Tag: Steelhead

Make a Gift Today to Support Our Work Freeing the Rogue

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 »

On the Illinois River, Pomeroy Dam is Now Just a Memory

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 »

Rogue River Basin’s Highest Priority Barrier to Native Fish Comes Down

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 »

Jim McCarthy on Campaign to Remove Winchester Dam on JPR’s Jefferson Exchange

Hosted by Mike Green | Sept. 11, 2024 | Jefferson Public Radio Jim McCarthy, Southern Oregon program director at WaterWatch of Oregon, joined the Jefferson Exchange to discuss the controversy over incomplete repairs of the 134-year-old Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River in Douglas County, and the growing movement to remove it altogether. Listen

Jim McCarthy on Campaign to Remove Winchester Dam on JPR’s Jefferson Exchange Read More »

Challenges and Gains for Water Conservation Plan

By Michael Kohn | July 12, 2024 | Bend Bulletin On the last day of 2020, eight irrigation districts in Central Oregon and the city of Prineville entered into a landmark agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Their accord, the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), spelled out in hundreds of pages of

Challenges and Gains for Water Conservation Plan Read More »

Disappointing Columbia River Treaty “Agreement in Principle” Prioritizes Hydropower, Flood Control Over Needs of Imperiled Salmon and River Health

July 11, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact: Bill Arthur, Sierra Club, billwarthur@gmail.com Joseph Bogaard, Save Our wild Salmon Coalition, joseph@wildsalmon.org Rev. A.C. Churchill, Earth Ministry / Washington Interfaith Power and Light, ac@earthministry.org John DeVoe, WaterWatch of Oregon, john@waterwatch.org Columbia River Treaty “Agreement in Principle” Prioritizes Hydropower and Flood Control Over the

Disappointing Columbia River Treaty “Agreement in Principle” Prioritizes Hydropower, Flood Control Over Needs of Imperiled Salmon and River Health Read More »

Williams-Whalen Dam Removal Restores Evans Creek Flow

By Susan Hiland | July 3, 2024 | Grants Pass Daily Courier A work crew last week moved logs into place along the edge of Evans Creek, creating new habitat for small critters to hide and eat in. Just days before, the spot was the site of the old Williams-Whalen Dam, which stood for 128

Williams-Whalen Dam Removal Restores Evans Creek Flow Read More »

Instream: A Visitor’s Guide to Klamath Dam Removals

July 3, 2024 By Jim McCarthy The removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River near the Oregon-California state line is nearly complete. The smallest of the four dams, Copco 2, was removed last summer. The other three, far larger dams were breached this January in preparation for the major structural removal now taking

Instream: A Visitor’s Guide to Klamath Dam Removals Read More »

Third Dam Removed, Fish Passage Improved on Evans Creek

By Shaun Hall | July 1, 2024 | Rogue Valley Times Another small dam has been removed in Southern Oregon to improve fish habitat. The 150-foot-wide, five-foot-high Williams-Whalen Dam on Evans Creek was demolished last week about 12.7 miles upriver from its confluence with the Rogue River. “This is great news for salmon and steelhead

Third Dam Removed, Fish Passage Improved on Evans Creek Read More »

WaterWatch Endangered Species Day Gallery

May 17, 2024 All this week WaterWatch of Oregon has been spotlighting wildlife in the lead-up to today’s observance of Endangered Species Day, highlighting the importance and value of the landmark 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the plight of threatened aquatic species in Oregon. Since the ESA was signed into law on Dec. 28,

WaterWatch Endangered Species Day Gallery Read More »

Activists See New Beginning with Dismantling of Largest Klamath River Dam

By Ian James | May 3, 2024 | Los Angeles Times Workers have begun dismantling the largest dam on the Klamath River, using machinery to scoop the first loads of rocks from an earthen barrier that has stood near the border of California and Oregon for more than six decades. Several Indigenous leaders and activists

Activists See New Beginning with Dismantling of Largest Klamath River Dam Read More »

Instream: At Long Last, Revised Groundwater Rules for Oregon

April 18, 2024 By Lisa Brown After an exhaustive and scientifically rigorous process, the Oregon Water Resources Department published proposed groundwater allocation rules reliant upon science and data to implement Oregon’s forward-looking 1955 Ground Water Act — and put Oregon on a more sustainable path to smart, sensible, environmentally-sound groundwater allocation. On March 1st, the

Instream: At Long Last, Revised Groundwater Rules for Oregon Read More »

Court Hearing in Winchester Dam Water Storage Case

Feb. 16, 2024 The outcome of a hearing in Marion County Circuit Court in Salem could have a big impact on the fate of Winchester Dam, and by extension the North Umpqua River’s struggling salmon and steelhead populations, as a motion filed by the Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD) to dismiss an earlier water storage

Court Hearing in Winchester Dam Water Storage Case Read More »

Court Hearing in Winchester Dam Water Storage Case

Feb. 16, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information, please contact: Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, jim@waterwatch.orgWHO: Winchester Water Control District v. Oregon Water Resources Department, Dwight French (Case No. 23CV33445) WHAT: Hearing on Oregon Water Resources Department Motion to Dismiss WHEN: Friday, February 16, 2024 WHERE: Marion County Circuit Court, Salem, Oregon Documents relevant to

Court Hearing in Winchester Dam Water Storage Case Read More »

Winchester Dam: Setting a River Free is a Noble Deed

By Connie Page | Feb. 4, 2024 | Roseburg News-Review I have seen multiple letters and programs recently about removing the Winchester Dam. I appreciate all the effort being put forward by local citizens. With over 111,000 citizens in Douglas County, and only 100-plus benefitting from this dam, I am surprised we have not heard

Winchester Dam: Setting a River Free is a Noble Deed Read More »

