By Jim McCarthy This past fall, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists found fall chinook salmon spawning in a stretch of the Illinois River previously submerged under the Pomeroy Dam reservoir pool. This development came just a few months after WaterWatch removed the 10-foot high, 270-foot wide concrete structure from this Rogue Basin tributary, […]
Instream: Chinook Spawn in Former Pomeroy Dam Reservoir Site Read More »
By Jim McCarthy In February, WaterWatch and our allies Steamboaters and Pacific Coast Federations of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) secured formal permission to participate in a state fish passage enforcement proceeding which may ultimately determine the fate of the 135-year old Winchester Dam, a privately owned former hydropower structure near Roseburg commonly known as the biggest
Instream: Winchester Dam Removal Closer Than Ever as Legal Battles Continue Read More »
April 8, 2025 The spring issue of our Instream newsletter is arriving in mailboxes now, featuring a striking aerial cover photo of the McKenzie River by photographer Nicholas J. Klein. One of Oregon’s great groundwater-fed rivers, the McKenzie drains about 1,300 square miles on its route from the Cascades to the Willamette River, with 12 miles of its length protected as
By Brinkley Hill | March 7, 2025 | KDRV News The Pomeroy Dam was demolished and removed from the Illinois River during the summer of 2024, but the overall project continues this spring with infrastructure improvements to benefit native fish habitat and river ecosystems. WaterWatch of Oregon, a statewide environmental organization focused on streamflows and
Work Continues on Pomeroy Dam Project, Improving Illinois River Health Read More »
By Claire Huber | Jan. 27, 2025 | The Cool Down The privately-owned Pomeroy Dam in southern Oregon has been removed from the Illinois River. As detailed by KLCC Radio, removing this dam will allow migratory fish native to the Illinois River to pass the irrigation dam’s original site without harm for the first time
Dec. 20, 2024 As we showcase our 2024 End of the Year Accomplishments report, one campaign where WaterWatch continues to get big results is our long-standing effort to Free the Rogue from artificial barriers to native fish in order to bolster salmon and steelhead populations, enhance recreation and fishing opportunities, and increase resiliency to climate change. For decades, WaterWatch
Make a Gift Today to Support Our Work Freeing the Rogue Read More »
Dec. 6, 2024 With 2025 less than a month away, we’re happy to report WaterWatch of Oregon had another big year with several key accomplishments and landmark wins in our mission to protect and restore Oregon’s rivers, streams, lakes, and aquifers. From a major victory for long-term water sustainability with the state’s adoption of new
Sharing Our End of the Year Accomplishments Report Read More »
As we reflect on the past year at WaterWatch, we have much to be proud of and much to be thankful for. We are especially grateful for supporters like you who continue to make it possible to protect and restore Oregon’s rivers, streams, lakes, and aquifers for the fish, wildlife, and people that depend upon
WaterWatch of Oregon 2024 End of the Year Accomplishments Read More »
With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season has arrived. And with it, the arrival of GivingTuesday today through 9 p.m. this evening! Since its inception in 2012, GivingTuesday has grown into a global generosity movement that inspires people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity in efforts to transform their communities and the world. You can
By Chrissy Ewald | Nov. 27, 2024 | Grants Pass Daily Courier Demolition is complete of a concrete dam that used to arc 270 feet across the Illinois River near Cave Junction and blocked access to 100 miles of spawning grounds for salmon, steelhead, and other migratory fish. The removal of the Pomeroy Dam marks
On the Illinois River, Pomeroy Dam is Now Just a Memory Read More »
Nov. 27, 2024 Dear Friend, Going into this long holiday weekend, we at WaterWatch would like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be grateful for, and I hope each of you can enjoy the next several days with family, friends, and loved ones. Here at WaterWatch, we’re especially thankful for
WaterWatch Thanksgiving Message from Executive Director Neil Brandt Read More »
By Cade Stirling | Nov. 26, 2024 | KOBI-TV News With the successful removal of Pomeroy Dam, the Rogue Basin’s highest-priority barrier to native fish has come down. WaterWatch of Oregon, the statewide water conservation group, worked with state and national partners like the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the U.S. Forest
Pomeroy Dam Removal Complete, Construction Continues Into 2025 Read More »
By Roman Battaglia | Nov. 26, 2024 | Jefferson Public Story The Pomeroy Dam was first built in 1896 for irrigation. The current concrete version of the dam was built in the 1940s. Since then, it’s prevented fish like salmon and steelhead from going upstream to spawn in one of the Rogue River’s major tributaries.
A 126-Year-Old Dam Comes Down on the Illinois River Read More »
Nov. 26, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information, please contact:Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, jim@waterwatch.orgScott Wright, River Design Group/SWCA Environmental Consultants, scott.wright@swca.com Pomeroy Dam, West Side Road culverts before and after images here:https://tinyurl.com/3ebb76cmPlease credit photos to Crystal Nichols/Dustin Saigo Rogue River Basin’s Highest Priority Barrier to Native Fish Comes DownOngoing multi-barrier collaborative effort benefits salmon
Rogue River Basin’s Highest Priority Barrier to Native Fish Comes Down Read More »
Oct. 31, 2024 A year has passed since WaterWatch completed a priority fish barrier removal project on Takelma Creek in the Illinois River subbasin of the Rogue, and positive responses continue to pour in from both the local salmon population and the region’s scientific community. The multi-faceted Takelma project opened access to 3.5 miles of
Accolades and Salmon Follow Another Rogue Basin Dam Removal Read More »
Oct. 24, 2024 By Jim McCarthy We’re thrilled and honored to announce the WaterWatch-led Takelma Creek Barrier Removal Project, completed in 2023, has won the 2024 Western District American Fisheries Society Award of Excellence in Riparian Management. This multi-faceted project is primarily located on Siskiyou Field Institute property in the Illinois River subbasin of the
Instream: WaterWatch-Led Fish Barrier Removal Project Wins Award Read More »
By Shaun Hall | Oct. 6, 2023 | Rogue Valley Times Fish have a bit more room to roam now that a 13-foot-high dam has been removed from a tributary of the Illinois River near Selma in Josephine County. The dam was removed in recent days from a property that decades ago operated as a
Fish-Blocking Dam Removed from Takelma Ceek at Ranch Frequented by John Wayne Read More »
By Izzie Lund | Oct. 4, 2023 | KDRV News Crews have finished demolishing a 13-foot-high, 70-foot-wide dam in an effort to restore salmon and steelhead habitat in Takelma Creek, according to a news release from WaterWatch of Oregon. “(The project) opened access to approximately 3.5 miles of formerly blocked spawning and rearing habitat for
Crews Demolish Dam in Takelma Creek, Restore Access for Salmon Read More »
Oct. 4, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information, please contact: Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon Steve Soesbe, Siskiyou Field Institute Scott Wright, River Design Group Takelma Creek Dam before and after removal photos are available here: https://tinyurl.com/3fjd8dfm Please credit photos to River Design Group Second Rogue Basin Dam Removal Project in One Year Nears Completion
Second Rogue Basin Dam Removal Project in One Year Nears Completion Read More »
By Mark Freeman | March 4, 2013 | Medford Mail-Tribune Wimer and Fielder dams are cited as two of the state’s top 10 impediments to fish passage. The 100-year-old Wimer Dam that spans Evans Creek near this community is a classic example of a structure doing far more harm than good to the wild salmon
Evans Creek Dams Are on State’s List of Worst Impediments for Fish Passage Read More »
