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Click Here 41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 27, 2004 Dam-removal funds dry up By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune GOLD HILL — Removal of the city’s diversion dam — considered the No. 2 barrier to fish passage on the Rogue River — is on hold after funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dissolved. Corps Planner Jeremy Weber said Thursday that the $1.2 million needed for the removal, which Gold Hill officials had been expecting this year, already had been spent on other projects. Weber said his department gets $25 million annually for ecosystem restoration projects across the country. By January, the 2004 budget had already been established and Gold Hill's dam was not on the list. "Basically, it's already been spent," Weber said. "But, in the past, as we needed more money, we didn't have a problem getting it." But now, he said, Corps planners have been told there will be no more funding extensions. Only projects that are already approved for construction and have a completed feasibility report will be undertaken at this time. Gold Hill's diversion dam has neither, said Weber. Advertisement "In the Portland district, 24 projects have been stopped," said Weber. Craig Harper, water resources program manager for the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, has been working as a liaison between the city and state and federal agencies. Harper said Gold Hill is scrambling to find alternate funding. "We're not exactly back to square one," Harper said. "But we're definitely back looking for funding." Harper and Gold Hill Public Works Director Royal Gasso said they would seek funds through foundations, grants and other government agencies. Gasso said the city was disappointed by the loss of funding from the Corps. "We'd gotten our matching funds," said Gasso, referring to a $520,000 Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant. "Now we'll have to regroup and search out funds." Nearly three years ago, the state ordered Gold Hill to limit its diversion of Rogue River water to the city's legal water right of 3 cubic feet per second or face potential fines of up to $1,000 a day. At the same time, the National Marine Fisheries Service (now NOAA-Fisheries) started pressuring the city to remove the dam because it presents a barrier to migrating coastal coho salmon — listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It is one of the worst barriers to fish passage on the Rogue River, second only to Savage Rapids Dam. Harper said the greater danger has been the loss of fry and smolts who get caught up in the diversion canal. Gold Hill was ordered to reduce its diversion of river water when the Oregon Water Resources Department realized the city was diverting about 140 cfs, based on old water rights that had expired. Adjustments were made and the city now diverts about 20 cfs — 17 cfs more than it is legally entitled to divert. Although the city ultimately removes no more than .5 cfs for its drinking water and allows the remainder to flow back into the river, Harper said diverting that much water in dry summer months can cause problems for fish. However, Harper also said it is clear the city is working diligently to remove the diversion dam and he did not expect Gold Hill to be penalized by federal agencies for this latest setback. "They (the regulating agencies) do not seem to be in enforcement mode," said Harper. Gasso said he was pleased Gold Hill is still able to move ahead with its other project on the Rogue River — relocating the city's water intake plant so that diversion will no longer be necessary. "It's fully funded," he said. "The design is 100 percent complete and we're going to start the project this summer." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times