March 2008

Six years ago the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) invested over $3 million in the Savage Rapids Dam Removal Project.  At the time, this was the single largest OWEB investment.  It showed the state's commitment to this major river restoration project on Oregon's internationally famous Rogue River, and provided much needed momentum to move this project along.

This major restoration project is now well underway with new pumping facilities expect to be online this summer and dam removal to follow next year, if not sooner.  On March 20th, OWEB board members toured the project to see first hand how the project is progessing.

"We are excited about the progress," state Tom Byler, OWEB Executive Director.  "OWEB's investment was a critical catalyst for leveraging millions of additional federal dollars to allow this exceptional restoration project to move forward."

Savage Rapids Dam, a 39-foot high, 500-foot long diversion dam that spans the mainstem of the Rogue River at river mile 107, has long been considered the biggest fish killer on the Rogue.  The dam impedes passage of significant portions of five runs of salmon and steelhead, including coho salmon listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.  The Bureau of Reclamation estimated removal of the dam will increase thenumber of fish reaching spawning grounds at the site by 22%.  This translates into approximately 114,000 more salmon and steelhead each year (87,900 that would be available for sport and commercial harvest and 26,700 that would escape to spawn) valued at approximately $5 million annually.

"This project, when completed, will be one of the nation's most significant river restoration projects," said Bob Hunter of WaterWatch.  "Not only will it be a tremendous boon to the Rogue River salmon and steelhead fishery, it will also open up new recreational boating opportunities between Rogue River and Grants Pass."

The dam is strictly an irrigation diversion dam, owned by the Grants Pass Irrigation District.  It does not provide any flood control, storage, navigation or hydropower function.  GPID is receiving a modern pumping facility that will serve the district's customer's better than the dam's worn out diversion system.

Project partners include the Grants Pass Irrigaton District, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Oregon Water Resources Department, WaterWatch of Oregon and OWEB.

Contacts:

* Carolyn Devine, OWEB Communications Coordinator (503) 986-0195

* Mark Grenbemer, OWEB Regional Program Representative (541) 776-6010

* Bob Hunter, WaterWatch of Oregon (541) 826-4399