Victory for salmon and Jackson County

Contact:

Bob Hunter, WaterWatch: 541-826-4399
Lesley Adams, Rogue Riverkeeper: 541-488-5789

Medford - Construction crews resumed work today removing Gold Ray Dam after U.S. District Court Judge Owen Panner denied a request for an injunction and removed the temporary restraining order that halted removal activities earlier this month.

Rogue Flyfishers, WaterWatch of Oregon and Rogue Riverkeeper intervened in the lawsuit on behalf of the county and dam removal. They were represented by the Western Environmental Law Center.

“I am thrilled that construction crews are back at work to remove this dam and its liabilities. The green light given—again—to remove Gold Ray dam is a victory for Rogue salmon and steelhead and for Jackson County residents,” said Rogue Riverkeeper Lesley Adams.

Jackson County, the owner of the dam, approved dam removal in May, obtained all of the requisite permits, and began removal activities in June. The lion’s share of the project is being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Legal challenges had the chance to stall the project long enough to cause Jackson County to lose the $5 million in federal stimulus funding allocated to the project. Had that effort succeeded, Jackson County would have had to come up with millions of dollars from local taxpayers to address the dilapidated dam’s liabilities.

In addition to safety concerns and financial burdens, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife listed Gold Ray dam as the fifth biggest impediment to fish passage in the state. After Gold Ray Dam is removed this year, the Rogue River will flow free for 157 miles from Lost Creek Reservoir to the Pacific Ocean.

“This is a major river restoration project with significant benefits to the Rogue River and its salmon and steelhead,” said Bob Hunter of WaterWatch.  “Hopefully this decision will put an end to the meritless claims brought by a few dam removal opponents that have resulted only in wasting taxpayer dollars.”   

Originally built in 1906 to provide electricity to the area’s booming gold mines, Gold Ray Dam was taken out of electricity production in 1972 when Pacific Power gave the aging structure to Jackson County. An Environmental Assessment completed by the National Marine Fisheries Service in February 2010 documented that the dam is structurally dangerous, does not meet federal standards for fish passage and would cost nearly $70 million to repair to generate electricity.