March 2006

New Project will Create Salmon Refuge on the Hood River

In an exciting new opportunity, Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) is joining a comprehensive effort to restore Oregon’s Hood River, an important salmon and steelhead stream that flows from the glaciers of Mount Hood northeast into the Columbia River Gorge.

The utility PacifiCorp will remove Powerdale Dam, the only dam on the main-stem river, and donate approximately 600 acres of land along three miles of the river. WRC will acquire adjacent private lands to complete and extend the sanctuary. An historic powerhouse on the property is slated to become an environmental and education center to benefit the Hood River community.

WRC will work with partners to devise a strategy for restoring salmon, steelhead and wildlife habitat along three miles of the lower Hood River, helping to restore the river corridor to its natural condition. This will involve determining the best long-term land manager and creating a local stewardship group to enforce a conservation easement over the lands. WRC will partner with a metal recycling company to remove a three-mile-long steel flume.

When the project is complete, the Hood River will become a significant refuge for endangered runs of Columbia River salmon. Removal of the dam and flume will restore free passage to migrating salmon and steelhead.

The historic Mount Hood Railroad crosses the river on the edge of downtown, adding a charming and scenic element to the project. Moreover, the public will have continued access to the stream for recreational uses compatible with the project’s conservation goals.

This is Western Rivers Conservancy's second project to protect an important Columbia River tributary slated for dam removal. Portland General Electric, our partner on the Sandy River, will remove Marmot Dam in 2007.