducks ended up with two national champions: Aaliyah McCormick took the crown in the 100-meter hurdles — repeating her 2025 victory. And on the men’s side, Simeon Birnbaum won the national title in the 1500 meters. Owen Murray reports.

Lilly St. Angelo takes a look at the tightrope school districts walk as they try to keep trust in a time where budget cuts are the norm. It’s easy for the process to devolve into finger-pointing, broken trust and power struggles. District leaders discuss how they navigate the situation.

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Jet Skis, anglers, rowing crews: Concerns about competing uses of Dexter Lake

By Leo Heffron

The reservoir, which is home to a 2,000-meter rowing race course, is also popular with recreational boaters, people riding personal watercraft and anglers. Some say there is plenty of room for all, but others worry about tension between different users simmering just below the surface.

Following federal funding pause, work resumes to assess aging Springfield levee

By Lillian Schrock-Clevenger

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study to evaluate what the levee needs to meet federal flood control standards has identified the westward migration of the McKenzie River channel as the highest risk to the levee’s structural integrity.