From Native Fish Society
In a letter to the editors of The News-Review, Roseburg, Oregon-resident Connie Page positioned a concern: Why does Winchester Dam (on the North Umpqua River) still exist? The dam is bad for the river’s salmon and steelhead runs, it’s a risk to individuals and residential or commercial property, and it no longer offers either water or electrical services. We’re with Connie. Winchester should go.
The Winchester Dam, integrated in the 1890s, initially served a function by offering electrical energy and water to Roseburg. It stopped offering these services years earlier. Today its sole function is to produce a personal lake for the roughly 150 property owners right away above the dam.
Is Winchester Dam part of the factor our fish runs are diminishing so rapidly? Please take some time to check out why the Klamath Dams are being eliminated, for your response.
The dam restricts river entertainment for everybody else in the neighborhood and obstructs water from streaming easily on among Oregon’s premier rivers. The Umpqua River enhances Douglas County’s tourist dollars in numerous methods– fishing, rafting, kayaking, swimming, outdoor camping and more. These activities bring individuals, with their cash, into our county. The dam elimination might increase these chances.
The Oregon Department of Water Resources classified the dam as “high threat.” In 2022, the ODWR stated in a letter to Winchester Water Control District: “The Water Resources Department carries out regular examinations of the dams’ outside surface areas to recognize conditions that may impact the security of the dam. Dams are appointed a risk ranking based upon downstream threat to individuals and residential or commercial property, not on the condition of the dam. Winchester Dam is categorized as a high threat dam. High threat dams are generally examined every year.”
I feel sorry for individuals residing on this synthetic lake, however their desires disappear essential than the desires of the rest of those residing in Douglas County. If they like the river, not simply the lake, they will support the elimination of the dam.
Worried groups have actually provided to raise cash for the dam elimination. I motivate those who take pleasure in time on or live near our valuable river to call their lawmakers and ask: “Why does this dam still exist?”
