Two small dams, one located on Tarheel Creek and one located on Fourth Creek, will be removed and rebuilt to control seepage. A geosynthetic material will be added to the earthfill in the dam to enhance its resistance to earthquakes. New fish ladders will be constructed adjacent to new spillways which will be able to pass higher volumes of flood water.

Work is expected to start in late winter or early spring, 2004 and is expected to be completed by spring 2005.

The modifications to the dams are funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs under the Indian Dams Safety Act of 1994 (PL 103-302). Under an interagency agreement, the Bureau of Reclamation will provide construction management and design support. After the modifications are completed, the Coquille Tribe will be responsible for operating the dams for irrigation of tribal organic cranberry bogs.

The Bureau of Reclamation conducts Safety of Dams inspections for agencies within the Department of the Interior. The dams, which store approximately 136 acre-feet of water used for irrigation, were originally constructed in 1924 as part of a sawmill operation.