Media and Press

Civil Suit Demands Changes At Evans Creek Dam Medford Mail Tribune By MARK FREEMAN April 18, 2013 A conservation group has filed a federal suit against the owners of a defunct Evans Creek irrigation dam near Rogue River, arguing that the dam must be fixed or removed to allow safe passage of protected coho salmon.

Oregon lawmakers consider moratorium on motorized mining By Yuxing Zheng The Oregonian April 14, 2013 SALEM — Oregon lawmakers are considering a moratorium on suction-dredge mining in response to concerns that a growing number of recreational miners are causing harm to fish and rivers. The moratorium would ban motorized mining on the full length of

Legal Hook By Paul Fattig Mail Tribune April 14, 2013 Some 157 miles of the Rogue River flows freely again because of Bob Hunter. Hunter, 60, of Eagle Point, who retired in 2011 as the senior staff attorney for WaterWatch of Oregon but remains on its board, led the group’s decades-long battle to remove Savage

Bill would add to point of diversion requirements By Mitch Lies Capital Press March 5, 2013 SALEM — Farmers, ranchers and farm lobbyists have come out against a bill requiring the Oregon Water Resources Department to consider effects on wildlife and provide an opportunity for public comment when approving changes in water rights points of

Protecting Oregon’s rivers Bill would limit suction dredge mining on waterways Register Guard Editorial March 4, 2013 Nearly a quarter century has passed since Oregon last updated the State Scenic Waterways Program, which increases protection for the state’s most treasured rivers and limits destructive activities such as suction-dredge mining. The program, overwhelmingly approved by state

County withdraws from KBRA Commissioners voice concerns over impact on Klamath’s economy By Samantha Tipler Klamath Falls Herald & News February 26, 2013 Klamath County Commissioners plan to remove themselves and the county from the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. At their regular meeting Tuesday morning, all three commissioners voted to draft an order for Klamath

Scenic rivers run through it Oregon, that is — and Bates’ bill would protect some of them from being dredged Medford Mail Tribune Editorial Board February 22, 2013 State Sen. Alan Bates, D-Medford, has introduced a bill that would restrict suction dredge gold mining on some parts of some creeks and rivers in the state.

Water proponents split over annual fee proposal By MITCH LIES Capital Press February 21, 2013 SALEM — At a recent ceremony in Portland, Sens. Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland, and Bill Hansell, R-Pendleton, stood side-by-side in a show of bipartisan support for a plan to tap Columbia River water for irrigation in a way that protects fish.

Senate Bill Would Expand Protections for Oregon’s Rivers By Rachael McDonald KLCC February 20, 2013 A bill introduced in the legislature by Senator Alan Bates of southern Oregon would expand protections for the state’s rivers. It has the support of environmentalists and recreationalists. Senate Bill 401 expands the number of rivers and bodies of water

Roll on, Oregon House Republicans, roll on By Steve Duin, The Oregonian February 20, 2013 Ten thousand jobs. For more than a year, that’s been the pitch from Oregon House Republicans: Release a few drops from the mighty bucket of the Columbia River and — voila! — 10,000 jobs will magically rise from the fertile

Kitzhaber, farmers, environmentalists sign deal to add more water for Umatilla Basin irrigation By Scott Learn The Oregonian February 15, 2013 Gov. John Kitzhaber and a task force of farmers, environmentalists and government regulators agreed Friday to move forward on a short-list of projects that could provide more irrigation water for the water-short Umatilla Basin.

In Klamath, Politics Defeat Science and Common Sense By Leonard Masten Special to the Klamath Falls Herald and News February 03, 2013 Recent claims of retribution by government scientists come as no surprise. The Klamath Bureau of Reclamation has used bad science in the past. No one living on the Klamath River can forget the

2013 could be a watershed year for water in Oregon By Mitch Lies Capital Press January 8, 2013 Lawmakers will gather in Salem Jan. 14 to kick off the 2013 Oregon Legislature with an eye on water. Among other water issues expected to surface this session, lawmakers will debate the merits of a new water-right

Klamath Basin Farmers and Tribes Extend Water Deal For Two More Years By Amelia Templeton OPB Dec. 31, 2012 Farmers and tribes have voted to extend a restoration deal that could lead to the removal of four dams on the Klamath River. The deal was set to expire December 31, 2012. The Klamath begins in

Study links climate change to warmer Oregon streams by Keely Chalmers KGW November 2, 2012 A new study by Oregon researchers claims climate change is causing double trouble for our salmon. The snow that blankets Mount Hood is much more than just a pretty sight. It feeds the streams and rivers below it, giving fish

Officials deny water permit for gravel pit near Rogue River By The Associated Press October 18, 2012 GRANTS PASS — The state of Oregon has denied a water permit for a mining company that wants to develop a gravel pit along a tributary of the Rogue River. The Oregon Department of Water Resources said there

Southern Oregon irrigation project gains wide support By MITCH LIES Capital Press MEDFORD, Ore. — Farmers, conservationists, lawmakers and others ratified an agreement Sept. 26 proclaiming their commitment to improve water delivery systems in the upper Rogue River Valley. The Water for Irrigation Streams and Economy project, or WISE, is designed to improve in-stream flows

Objections raised over river mine plan By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune September 22, 2012 Conservation groups have launched an early effort to keep a Josephine County mining operation from developing an open-pit aggregate mine along the upper reaches of a Rogue River tributary. Havilah Resources of Grants Pass wants to build a 126-acre mine and

Wyden, Merkley testify for Crooked River water bill, KTVZ, Sept. 19, 2012 Both of Oregon’s Senators testify in favor of the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act.

