Savage Rapids Dam Removal; Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region

Savage Rapids Dam Removal
In August 2001, the Grants Pass Irrigation District signed a Federal Court consent decree agreeing to stop diverting water from Oregon's Rogue River using the district-owned Savage Rapids Dam. In December 2003, Public Law 108-137 authorized the construction of pumping facilities to supply irrigation water to Grants Pass Irrigation District and the removal of the dam to permanently resolve fish passage issues at the site. Reclamation awarded the construction contract to Slayden Construction in August 2006. Construction began in October 2006. On October 9, 2009 the radial gates at Savage Rapids Dam were closed, returning the Rogue River to its historic stream channel for the first time since 1921, and allowing salmon and trout the opportunity to migrate freely past the site on their way to and from the Pacific Ocean. A pumping plant was built downstream of the dam site to meet irrigation needs in the area. The total estimated project cost is about $39.3 million, which includes a grant for $3 million from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for dam removal.

Transcript PDF 62 kb

News Releases
11/12/2009	History Surfaces with Removal of Savage Rapids Dam
10/08/2009	Savage Rapids Dam Removal Frees Rogue River
09/30/2009	Brief Discoloration May Appear Below Savage Rapids Dam
06/02/2009	Reclamation Starts Savage Rapids Dam Removal
05/05/2009	Savage Rapids Dam Removal on Schedule
04/24/2009	Reclamation Starts Savage Rapids Dam Removal
04/01/2009	Reclamation Starts Savage Rapids Dam Removal


Status Reports
Status Report #14, Final	July 1, 2009 through November 23, 2009	PDF 2.71 mb
Status Report #13	April 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009	PDF 402 kb
Status Report #12	January 1 through March 31, 2009	PDF 446 kb
Status Report #11	October 1 through December 31, 2008	PDF 275 kb
Status Report #10	July 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008	PDF 310 kb
Status Report #9	April 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008	PDF 212 kb
Status Report #8	January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008	PDF 585 kb
Status Report #7	June 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007	PDF 125 kb
Status Report #6	April 18, 2007 to May 31, 2007	PDF 452 kb
Status Report #5	February 21, 2007 to April 18, 2007	PDF 308 kb
Status Report #4	January 23, 2007 to February 20, 2007	PDF 213 kb
Status Report #3	December 8, 2006 to January 23, 2007	PDF 209 kb
Status Report #2	October 27, 2006 to December 7, 2006	PDF 174 kb
Status Report #1	Award to October 26, 2006	PDF 128 kb


Contact
Bob Hamilton (208) 378-5087 rhamilton@usbr.gov Bureau of Reclamation Pacific Northwest Region 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100 Boise, Idaho 83706-1234


Last Update: April 19, 2013 11:26 AM