Coffee Breaks: Detroit Lake Drawdown, Rogue Brewing's Closure, and Salem's Evolving Economy

Welcome to another episode of What's Happening Salem, a new weekly series in partnership with the Salem Reporter—your quick coffee-break update on the stories shaping our community.

This week, Jacob Espinoza is joined by Rachel Alexander from the Salem Reporter to unpack two major local stories:

• Detroit Lake’s 2025 drawdown:

Why the water level must be lowered, what it means for endangered fish, and how Salem is preparing to protect our drinking water system from sediment overload.

• Rogue Brewing’s sudden closure:

What happened, what it signals for Oregon’s struggling craft beer industry, and how shifting alcohol consumer habits are impacting local economies.

Plus: Thanksgiving cooking chaos, adult friendships, and Salem's first Dinner Club.

Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or you're new to the area, this conversation gives you the context you need to understand what’s happening in our city.

👉 This series is produced in partnership with the Salem Reporter. Stay informed and support local journalism by subscribing here:

https://www.salemreporter.com/

Timestamps:

00:02 - Introduction and Thanksgiving prep

01:33 - What's Happening Salem Dinner Club launch

03:10 - Detroit Lake drawdown explained

07:20 - Rogue Brewing's closure and impact on West Salem

08:17 - Economic trends in Oregon's beverage industry

10:05 - Financial challenges facing craft breweries

11:31 - Looking ahead to what's next for Salem's community