Missing person sought after boat capsizes at Hills Creek Reservoir

Search crews were still working Hills Creek Reservoir after a small boat capsized and left one person missing, a stark reminder that Lane County’s lakes and reservoirs can turn dangerous in a matter of seconds.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified about 8 p.m. on May 22 that a boater was missing at the reservoir. Two people had been in the boat when it overturned. One person made it back to shore, but the second occupant never got out and remained unaccounted for as crews continued the water search.

The response pulled in multiple agencies across the region. The sheriff’s Marine Patrol and Dive Team were on the water, joined by sheriff’s staff and volunteers, Oregon State Troopers and Klamath County Search and Rescue. The sheriff’s office said the missing person’s identity was being withheld until next-of-kin notifications were complete, a standard step during an active search.

Hills Creek Reservoir sits about 45 miles southeast of Eugene and four miles southwest of Oakridge, deep in Willamette National Forest country where outdoor traffic picks up quickly once spring arrives. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Hills Creek Dam and reservoir in 1961, and the lake now has about 44 miles of shoreline. The U.S. Forest Service says the reservoir supports boating, swimming, fishing and water-skiing, but access can change with water levels. The south-end Bingham Boat Launch requires higher water levels to be accessible by boats, and the Packard Creek Swim Area is set apart as a protected swimming area away from boating activity.

The search also underscored the hazards that can catch boaters off guard at reservoirs close to home. Cold water, shifting wind and the speed with which a capsized boat can drift all raise the risk, especially in smaller craft where recovery options are limited. National Weather Service guidance says nearly 85% of people who drown while boating were not wearing life jackets, and it warns that cold shock can be dangerous even in water temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lane County’s marine patrol had also been offering free boat inspections earlier in May, a sign that safety outreach was already underway as the season opened. With the holiday weekend drawing people toward local water, the Hills Creek emergency stood as an urgent reminder: wear a life jacket, expect cold water, and do not underestimate a reservoir that can look calm from shore.