Climate Action United States Project #8892

Fix a Rogue River Dam

Project Report | Oct 23, 2014
Progress to Report - Thanks to You!

By John DeVoe | Executive Director

GHID Fish Salvage 2014

The project to fix the Gold Hill Irrigation District's (GHID) diversion dam on the Rogue River will compliment and leverage the benefits to fish and the Rogue River from the recent removal of 4 major dams in the Rogue Basin - Savage Rapids Dam, Gold Ray Dam, Gold Hill Dam and Elk Creek Dam. The GHID project helps continue one of the most successful river restoration campaigns in the nation.

In 2011, WaterWatch and GHID entered into an agreement to secure funding to improve fish passage at the GHID dam and diversion on the Rogue River. WaterWatch secured a grant from Oregon and retained an engineer to develop designs. With the cooperation of GHID, and the input and review of a technical team, three alternatives were developed, and reviewed. With the support of the technical team, an alternative was selected by GHID to address the fish passage issues at its diversion.

In 2013, WaterWatch entered into a second agreement with GHID to assist in securing funding for implementation of the selected alternative. While some funding was secured, these funds turned out to be less than the bids that came in. The project was therefore broken down into two phases and the funds secured were used to implement key components of the project in 2014. This past summer, a fish salvage operation was conducted. Then, construction proceeded to install pipe and modify the diversion to make it friendly for salmon and steelhead and to modernize the water diversion. The project also includes improtant public safety improvements that will allow for safer access to the Rogue River in this area. Finally, the project will leave more water in the Rogue River in the vicinity of the diversion.

This first phase is now completed and WaterWatch is continuing to work with GHID to secure the additional funds needed to complete Phase II of the project as originally designed in 2015.

We need your help to complete this ecologically important project in 2015.

GHID Construction 2014

Links:

Local TV news story on the project

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Jul 23, 2014
We Need Your Help Now More Than Ever

By John DeVoe | Executive Director

WaterWatch has been working with the Gold Hill Irrigation District (GHID) to improve fish passage at its irrigation diversion on the Rogue River. With the removal of Savage Rapids Dam, City of Gold Hill Dam, and Gold Ray Dam and the notching of Elk Creek Dam, GHID’s diversion dam is now the highest ranking fish passage priority on the Rogue Basin Fish Access Technical Team's priority list. This project will benefit spring and fall chinook salmon, summer and winter steelhead, ESA listed coho salmon, cutthroat trout, and lamprey. The GHID diversion is on the mainstem of the Rogue River between the previous Gold Hill and Gold Ray dam sites, and will compliment and enhance the benefits of the other restoration efforts on the Rogue River.

This project was developed with a technical assistance grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), which allowed alternatives to be developed to solve the fish passage issues at the GHID’s diversion. With input from and consultation with the irrigation district and multiple state and federal agencies, alternatives were developed and an alternative selected. Based on the engineers estimate, $283,000 in funding and in-kind match were secured for final engineering, environmental review and permitting, preparation of contract documents, administration, and project management. Permits have been secured and the project is slated to begin in late August this year.

Unfortunately, the low bid out of 6 bids came in $88,000 over the funds secured for construction ($151,000). We are now negotiating with bidders and discussing doing the project in stages so that some of the work can begin as scheduled, while additional funds are secured. OWEB has contributed $181,750 toward this project, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife contributed $30,000 as well as work on the bypass system.

While we are searching for funding to make up the shortfall, any additional contribution will help reduce the shortfall and help move this project forward with the objective of still getting it completed before the start of irrigation season in April 2015.

Thank you for your support of this important project for the Rogue River.

Attachments:

Gold_Hill_Irrigation_District_Diversion_Vicinity_Map2.ppt (PPT)

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Apr 9, 2014
Closing in on the goal

By John DeVoe | Executive Director

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