Restoring Rogue River Resiliency

As climate change stresses salmon, benefits of Rogue dam removals stand out

By Jim McCarthy

he Rogue River, in Oregon, down, the dam removal and restoration news as well as detail. The report noted is one of the most produc - focus has shifted to tributary streams. that for five years following the re - tive salmon and steelhead At the same time, Rogue Basin commu - movals of Gold Ray and Savage Rapids rivers in the Pacific North - nities have joined together to increase dams, biologists surveyed the formerly west, with five runs of their capacity to get this important inundated salmon spawning habitat in Tsalmon and steelhead, plus lamprey and work done. In 2015, four watershed the two reservoir sites, and found that cutthroat trout. Yet, for over one hun - councils merged to create the Rogue “Chinook re-colonized the habitat im - dred years a series of dams on the River Watershed Council (RRWC), mediately, and large numbers of redds mainstem and spawning tributaries se - bringing more muscle and expertise to [salmon egg nests] were observed.” verely impacted Rogue Basin fish. deliver high quality restoration proj - ODFW also observed benefits for After persistant leadership over three ects in the Upper Rogue Basin. Among Rogue steelhead, stating, “With the ex - decades from WaterWatch of Oregon, other projects, in 2017 RRWC removed ception of 2015, returns of wild half Savage Rapids Dam, the City of Gold the Beeson-Robison diversion dam on pounders since 2013 have been in the Hill Diversion Dam, and Gold Ray Dam Wagner Creek, replacing it with a more top ten largest returns observed during were all removed in a three-year span fish friendly diversion to maintain the ODFW fish monitoring in the lower from 2008 to 2010, providing unim - Rogue (Huntley Park seining project). peded fish and boat passage on 157 The three largest counts of wild half miles of the mainstem Rogue from This year, the Rogue pounders are 2018, 2013 and 2017, William Jess Dam to the Pacific Ocean. which is encouraging for biologists and During that timespan, the U.S. Army River is projected to anglers, and coincides nicely with dam Corps of Engineers notched its partially removal.” completed Elk Creek Dam, freeing up have the biggest fall There is other good news. This year, access to important salmon, steelhead, the Rogue River was projected to have and cutthroat trout spawning areas on Chinook return of any the biggest fall Chinook salmon return Elk Creek. In 2015, WaterWatch and our river south of the on the Pacific Coast south of the Colum - partners removed Wimer Dam and bia River for the third year running. In Fielder Dam, providing unimpeded ac - Columbia for the third 2017, ODFW projected 246,900 fall Chi - cess to 70 miles of high quality habitat nook would return in the Rogue. In in Evans Creek, another important year running. 2018, the department projected a whop - salmon and steelhead spawning tribu - ping 462,800 would return to the Rogue tary. These two barriers had both been with the fall run. This year, 383,500 are ranked in the top ten on the Oregon De - anticipated. The Rogue has maintained partment of Fish and Wildlife’s gravity-fed irrigation system at the this welcome abundance even as statewide fish passage priority list. site. Watershed councils and other salmon populations in nearby rivers Depending on the barrier, fish pas - groups doing restoration in the basin have declined due in significant part to sage improvement may not always re - have also formed the Rogue Basin Part - drought and water management deci - sult in dam removal, although removal nership and developed an action plan to sions which discount or ignore the crit - is generally the most effective option. coordinate efforts, increase restoration ical value of healthy rivers facing In 2016, WaterWatch, in conjunction funding capacity, and increase the ef - increasing strain under climate change. with the Gold Hill Irrigation District, fectiveness of restoration efforts in the While initial evidence is promising, it completed a project to improve fish basin. will take a few generations of salmon passage at a diversion located between and steelhead going through their var - the old Gold Hill and Gold Ray dam Fish Response ied life cycles before some of the bene - sites. This diversion was the most fits are fully realized. Ocean conditions harmful remaining on the mainstem Since this unprecedented restoration and flow conditions can obscure the Rogue below the William Jess Dam and effort began, evidence — both scien - benefits of dam removals. What we do complemented the benefits of the main - tific and anecdotal — has begun to know is conditions for salmon and steel - stem dam removals. emerge about the benefits to the Rogue head in the Rogue Basin have greatly These success created momentum for Basin. For example, the Oregon Depart - improved because of dam removal. additional barrier removal and other ment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) re - Good years will be better and bad years river restoration projects in the basin. cently released a summary of early will not be as bad because of these im - Because the larger fish barriers on the observations of fish response to Rogue portant river restoration projects. mainstem Rogue River have come dam removals, which contained good Continued on next page

