News Release
| Release Number: | 01-081 |
| Dated: | 5/30/2001 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-On Wednesday, June 6, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials will host an informational meeting to discuss the Corps' proposed fish passage plan for Elk Creek Dam near Trail, Ore. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Reston Hotel Convention Center on Crater Lake Highway in Medford, Ore.
The Corps believes a more biologically sound and more cost efficient method of providing fish passage with the dam in its current state can be implemented. At the meeting, Corps officials will discuss their proposal and justification for installing a fish passage corridor in Elk Creek Dam as a replacement to the existing temporary trap and haul facility. Time will be allotted at the meeting for a question and answer session, but it will not be a forum for formal public comments.
The Elk Creek Project was authorized as one of three multiple purpose projects designed to operate as a system to reduce flooding in the Rogue River Basin and to accomplish additional purposes, including irrigation and fish and wildlife enhancement. Dam construction was halted in 1988 as a result of a legal challenge, and in 1996 the Corps began to evaluate cost effective and biologically sound methods to manage the project.
In 1997, the Corps formally proposed modifying Elk Creek Dam. After consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Corps believes that removing a section of the dam is the most economic and scientifically effective means of providing fish passage with the dam in its incomplete state.
In October of 1997, Congress provided initial funding for the Corps to develop its long-term management proposal. When the Corps sought additional funding to implement its plan, it was unable to obtain the needed funding. Instead, FY 01 funds are being used to operate a temporary fish collection and transport facility, operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The president's proposed civil works budget for FY 2002, as transmitted to Congress, contains a request for funds to initiate construction of the fish passage corridor.