The Savage Rapids Dam built by the Grants Pass irrigation District in 1921 was designed to deliver Rogue River water to the fields of local farmers; It did not offer water retention, electrical creation, or flood control. Because the age of the dam was leading to costly replacement issues and its disruption of adult and juvenile fish passage caused local leaders to consider its removal. Irrigation was to be continued with the building of a modern pumping plant. After a 20 year court and legislation battle the parties agreed to remove the dam and build the pumping facility.
