Flotilla floats through remains of Savage Rapids dam

[WinterrunRon]

Flotilla floats through remains of Savage Rapids dam
By The Associated Press
October 10, 2009, 1:54PM

ROGUE RIVER -- A flotilla of rafts, driftboats and kayaks celebrated the breaching of the Savage Rapids Dam on the Rogue River by floating through the remains of the 88-year-old concrete structure today.

The celebration marked the end of a decades-long battle to remove the irrigation dam to help struggling salmon and steelhead runs.

The dam has been replaced by a state-of-the-art pumping station to serve the Grants Pass Irrigation District.

State fisheries biologists expect a 22 percent increase in salmon and steelhead runs now that this major impediment has been removed.

During the celebration Saturday, an 86-year-old man's driftboat sank after he went through the dam remains. He was rescued.

-- The Associated Press

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks Ron.....................wonderful news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hckVomQtV1Q

[WinterrunRon]

Agreed, Bill.

I also saw that this was the last of 2-3 dams that were breached nearby over the last few years and now the river runs free for 157 miles, with salmon and steelhead being able to once again make it up feeder creeks historically important to thier survival. It came as a result of a new state-of-the-art pumping facility being installed, replacing the need for damning. A win-win perhaps, time will tell, of course. But it looks promising and is an exciting change nonetheless. The Rogue could very well be the up and comming river of the next decade here on the West Coast.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

http://www.waterwatch.org/programs/freeing-the-rogue-river/photo-gallery-removal-of-savage-rapids-dam

[WinterrunRon]

Thanks for posting the links, Bill. I understand Waterwatch was instrumental (at least they claim to have been) in fighting the good fight via congressional hearings, law suits, etc. That's quite a process of removal. I don't know why they just don't dynamite it so it collapses like buildings or destroy it in a matter of milliseconds like the mining industry does when they want rock out of thier way. I'm no engineer, and I assume it's not feasable, but I say give it a try and light a fuse instead of taking 4 months to remove it!

[Darian]

Explosions.... :question: Interesting idea. Would tend to speed things up.... I don't have much experience watching dam removal but imagine they're taking so much time as in-stream explosions could cause some major downstream impacts. Like increased turbidity and shock waves. :confused: If I could find one happening, I'd like to get some photo's.... :D

[WinterrunRon]

Darian, I was thinking along the lines of having the water level reduced or perhaps the river temporarily diverted prior to destruction, like they do when building dams, to avoid the negative impact you speak of, but my questioning of the current method really stems from the argument they're too costly to remove. I haven't purchased any lately, but dynamite can't be that expensive!

[Darian]

Yep!!! I forgot to consider diversion as part of the process.... Senior moment.... :o :o