18 The Osprey Continued from previous page mainstem Rogue like the ocean, and use Reduction in Mortality and Injury spawning tributaries the way sea-runs There is now greater resiliency in the use coastal streams. Cutthroat trout are Dams injure and kill fish. Adults mi - system, and one of Oregon’s most spec - not good jumpers and have trouble nav - grating upstream can jump out of fish tacular rivers is now healthier, and has igating fish ladders. The mainstem ladders, where they are stranded and a better chance of maintaining salmon dams isolated cutthroat populations. die. Adults jumping against the face of and steelhead runs into an uncertain fu - Tributary dams such as Elk Creek, dams are injured or killed, and adults ture. Fielder, and Wimer blocked access to and juvenile fish spilling over the tops cutthroat spawning habitat. of dams also suffer injury and mortal - Unimpeded Fish Passage/Elimination of Delays

Dams have multiple impacts on fish and river systems. One of the most sig - nificant impacts is as a barrier imped - ing fish passage. 2008 to 2010 were big years for upper Rogue migratory fish. The removal of Savage Rapids, Gold Hill, and Gold Ray dams — alongside the notching of Elk Creek Dam — turned migration bottlenecks into free - ways. The three mainstem Rogue dams impeded passage of significant portions of the basin’s five runs of salmon and steelhead, Pacific lamprey, and cut - throat trout to over 500 miles of up - stream habitat, including 50 miles of the mainstem. Spring Chinook salmon were particularly hard hit, having to navigate the three mainstem dams to get to their upstream spawning areas. Anglers are also reporting fish in the The Rogue River flows free at the site of the Savage Rapids Dam shortly after it upper river earlier than in the past, and was removed in 2009. The dam was considered to be the biggest fish killer on the that the fish are strong and in good Rogue River system. Photo by Jim Yuskavitch shape. Eliminating the delays in adult upstream migration allows the fish to access their upper basin spawning For example, in 1992 the U.S. Army ity. Predators concentrate below and areas in better condition and with more Corps of Engineers began trapping mi - above dams because fish are more energy reserves for spawning effort. grating salmon and steelhead below available and vulnerable prey at these Having more early and healthy fish in - what was then half-built Elk Creek Dam sites. Juvenile fish are much more sus - creases the likelihood that fish can take and hauling them to upstream spawning ceptible to predation in the slow moving advantage of optimal flow conditions to habitat. Technicians also hauled what water created by reservoirs upstream move into tributary spawning areas, cutthroat they caught in the trap. That of the dams. At Savage Rapids Dam, and have more energy to access habitat first winter, only nine cutthroat were there were high juvenile losses because higher up in the system. For example, trapped. Three years later, the numbers of entrainment through and impinge - in the wake of the 2015 removals of two grew to 68, and by winter of 2001-02 ment at the inadequate fish screens on dams on Evans Creek, ODFW biologists crews captured and hauled triple-digit the irrigation canals and pump turbine observed fall Chinook spawning in the numbers of cutthroat to spawning system. These sources of injury and high quality habitat of tributary West grounds. Since the Elk Creek Dam mortality are entirely eliminated by Fork Evans Creek for the first time on notching in 2008, cutthroat trout have dam removal. record. This all translates into in - unimpeded access to their historic creased spawning success, and ulti - spawning areas. The removal of the Reclaimed Habitat and Water Quality mately more fish. Evans Creek dams should similarly Improvements Besides impeding fish passage for up - benefit the cutthroat in that system. stream migrating adult salmon, dams The combination of dam removals and The reservoir behind Savage Rapids can completely block upstream access protective fishing regulations has Dam inundated approximately 3.5 miles for juvenile fish and cutthroat trout. Ju - sparked a resurgence of cutthroat trout of prime fall Chinook habitat. The venile fish must be able to move up and on the Rogue. As reported in a July 26, reservoir behind Gold Ray Dam inun - down in a river system to avoid high 2013 Medford Mail Tribune article by dated another 1.5 miles. In a true if-you- and low flows, and access rearing habi - Mark Freeman, Big Bite, Big Fight , remove-it-they-will-spawn fashion, big tat. Once juvenile fish move below a Rogue anglers are reporting tremen - fall Chinook are now spawning by the dam they can no longer access impor - dous catches of cutthroat troat with hundreds in what used to be sterile sec - tant rearing habitat upstream. some more than 20 inches long. tions of the Rogue inundated by water Cutthroat trout in the upper Rogue are and silt behind what used to be Savage called fluvials, meaning they use the Continued on next page

