Sorry, a bit out of the way for you northerners, but important none the less.
Oregon's coastal gem, the Siletz River, of The River Why fame, is facing a proposal so rediculous, I can't belive it's even being considered. Worse, it's already getting some $$$ sent its way for feasibility studies.
What is up you may now wonder...? A damn dam, thats what! Yup, in this modern day and age, where science is proving the detrimental effects of dams, one of major magnitude is being considered on the ONLY...ONLY Oregon coastal river with a wild run of summer steelhead. The Siletz is also home to a small population of wild spring chinook, a strong population of wild fall chinook, wild coho, sea-run and resident cutthroat trout, and pacific lamprey.
The dam, which is being looked into as a future source of water to meet "future needs for water for Polk and Lincoln Counties". (Maybe they're forgetting that the Willamette River, the 13th largest river in the entire nation, flows right through Polk County, and is the current source of water!) It is proposed to be 100' high, with a pool 5 miles long, and up to 3 miles wide, would flood not only valuable spawning grounds in the upper Siletz, but many of its tributaries as well. This proposal, as well as several others, were mentioned in a study in 2004, but scrapped due to "fatal flaws". Mysteriously, it has been pushed back to the top of the pile again. Even more coincidentally the commissioner strongly in support of the project, Mike Propes, has a background in real estate, heavy construction, and construction engineering. Nope... he won't benefit from such a project coming his way. Also, the county has already received a $162,000 grant to investigate the feasibility of the project!
The proposed site is approximately 12 miles upriver from the angling deadline and falls at rm 64.5. Here, a trapping facility ran by ODFW blocks all upstream migration to salmon and steelhead. Volunteers as well as ODFW staff run the trap several times a week, passing only wild summer steelhead and spring chinook upriver. Here, these fish have NO competition from hatchery fish, and no pressure from anglers due to the angling deadline below the trap.
There is a public meeting coming up:
Valsetz Lake Bed is Eyed for Water:
Panel discussion of the Valsetz Reservoir and Dam Proposal.
May 7, 2009 7:00-8:30 pm
Monmouth Library, 168 S. Ecols, Monmouth
Panelists include:
Mike Propes/Austin McGuigan, Polk County
Mark Milligan, Buell-Red Prairie Water Association
Barry McPherson, Retired Fisheries Professional
Stan van de Wetering, Siletz Tribe Fisheries Biologist
TBN, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Professional
Panelists will each give a brief presentation followed by general discussion and questions from the audience. This meeting if free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. (Hosted by Friends of Polk County)
IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND, I urge you to contact the Polk Co. Commissioners Office at:
Ph: 503-623-8173
Fax:503-623-0896
As for Mr. Mike Propes, his e-mail is listed as mikepropes50@hotmail.com
I'm sure he'd like ot hear from us!
Here is a link to an OPB article:
OPB Article: Counties Considering New Dam In Coast Range
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