Oregon's Hood River is an important salmon and steelhead stream that flows from the flanks of Mount Hood northeast into the Columbia River Gorge. Damming, logging and irrigation have taken their toll on endangered runs of Columbia River salmon and steelhead. Fortunately, Western Rivers Conservancy has an exciting new opportunity to work with multiple partners to establish a major sanctuary for fish, wildlife and people on the Hood River.

The utility PacifiCorp will remove Powerdale Dam, the only dam on the main-stem river, in 2010 and donate approximately 600 acres for conservation along three miles of the river. Western Rivers Conservancy plans to partner with a metal recycling company to remove a three-mile-long steel flume. Removal of the dam and flume will restore free passage to migrating salmon and steelhead. An historic powerhouse on the property is slated to become an environmental and education center to benefit the Hood River community.

Western Rivers Conservancy seeks to acquire approximately 3,000 acres of additional lands and conservation easements to complete and extend the sanctuary. Working with partners, WRC's vision is to restore salmon, steelhead and wildlife habitat along nearly twenty miles of the Hood River and key tributaries, conserving the river corridor in its natural condition. This will involve determining the best long-term land manager and working with a local stewardship group to enforce a conservation easement over the lands.

A big break for the Hood came in November 2006. Western Rivers Conservancy was the successful bidder at an auction for a 20-acre property at the confluence of the West and East Forks of the Hood River, the site of Punch Bowl Falls. The confluence is a critical point, both for fish and wildlife habitat and as a place for fishing access.

When the project is complete, the Hood River will become a significant refuge for endangered runs of Columbia River salmon while creating a community and recreational resource on the eastern edge of the Columbia River Gorge. This is Western Rivers Conservancy's second project working 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.

Critical support for the Hood River Project has been provided by the Autzen Foundation, L.P. Brown Foundation, Bullitt Foundation, Collins Foundation, Jubitz Family Foundation and Mason Charitable Trust.

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