Winchester Dam Serves No Purpose for the Fish of the North Umpqua

By Nate Humphrey | Jan. 13, 2024 | Bend Bulletin For those of us who have visited the North Umpqua River, it’s not a place you can forget. With cold, crystal-clear water, incredible wildlife, an abundance of native wildflowers and so much more, the North Umpqua’s beauty is unmatched. The North Umpqua and its salmon

Winchester Dam Serves No Purpose for the Fish of the North Umpqua Read More »

Oregon Court Rejects Proposed Dam Near Silver Falls State Park

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 »

Disastrous Dam Repair on North Umpqua Sparks Massive Fish Kill, Pollution Spills, State Senate Inquiry, and $27.6 Million Fine

By Jim McCarthy | Oct. 30, 2023 | The Osprey At least 550,000 juvenile Pacific lamprey were killed this summer due to the botched repair of Winchester Dam on Oregon’s North Umpqua River. On October 6th, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) filed a $27.6 million claim for recovery of damages in the

Disastrous Dam Repair on North Umpqua Sparks Massive Fish Kill, Pollution Spills, State Senate Inquiry, and $27.6 Million Fine Read More »

ODFW Cites “Significant and Preventable” Fish Kill in $27 Million Complaint Against Winchester Dam

Oct. 6, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Jim McCarthy, jim@waterwatch.org Tommy Hough, tommy@waterwatch.org Department of Fish and Wildlife Cites “Significant and Preventable” Fish Kill in $27 Million Complaint Against Winchester Dam Huge financial penalty among the largest issued by an Oregon state agency. Salem, Oregon — Citing the “significant and preventable” death of at least

ODFW Cites “Significant and Preventable” Fish Kill in $27 Million Complaint Against Winchester Dam Read More »

Crews Demolish Dam in Takelma Creek, Restore Access for Salmon

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 »

Instream: Protections for Flows and Fish Secured on the Crooked River

Oct. 2, 2023 By Kimberley Priestley and WaterWatch of Oregon Staff After a decade of advocacy to restore and protect the flows of the Crooked River in Central Oregon, long-awaited legal protection for flows released from Prineville Reservoir for downstream fish and wildlife has at last been approved. The Crooked River in Central Oregon is

Instream: Protections for Flows and Fish Secured on the Crooked River Read More »

After Fish Kill, a Search for Accountability at Winchester Dam

By Jane Vaughan | Sept. 27, 2023 | Jefferson Public Radio Dam repair work on the North Umpqua River in August and early September led to hundreds of thousands of lamprey dying. There are now questions about accountability for the repair work that was done at the Winchester Dam near Roseburg. Representatives from the Oregon

After Fish Kill, a Search for Accountability at Winchester Dam Read More »

Critics Argue Repairs on Oregon Dam Don’t Go Far Enough to Protect Salmon

By Alanna Mayham | Aug. 8, 2023 | Courthouse News Service A nonprofit says fish won’t be able to access their preferred habitats because of the repairs. Some claim the dam needs to go. The Winchester Dam on Oregon’s North Umpqua River closed for three weeks on Monday for repairs and reservoir drawdown in an

Critics Argue Repairs on Oregon Dam Don’t Go Far Enough to Protect Salmon Read More »

Protecting Groundwater Resources is Critical for Oregon’s Environment and People

By WaterWatch Staff | April 5, 2022 | Instream Groundwater provides a myriad of irreplaceable ecological benefits and is the sole source of drinking water for nearly one in four Oregonians. WaterWatch has a long history of working to ensure that Oregon’s management of groundwater preserves the vital role of this resource in maintaining streamflows,

Protecting Groundwater Resources is Critical for Oregon’s Environment and People Read More »

Three Priority Dam Removals Completed in Rogue’s Applegate Subbasin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2021 Contacts: Jim McCarthy, WaterWatch of Oregon, (541) 941-9450 Brian Barr, Rogue River Watershed Council, (541) 621-7226 Harboldt Dam before and after removal images here: https://tinyurl.com/eaz9kswe Credit photos to Crystal Nichols, Rogue River Watershed Council Three Priority Dam Removals Completed in Rogue’s Applegate Subbasin Collaborative project benefits salmon and steelhead while meeting private

Three Priority Dam Removals Completed in Rogue’s Applegate Subbasin Read More »

Two of Oregon’s Worst Dams for Fish Are Coming Down

by Jes Burns | Aug. 5, 2015 | Oregon Public Broadcasting EarthFix Evans Creek is barely a trickle. A dry summer in Southern Oregon means the important salmon and steelhead creek, a tributary of the Rogue River, disappears below the gravel bed in places. Seemingly stagnant isolated pools are all that remain in some areas.

Two of Oregon’s Worst Dams for Fish Are Coming Down Read More »

Stream of Consciousness: Drought, Deconstructed

By John DeVoe | June 15, 2015 | Instream For many Oregonians, drought once existed as an abstraction, something that happened elsewhere, far away. No longer. This summer, Oregon’s rivers are suffering some of the lowest streamflows and highest water temperatures in our recorded history. These conditions are triggering tragic kills of salmon, steelhead, trout,

Stream of Consciousness: Drought, Deconstructed Read More »

Evans Creek Dams Are on State’s List of Worst Impediments for Fish Passage

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 »

Rogue River Runs Free at Former Gold Ray Dam Site

Oct. 14, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information please contact: Bob Hunter, WaterWatch of Oregon, (541) 778-3380 Lesley Adams, Rogue Riverkeeper, (541) 488-5789 Brian Barr, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy (NCCSP), (541) 621-7226 Rogue River Runs Free at Former Gold Ray Dam Site Project marks river’s fourth significant dam removal in three years

Rogue River Runs Free at Former Gold Ray Dam Site Read More »