September 2019 • Issue No. 94 19 Continued from previous page of Savage Rapids Dam, there were 91 for salmon, steelhead and cutthroat fall Chinook salmon redds in the former trout in the future. Rapids and Gold Ray dams. With the reservoir area. By 2012 there were 195 The reservoirs also harbored invasive dams gone now and the accumulated redds. This redd revival is a telling ex - warm water species such as large - sediment washed away, the exposed ample of the restoration benefits of mouth bass, Umpqua pike minnow, and gravel bars now teem with big Chinook dam removal. redside shiners. The removal of the digging and spawning in their egg The notching of Elk Creek Dam also dams has eliminated strongholds for nests, called redds. created tremendous habitat reclama - these harmful and unwanted species. In less than a month after the removal tion potential. This is because the U.S. With the elimination of the reservoir of Gold Ray Dam in 2010, fall Chinook Army Corps of Engineers still owns ap - pools there are also some temperature salmon made use of spawning gravel proximately 3,000 acres of what was to benefits, as the reservoirs slowed the exposed in the old reservoir pool. The have been a reservoir pool for the dam. river and allowed it to warm. The cool - Oregon Department of Fish and Four miles of low gradient, undevel - ing benefits of removing the reservoirs Wildlife counted thirty-seven redds oped Elk Creek runs through this land, will become more and more important that first fall in the old reservoir pool. which is slated for riparian and flood with climate change bringing higher By 2013, biologists had counted 111 plain restoration. This work should temperatures and more severe redds. In 2010, one year after removal make this area even more productive droughts to the region.

Restoration of Natural River Processes

The removal of the dams helps restore natural river processes such as sedi - ment transport, gravel recruitment, and increased flood plain complexity. This helps improve overall river spawning, rearing and high flow refu - gial habitat. There are always some short term impacts involved in dam re - moval, but findings from an Oregon State University study on the impacts of the Rogue Dam removals and dam removal on the Calapooia River show that the impacts are small while the re - covery is quick. Interestingly, the study found biologic recovery was even faster than physical recovery in these rivers after dam removal. Unfortunately, there was some public The partially constructed Elk Creek Dam blocked salmon and steelhead from im - scaremongering after the dam re - portant spawning habitat, while serving no useful purpose. It was notched in 2008, movals that attempted to spread false opening access to upstream habitat. Photo by Jim Yuskavitch claims about the contamination of water supplies. These claims were shown to be totally unfounded and have been soundly debunked. The truth is these dam removals demonstrate that dam removal can be an extremely valu - able restoration tool, with the benefits greatly outweighing the short-term minor impacts. That these facts are now becoming better understood — alongside public awareness that dam removals provide real benefits to rivers, fish, and local communities — is a major achievement for river conser - vation.

Recreational Benefits

With the removal of the mainstem dams there is not only 157 miles of unimpeded fish passage, but also 157 miles of unimpeded boat passage, in - Ceasing to produce hydropower in 1972 due to obsolete generating facilities, the creasing run of the river boating oppor - Gold Ray Dam was a liability to Jackson County, which owned it. The dam was re - tunities and offering one of the longest moved in 2010. Photo by Jim Yuskavitch Continued on next page

