Document Actions
Notching the Elk Creek Dam
A WaterWatch of Oregon webpage about the notching of Elk Creek Dam on a tributary to the Rogue River in southern Oregon.
The Elk Creek Dam has been sitting partially constructed and serving no useful purpose for decades. The dam blocked Elk Creek and its inadequate fish passage facilities caused major problems for salmon and steelhead. Historically, an estimated 30% of the Rogue Basin's coho salmon spawned in Elk Creek.
Elk Creek Dam blast to notch the dam, July 15, 2008. Photo by WaterWatch of Oregon.
After decades of hard work, WaterWatch, Oregon Wild and their partners succeeded in getting the Elk Creek Dam notched. The notching will allow passage of fish past the dam, and the creek will be returned to its original gradient and alignment. Watch video of the blast to notch the Elk Creek Dam.
Elk Creek had historically produced large numbers of salmon and steelhead. However, the dam caused serious problems for fish including Chinook and coho salmon, summer and winter steelhead, and cutthroat trout.
Notching of the Elk Creek Dam is part of WaterWatch's Free the Rogue campaign, along with the removal of Savage Rapids Dam, removal of Gold Hill Diversion Dam, and assessing the feasibility of removing the Gold Ray Dam.
