Originally accessed:
10/31/2008
Organization:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
Notes:
"Savage Rapids dam was built in 1921 to divert river flows for irrigation. The dam is 40 feet tall and creates a backwater pool that extends 1/2 mile upstream during the non-irrigation season and 2 1/2 miles upstream during the irrigation season. The reservoir width is relatively narrow, only two to three times greater than the width of the river (Bountry and others, written communication, 2000). Although the dam has fish ladders, these ladders are old, do not meet current regulations, and only allow limited fish passage. Dam removal has been proposed to restore fish passage to natural conditions. The dam would be replaced with two pumping plants that would deliver water to the irrigation canals. A sediment study was requested by the Grants Pass Irrigation District to determine the sediment-related impacts of dam removal."