20 The Osprey Continued from previous page free-flowing reaches of river in the Dams Begone! west for multi-day trips. In addition, To date 8 Rogue River dams have been removed or decomissioned more high quality day trips have Savage Rapids Dam tially constructed and served no use - opened up with dams no longer block - ful purpose. Historically, an estimated ing passage. The stretch of the Rogue Savage Rapids Dam was a 39-foot thirty percent of the Rogue Basin’s River between Touvelle State Park and high, 500-foot long irrigation diversion coho salmon spawned in Elk Creek, Fisher’s Ferry takeout is now getting a dam that spanned the mainstem of alongside populations of Chinook lot more use from rafts, kayaks and Oregon’s Rogue River at rivermile salmon, summer and winter steelhead, drift boats. The area has become popu - 107. The structure’s fish ladders and and cutthroat trout. It was notched in lar with sportfisherman, commercial screens did not meet current stan - 2008, allowing fish back to historic rafting companies and fishing guides, dards, and at times the dam com - spawning areas. drawn to the increased access and the pletely blocked upstream fish number of new and productive runs passage. Savage Rapids Dam had long Fielder and Wimer Dams that hold fish. The long term benefits of been considered the biggest fish killer an improved salmon, steelhead and cut - on the Rogue. It was removed in 2009, These abandoned obsolete irrigation throat trout fishery will surely enhance after a 21 year long legal and political diversion dams were located on Evans the recreational experience on the battle led by WaterWatch. The dam’s Creek another important Rogue River Rogue. irrigation diversion function was re - spawning tributary with 70 miles of There is also improved public access placed by a modern pumping system. high-quality salmon and steelhead to some 500 acres of public land located habitat above the dams. The Oregon upstream of Gold Ray Dam site, and City of Gold Hill Diversion Dam Department of Fish and Wildlife 3,000 acres of public land upstream of ranked them both among Oregon’s top the Elk Creek Dam site, where the pub - Gold Hill Diversion Dam was an 8-foot 10 statewide fish passage priorities. lic is now enjoying new outdoor recre - high concrete dam spanning the Both these dams were removed in ational opportunities. Rogue River a mile upstream of Gold 2015, based on landowner agreements Hill, Oregon. The dam was a defunct secured by WaterWatch. Hope for Future hydro-facility only used by the city to divert its municipal water needs. It Gold Hill Irrigation District Three decades ago, the idea of remov - had no ladders and was the second Diversion Dam ing dams to benefit fish and rivers con - greatest barrier to fish passage in the flicted with widely held values and Rogue River Basin. The diversion WaterWatch and others worked with beliefs. For many, dams were — and for function was replaced by a new mu - the Gold Hill Irrigation District some, still remain — symbols of nicipal water pump system, and the (GHID) to improve fish passage at its progress and monuments to the control obsolete dam was removed in 2008. irrigation diversion system on the of nature. But not all dams are still pro - mainstem of the Rogue River. This viding the benefits for which they were Gold Ray Dam project benefits spring and fall Chi - originally designed. Many have become nook salmon, summer and winter functionally or economically obsolete. Spanning the mainstem of the Rogue steelhead, coho salmon, cutthroat Some have been abandoned. at rivermile 12, this 38-foot high, 360- trout, and lamprey. The changes in the Today, the negative impacts of dams foot long dam was built in 1904 to gen - diversion system, which were com - on river systems and fish are much bet - erate power, but by 1972, power pleted in autumn 2016, also increased ter understood. The growing number of generation at the dam ceased perma - flows in a one-quarter mile stretch of successful removals of obsolete dams nently because the facility was obso - the Rogue River, improving naviga - on fish-bearing streams has itself be - lete and no longer economically tion through Nugget Falls, and allow come a celebrated symbol of progress, viable. At that point, Jackson County for safer public access. and represents a fundamental change took ownership of the dam and agreed in our relationship with rivers. Dam re - to its removal as it was a liability to Beeson-Robison Dam moval is now recognized as a legitimate the county. It was removed in 2010. river management option for restoring With the removal of Gold Ray, the Removed by the Rogue River Water - rivers and fish runs. The communities Rogue River flowed freely from the shed Council in partnership with the of the Rogue Basin have good reason to Lost Creek Project to the Pacific private landowners, Beeson-Robison be proud of our significant contribution Ocean for the first time in 106 years dam was a 5.5-foot barrier during irri - to this profound change. Together, we — a distance of 157 miles. gation season and a 3-foot impediment are trailblazing one of the most suc - in the winter for both adult and young cessful dam removal and river restora - Elk Creek Dam salmon and steelhead accessing the tion efforts in North America. cool water and spawning and rearing This dam was a partially completed habitat of Wagner Creek, a tributary U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dam of Bear Creek. Workers installed a spanning Elk Creek, completely block - new concrete intake system and pipes, Author Jim McCarthy is Southern Ore - ing fish access to an important spawn - along with a flow meter, to ensure that gon Program Director for WaterWatch. ing tributary of the Rogue River. For water users receive their full water You can find out more about their work decades, the Elk Creek Dam sat par - rights. at waterwatch.org .

September 2019 • Issue No. 94 21