Location
Construction & Engineering Hall, Oregon State University
Start Date
25-6-2013 2:30 PM
End Date
25-6-2013 2:50 PM
Description
In a span of just three years, three mainstemdams were removed from the Rogue River and one tributary dam was partially removed. This historical achievement in Southern Oregon opened up over 157 miles of mainstem river habitat to unhindered fish passage and freed the way to hundreds of more miles of tributary habitat. This effort was undertaken in response to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with the goal of recovering Southern Oregon/Northern California coho salmon and their designated critical habitat while removing relic dams. Savage Rapids Dam was the catalyst that started the dam removal frenzy on the Rogue River. It was determined from evaluation of fish passage performance in the 1980s that the 36-foot high concrete dam was killing and obstructing fish passage for salmon and steelhead. These evaluations started in motion a series of lawsuits and advocates that supported dam removal which ultimately created momentum for multiple dam removals in the Rogue River Basin. Gold Hill Dam was the first removal that started in 2008 at river mile 121. This full-spanning dam consisted of a 900-foot long concrete structure ranging in height from 4 ft to 14 ft. The dam was no longer used to generate power and served no purpose. At the same time, the Army Corps' Elk Creek Dam was partially removed. This partially constructed roller compacted concrete dam was 83 feet high and had a base that spanned more than 300 feet across the valley and completely blocked fish passage in this important tributary to the Rogue River for more than 20 years. In 2009, the Savage Rapids Dam was removed with a portion of the structure retained for stability of the banks at river mile 107. In addition to dam removal, a new irrigation water pumping plant was installed to maintain irrigation diversion. Finally, Gold Ray Dam (river mile 126) was removed in 2010 marking the removal of three mainstem dams and one tributary dam in the Rogue River basin. Gold Ray Dam was a defunct hydropower facility that had not generated power since 1970 and created a significant hindrance to fish passage due to an inadequate fish ladder. The concrete buttress dam was 38ft high and spanned 360 ft causing over one mile of slack water conditions in the Rogue River. Removal of the three mainstem Rogue River dams created 157 miles of natural fish passage and improved habitat conditions. Unique lessons were learned and on-going monitoring information has been useful and will provide valuable information transferable to other dam removal projects. Unique lessons learned and dam removal strategies will be shared throughout the presentation.
Concurrent Sessions A: Dam Removal II - Freeing The Rogue River : 4 Dams Down, 157 Miles of River Opened
Construction & Engineering Hall, Oregon State University
In a span of just three years, three mainstemdams were removed from the Rogue River and one tributary dam was partially removed. This historical achievement in Southern Oregon opened up over 157 miles of mainstem river habitat to unhindered fish passage and freed the way to hundreds of more miles of tributary habitat. This effort was undertaken in response to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with the goal of recovering Southern Oregon/Northern California coho salmon and their designated critical habitat while removing relic dams. Savage Rapids Dam was the catalyst that started the dam removal frenzy on the Rogue River. It was determined from evaluation of fish passage performance in the 1980s that the 36-foot high concrete dam was killing and obstructing fish passage for salmon and steelhead. These evaluations started in motion a series of lawsuits and advocates that supported dam removal which ultimately created momentum for multiple dam removals in the Rogue River Basin. Gold Hill Dam was the first removal that started in 2008 at river mile 121. This full-spanning dam consisted of a 900-foot long concrete structure ranging in height from 4 ft to 14 ft. The dam was no longer used to generate power and served no purpose. At the same time, the Army Corps' Elk Creek Dam was partially removed. This partially constructed roller compacted concrete dam was 83 feet high and had a base that spanned more than 300 feet across the valley and completely blocked fish passage in this important tributary to the Rogue River for more than 20 years. In 2009, the Savage Rapids Dam was removed with a portion of the structure retained for stability of the banks at river mile 107. In addition to dam removal, a new irrigation water pumping plant was installed to maintain irrigation diversion. Finally, Gold Ray Dam (river mile 126) was removed in 2010 marking the removal of three mainstem dams and one tributary dam in the Rogue River basin. Gold Ray Dam was a defunct hydropower facility that had not generated power since 1970 and created a significant hindrance to fish passage due to an inadequate fish ladder. The concrete buttress dam was 38ft high and spanned 360 ft causing over one mile of slack water conditions in the Rogue River. Removal of the three mainstem Rogue River dams created 157 miles of natural fish passage and improved habitat conditions. Unique lessons were learned and on-going monitoring information has been useful and will provide valuable information transferable to other dam removal projects. Unique lessons learned and dam removal strategies will be shared throughout the presentation.
Comments
Scott Wright, P.E. has over 19 years of private and public sector water resources experience and has been the engineer of record and project manager for numerous stream, river, and wetland restoration projects. Scott's skills include field assessment, hydraulic modeling, restoration design, design-build management, and comprehensive project management. His focus areas are dam removal, fish passage, fish passage barrier assessments, large-scale in-stream structures, and river structures. Scott's comprehensive knowledge of construction techniques, permitting, and water resources design provide exceptional solutions. Scott was awarded the Spirit of the Oregon Plan from the Oregon Watershed and Enhancement Board for his steadfast dedication to watershed restoration.