Return of the sockeye salmon By Dylan J. Darling Bend Bulletin August 25, 2012 After decades of absence from the Deschutes River, sockeye salmon are running again. Returning as adults from a year or two in the Pacific Ocean, the fish are the latest to be reintroduced above the Pelton Round Butte dam complex, which

Op-Ed: Crooked River bill satisfies most stakeholder needs Bend Bulletin Aug 15, 2012 As reported, Rep. Greg Walden introduced a similar measure in the House earlier this year. Merkley’s bill incorporates and builds on many elements from Walden’s bill. One element is to allocate water from Prineville Reservoir to the city of Prineville. Everyone acknowledges

Bill Could Seal Crooked River Water Deal OPB News ENVIRONMENT Aug. 02, 2012 CONTRIBUTED BY: DAVID NOGUERAS A 40-year-old stalemate over what do with excess water in the Prineville Reservoir might soon be coming to an end. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley says he’ll introduce legislation this week that formalizes an agreement among stakeholders in business,

Hayley Hutt: Ten years after fish kill, stalling threatens salmon Redding Record Searchlight Op-Ed July 29, 2012 Two major events that could decide the fate of Klamath salmon recently occurred. First, the Department of Interior decided to analyze putting extra water into the Trinity River to avert a possible fish kill. Second, the California State

Firm Cuts Back Request for McKenzie River The Veneta company says it wants to take 10.4 million instead of 21 million gallons a day from the river BY CHRISTIAN WIHTOL The Register-Guard Friday, Jun 15, 2012 A Veneta company has cut in half its request for the amount of water it wants to withdraw from

EDITORIAL: Protect flowing resource State should deny speculative bid for McKenzie water Eugene Register Guard May 2, 2012 The Oregon Water Resources Commission should heed an administrative law judge who last week issued a proposed order saying the state should deny an application from the Willamette Water Co. for rights to withdraw more than 21

WATER FIGHT: An effort to draw from the McKenzie River prompts objections By Christian Wihtol Eugene Register Guard February 19, 2012 The McKenzie River appears inexhaustible as it tumbles wide, cold and fast from the Cascade Range on a winter’s day. Stand at the river’s edge near Vida and you’ll see up to 40,000 gallons

Water Fight on the River By Rebecca Randall Portland Tribune December 2, 2010 River conservation nonprofit WaterWatch contends that if the South Fork Water Board, which serves West Linn and Oregon City, is allowed to develop its water rights to the fullest extent that it could be harmful to fish in the Clackamas River. The

Viewpoints: Klamath Pact Doesn’t Protect the River Fishery By John DeVoe Special to the Sacramento Bee October 2, 2010 John DeVoe, an attorney and executive director of WaterWatch of Oregon, is responding to the Sept. 25 Viewpoints article “Klamath restoration plan deserves congressional support” which stated: “The agreements would balance water use in the basin

Going for the green by Bennett Hall Gazette-Times October 31, 2009 Green jobs by the numbers Green jobs in Oregon: 51,402 Share of total employment: 3 percent Average wage: $22.61 per hour Expected growth, 2008-2010: 14 percent Additional jobs: 7,409 Source: Oregon Employment Department What makes a job green? The Oregon Employment Department defines a

The Return of a Wild River By The Oregonian Editorial Board The Oregonian October 13, 2009   It took more than 20 years to get rid of the Savage Rapids Dam on the Rogue River even after it became clear that the squat concrete structure did far more harm than good. Now that the dam’s

Green News Roundup: Giving a Dam Mother Nature Network October 12, 2009 Oregon’s Savage Rapids Dam came down this weekend, ending an 88-year legacy of hindering salmon and steelhead on their annual march to spawn. The Rogue River is now able to flow freely, following a breaching that could foreshadow future dam removals aimed at

Rogue River Freed Of Savage Rapids Dam By April Baer OPB News October 12, 2009 The weekend provided kayakers, salmon, and others the first opportunity to experience the Rogue River in a different way. For the first time in eighty-eight years, they can travel the Rogue without passing the Savage Rapids Dam. April Baer reports.

Removing dam was 21-year upriver fight for WaterWatch lawyer By Paul Fattig Mail Tribune October 11, 2009   Bob Hunter acknowledges it may be time to remove the bumper sticker on the bow of his well-used driftboat. “Take Out Savage Rapids Dam,” it reads. Hunter, 55, of Eagle Point, is still getting used to the

Savage Rapids return to Rogue By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune October 10, 2009   Crews breach dam; boats go through channel for the first time in 88 years   Savage Rapids Dam became Savage Rapids on Friday for the first time in 88 years when excavators and bulldozers restored the Rogue River to its historic

Dam breaching celebrated on famed Rogue River By Jeff Barnard Daily Courier/AP October 10, 2009 ROGUE RIVER, Ore. (AP) — The wild and scenic Rogue River has become even wilder with the demolition of a dam that had hindered passage of salmon and steelhead to their spawning grounds for 88 years. A flotilla of some

Oregon dam’s demise lets the Rogue River run By Kim Murphy Los Angeles Times October 10, 2009 Savage Rapids Dam, the cause of fights and lawsuits for years, is finally torn away, as across the U.S. the era of dam-building of the early 20th century has given way to a new era of dam breaching.

Free at last: With dam breached, Rogue flows freely for first time in nearly a century By Jeff Duewel Daily Courier October 10, 2009 By Friday just after lunch, the Rogue River was busy scouring a new channel through sediment piled upstream from the former Savage Rapids Dam, signalling the end of a long fight