Thanks in large part to its cool waters, the Rogue River Basin produces more salmon than any basin in the United States except the Columbia River Basin.

Historically, coho habitat extended throughout large portions of the Rogue Basin.

Annual salmon runs in the Rogue Basin in the late 1880s have been estimated at 114,000 coho salmon and 154,000 Chinook salmon.

Nevertheless, by the late 1990s, wild coho salmon runs in the Rogue Basin had dropped to less than 10% of the late 1880s estimates.

The presence of cool water is not enough on its own to ensure healthy over-summering habitat conditions for coho salmon and rainbow trout. These small fish may need to move upstream towards headwaters or springs during the heat of the summer to stay in suitable cool water.

Juvenile blocked at Coleman Creek barrier
Video Credit: ODFW

For more videos, visit the ODFW site here.

For these juveniles, road culverts and small diversion dams with “jumps” as low as six inches, which pose little problem for adult fish, can thwart movement to cooler water temperatures.

Removal of barriers that impede coho salmon provides access to important habitat for other native fish and aquatic wildlife. Projects that restore fish access also restore natural processes like movement of sediments (like gravel, sand, and silt) and logs.

In the Rogue Basin, the efforts of many partners over more than 20 years led to the removal of three large dams on the mainstem Rogue River and three large passage barriers in two watersheds that provide a lot of coho salmon (and steelhead) spawning and rearing habitat.

The largest of these barriers was Savage Rapids Dam. It was a 39-foot-high, 500-foot-long structure that spanned the Rogue at River Mile 107. The structure’s fish ladders and screens did not meet current standards, and at times the dam completely blocked upstream fish passage.

Text Credit: WaterWatch of Oregon

After a 21 year battle led by Fish Passage Working Group member WaterWatch of Oregon, the dam was completely removed in 2009. The dam’s irrigation diversion function was replaced by a modern pumping system. Removal has increased salmon and steelhead populations in the basin; stimulated economic activity in local communities; and eliminated a barrier to recreational boating.

Text Credit: WaterWatch of Oregon

Pictured to the right: Savage Rapids Dam Before Removal
Photo Credit: WaterWatch of Oregon

Pictured above: Savage Rapids Dam After Removal

Photo Credit: WaterWatch of Oregon

Related restoration activities have included permanent protection of substantial streamflows and riparian revegetation.

Pictured to the Left: Riparian Restoration at Savage Rapids Dam Site (downstream view)
Photo Credit: The Freshwater Trust

Pictured Above: Riparian Restoration at Savage Rapids Dam Site (upstream view)
Photo Credit: The Freshwater Trust

The other large barriers were:

• Gold Hill Dam
• Elk Creek Dam
• Gold Ray Dam
• Wimer Dam
• Fielder Dam

To learn more about the removal of the large barriers:

Photo Caption: Fielder Dam

Photo Credit: Scott Wright/River Design Group 

Since 1995, there have been over 110 completed fish passage improvement projects in the Rogue Basin.

With the removal of the large barriers, attention has turned to smaller barriers on tributaries of the Rogue River.

Blue dots represent fish passage improvement projects completed since 1995.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife included 89 Rogue Basin barriers on its 2019 list of the top 589 fish passage barriers statewide—more than any other basin.

There are three main types of barriers: channel spanning dams, push-up dams, and culverts.

Yellow dots represent 2019 ODFW Priority Fish Passage Barriers.

Two recently completed projects were the removal of Beeson-Robison Dam and Forest Creek Dam.

Both projects were made possible through the cooperation of the landowners and water rights holders.

Beeson-Robison Dam was on Wagner Creek, just west of the city of Talent, OR.

Video credit: Jason Jaacks/Resources Legacy Fund

Rogue River Watershed Council removed the dam in 2018. Because the dam provided water to 19 water rights holders, the project included installing a new irrigation intake system for continued diversion at the dam’s former site.

Photo and video credits: Jason Jaacks/Resources Legacy Fund

Following dam removal activities, native trees and shrubs were planted along Wagner Creek in the areas disturbed by construction.

“The water delivery is better than it was. It’s more efficient than it was. Just even maintaining it is 1,000 times easier. . . . From my perspective, there really isn’t a negative.”

– Bob Hackett, water user on Wagner Creek, on the removal of Beeson-Robison diversion dam.

Simultaneously, just downstream, RBP member Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District replaced the Parrish-Rapp [check with JSWCD] seasonal “push up” dam with a pumping station. This amplified the positive effect of the upstream dam’s removal by improving passage up to the Beeson-Robison Dam site.

Photo credits: Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District

Forest Creek Dam was on Forest Creek, in Ruch. The dam was removed in 2018. The project included riparian restoration and stream channel improvements to further aid fish passage.

Tom Maddox, Ruch Sawmill

”I found APWC to be genuine in their concern for the condition of the creek and fixing any issues, such as erosion, habitat loss, and of course future fish production, meeting our criteria for this project was also very appreciated.”

– Tommy Maddox, agent and family member, for the Ruch Sawmill property and the Forest Creek Dam Project.

Is it working? Here are some early answers.

On the mainstem of the Rogue River, upstream of Savage Rapids & Gold Ray Dams, in most years since the removals, spawning surveys have observed a large number of redds (spawning sites) upstream of the former dam sites.

On Bear Creek, since the Jackson Street Dam was removed in 1998, direct observations describe Fall Chinook salmon, Coho and steelhead reaching an additional 16 miles upstream.

On Jones Creek, after removal of the Tokay Canal Dam, fish traps have found more steelhead fry in drought years.

On Evans Creek, following removal of the Fielder and Wimer Dams, initial spawning surveys show Chinook salmon spawning higher and Pacific Lamprey increasing in abundance and distribution upstream of the former dam sites.

Fish are now reaching habitat that had previously been inaccessible.

Currently, members of the Fish Passage Working Group are pursuing work on multiple sites. These include:

Click below to learn more about our ongoing passage improvement efforts:

Thanks to our Fish Passage Working Group Participants:

• Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council

• Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians

• Illinois Valley Soil & Water Conservation District

• Illinois Valley Watershed Council

• Lower Rogue Watershed Council

• Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

• Rogue River Watershed Council

• Trout Unlimited

• WaterWatch of Oregon