Archive for 2009

A lot of questions have come up about how the removal of multiple dams on the Rogue River will effect rafting trips on the Lower Rogue. With one dam already out of the Rogue, one currently being removed and another slated for removal next year, there have been concerns that this would effect the flow of the Lower Rogue making it more unpredictable through the wild and scenic section. Here are the three dams:

- The Savage Rapids dam, located east of Grants Pass at river mile 107, is believed to be a huge obstruction for migrating salmon and steelhead on the Rogue River. Its high-profile and expensive removal was debated for 10 years by conservationists, land-owners, government officials and farmers. It was eventually agreed that the dam would be removed with the understanding that pumps would be built to divert water from the river for the Grants Pass Irrigation District. At over 450 ft. long and 39 ft. high, the removal has been a huge undertaking, but the dam was actually breached today and work is scheduled to be complete in December, 2009.

- The Gold Hill Diversion dam was removed in July, 2008. It was located 15 miles upstream from (east of) the Savage Rapids dam. This 60-year old structure was used to divert water to a now closed cement plant. The city of Gold Hill then used the reservoir for their water supply up until the installation of a pumping facility.

- The Gold Ray dam is a now defunct hydroelectric dam located at river mile 125 just upstream from (east of) the old Gold Hill dam site. Also a large project at 38 ft. high and 360 ft. long, this dam only recently gained funding for removal in part from a $5 million grant from the Obama Administration’s stimulus package. Studies are being performed to deal with the large amount of sediment that has built up behind the dam and officials are hopeful that work can begin in 2010.

Removal of the three dams will now open the Rogue up as a free flowing river from the Lost Creek Dam (or William L. Jess Dam) all the way to the Pacific, which is over 150 miles. The main argument in favor of removal was that the dams have caused damage to the steelhead and salmon migrations depleting the populations to dangerous levels in some years. It is believed that, removal of the Savage Rapids dam alone will increase the number of salmon that will reach their spawning grounds by 22%, or an estimated 114,000. The Rogue River produces the second largest amount of salmon in Oregon (behind the Columbia River), and the hope is that with healthier populations of fish, recreational and commercial fishing will bolster local economies. Another argument in favor of removal is that with these dams removed, boaters will be able to travel unhindered through these stretches of river that previously were obstructed by the dams and subsequent reservoirs.

But how will the dam removal effect the rest of flow? The flow of the Rogue has actually been regulated by the William L. Jess Dam (at Lost Creek). This huge 327 ft. high structure will continue to provide hydroelectric power and flood control for the Rogue. So although these dam removals won’t directly impact boaters on the Lower Rogue, some indirect effects may be apparent. Sediment blocked by the dams may be washed down in the coming years, fish populations will hopefully increase and boaters may raft or kayak these upper sections more frequently now that they can travel unhindered through this 150 mile stretch.

Gold Ray Dam with Kayakers; Photo credit to Thomas O’Keefe, Hydropower Reform Coalition