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Dam sediment study finds no toxins By PAUL FATTIG When it comes to discussing the Savage Rapids Dam, attorney Bob Hunter and Grants Pass Irrigation District board member Don Greenwood usually part ways. Yet they find themselves in general agreement in their response to a Bureau of Reclamation study on the sediment�s impact on the river should the dam be breached. "This puts to rest any concerns that breaching the dam would cause contamination," said Hunter, staff attorney for WaterWatch of Oregon, a group urging removal of the dam to improve fish passage in the Rogue River. "The bureau�s comprehensive study shows that this sediment is totally safe," he added. The $350,000 study does largely end the sedimental debate, Greenwood agreed. "Yes, pretty much," he said. "The only caveat entered into the final report is that, if there were a large flood event, it might be a problem with large amounts of sediment going down at one time. "But they (the bureau) feel there�s not a big chance something like that would happen," he added. The bureau has released the full, inch-thick study of what could happen to the sediment behind the dam when the dam is removed. Some opposed to the dam�s removal had warned that breaching it would send fish-killing sediment downstream as well as release deadly toxins built up in the stream. The dam removal side had disagreed. The highlights in the report, whose contents had been partially released last year, include: � About 200,000 cubic yards of sediment is built up behind the dam. If placed on a football field, it would be about 100 feet high. It is roughly half the amount many had predicted was there. � The sediment is about 71 percent sand, 27 percent gravel and 2 percent silt and clay-sized particles. � There are no contaminants with concentrations significantly higher than that which occur naturally. They would pose no hazard to water quality, fish, wildlife or humans. � Virtually all the sediment would be eroded from the reservoir with the dam�s removal. About 75 percent of that would occur in the first year. Floods would push the sediment into the ocean in a few years. � The proposed irrigation pumps, which would replace the dam, would be affected by the initial release of the sediment. However, that could be prevented or mitigated. � The Grants Pass water treatment plant�s intake pumps could be affected. Specific construction remedies could be implemented to lessen the impact. Although hard copies of the full report are in short supply, copies can be downloaded from the bureau Web site at: www.pn.usbr.gov/project/savagesedimentindex.shtml. "I would stand by the technical work we�ve done," said Dave Nelson, resources manager for the bureau�s Lower Columbia Area which includes the dam. But Nelson wouldn�t count on the study to end the argument over the dam�s future. "I would hesitate to say anything would ever end the debate on Savage Rapids Dam," he said. Owned by GPID, the dam was built 80 years ago to divert water for irrigation. In the last two decades, it has become a flash point between those who believe it needs to be removed to protect fish runs and those who argue that it does not harm the environment. By the 1990s, opposition to the dam had mounted from Gov. John Kitzhaber, state and federal agencies and from local and national environmental groups. The bureau concluded in 1995 that removing the dam would be the least expensive way to improve fish passage. Early last year, district patrons voted overwhelmingly to remove the dam, providing Uncle Sam paid the multi-million dollar price tag and installed and operated irrigation pumps in its wake. A $22.2 million congressional bill calling for removal of the dam, introduced late last year, is expected to be reintroduced in a couple of weeks, said Greenwood, the GPID vice chairman. No action was taken on the bill before Congress adjourned last year. The bill has the backing of Oregon Sens. Gordon Smith, a Republican, and Ron Wyden, a Democrat, as well as 2nd Congressional Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, he said. "We expect it to happen � we�re being patient," Greenwood said. Hunter agreed. "We�re told there is still support from our senators and congressman for the bill," he said. "We definitely want it to happen." Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.