By Bill Poehler | Feb. 26, 2026 | Salem Statesman Journal The Oregon Water Resources Commission has denied a proposal to build a dam across Drift Creek. The commission found the dam would harm the public interest, citing negative impacts on fish species, water quality, and recreation. The long-proposed and debated dam on Drift Creek
Latest Attempt to Build a New Dam South of Silverton Defeated Read More »
By Bill Poehler | Aug. 12, 2025 | Salem Statesman Journal The Oregon Supreme Court remanded the Oregon Water Resources Commission’s denial of water rights by the East Valley Water District. The Oregon Water Resources Commission must reconsider its denial of a proposed dam in farmland south of Silverton, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled on
Oregon Supreme Court Rules Water Rights for Proposed Dam Were Improperly Denied Read More »
Aug. 8, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information, please contact:Tommy Hough, WaterWatch of Oregon, tommy@waterwatch.orgBrian Posewitz, WaterWatch of Oregon, brian@waterwatch.org Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Key Ruling for Drift Creek Instream Water RightThe state’s highest court affirmed most of a lower court’s ruling protecting a tributary of the Pudding River from a proposed 70-foot dam and
Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Key Ruling for Drift Creek Instream Water Right Read More »
By Sophia Cossette | Nov. 21, 2024 | Woodburn Independent A decade-long fight over the water rights to stream water in Marion County may finally be coming to a head. The dispute between the East Valley Water District and the environmental nonprofit WaterWatch of Oregon over water law involving a proposed dam on Drift Creek
Water Permit Dispute Over Potential Drift Creek Dam Reaches Oregon Supreme Court Read More »
By Bill Poehler | Nov. 8, 2024 | Salem Statesman Journal Oregon Supreme Court justices Thursday heard an appeal of a ruling denying a water right to a group of farmers in Marion and Clackamas counties who want to build a dam on a creek where cutthroat trout spawn. The lawyer for the East Valley
Oregon Justices Hear Appeal from Farmers Who Want to Build a Dam on Drift Creek Read More »
By Lily Roby | Nov. 7, 2024 | Courthouse News After more than two decades of fighting, the East Valley Water District appeared before the Oregon Supreme Court on Thursday to once again push for approval of a water permit for a proposed dam. The district — which represents farmers between Silverton, Woodburn, and Molalla
Battle Over Oregon Dam Reaches State Supreme Court Read More »
By Bill Poehler | Nov. 17, 2023 | Salem Statesman Journal The Oregon Water Resources Commission and the Court of Appeals have prohibited the dam, saying it might harm cutthroat trout that spawn in the creek. Oregon’s Court of Appeals this month upheld a previous ruling prohibiting construction of a new dam south of Silverton
Court of Appeals Denies Proposed Drift Creek Dam But Water District Intends to Appeal Read More »
By John Ross Ferrara | Nov. 2, 2023 | KOIN News On Nov. 1, the Oregon Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the Oregon Water Resources Commission’s 2019 decision to deny the building of a 70-foot dam on Drift Creek between Silver Falls State Park and Silverton. The decision ended a 21-year battle to create a
Oregon Court Rejects Proposed Dam Near Silver Falls State Park Read More »
By Bill Poehler | Dec. 17, 2019 | The Statesman Journal Joel Rue welcomed a group of fellow farmers and friends into his home in Victor Point, located in a canyon between Silverton and Silver Falls State Park, in 2005. Over the next few hours, the farmers from around Mount Angel explained how for decades
Farmers Band Together to Stop Dam from Being Built on Drift Creek Read More »
By Molly Harbarger | May 16, 2015 | The Oregonian Bruce Jaquet took over management of his 193-acre farm from his father. He bought the land from his great-aunt, passed down from her father, who originally bought the land after emigrating from Switzerland in 1900. Jaquet doesn’t want to sell, and he doesn’t want four
Farmer v. Farmer: Future of Oregon Water at Center of Fight Over New Dam Near Silverton Read More »
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