River Action Alert: No More Winchester Dam Disasters

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River Action Alert: No More Winchester Dam Disasters

On August 7th the Winchester Water Control District (WWCD) began repair work on the derelict Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River. Despite expansive claims by the WWCD about the extent of repairs, district representatives previously told state and federal regulators the repairs would be “to the minimum extent necessary to eliminate known and reasonably anticipated dam safety deficiencies at the dam.”

On this basis, WWCD received approvals from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, NOAA Fisheries and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with the repairs. State and federal agencies issued permits even after river advocates repeatedly raised concerns and pointed out multiple irregularities in the process (read about these irregularities and concerns here).

To that end, WWCD has hired a residential and commercial basement repair company owned by their own board president — Terra Firma Foundation Systems — as the primary dam repair contractor, despite the fact his company has no experience in dam repair.

Since the start of construction, river advocates have documented and reported multiple apparent legal and permitting violations to regulatory agencies. These include a massive fish kill of native Pacific lamprey resulting from woefully inadequate salvage efforts by WWCD during the dam reservoir drawdown. River advocates believe that WWCD’s contractor continues to violate regulations and permits intended to protect fish, wildlife and water quality.

River advocates have been pressing this issue, in part, because harm from the previous Winchester Dam repair was similarly devastating and well-documented. According to state investigators, pollution from Winchester Dam repairs in 2018 degraded aquatic habitat, killed fish, and harmed the primary drinking water source for the city of Roseburg and the Umpqua Basin Water Association — altogether serving some 37,700 people.

Investigators also found that dam repairs were conducted without following best management practices, even after authorities provided WWCD with information in advance on how to protect water quality and fish.

This ecological disaster is happening now because government agencies have consistently failed to hold WWCD accountable. Please take action by sending a letter to your state and federal representatives and ask them to fully investigate these reported violations — and if substantiated, to bring enforcement action to the fullest extent possible.

Together, we can end the ongoing harm from Winchester Dam once and for all. Please encourage your elected officials to support the removal of Winchester Dam and restore the North Umpqua River to a free-flowing waterway that supports native fish, wildlife, and the people who depend on the river and its environs.

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All State and Federal Reps and Senators for Oregon

Subject: River Action Alert: Our Agencies Are Failing Fish and Wildlife

Message:

I’m contacting you regarding the Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River and the repair project underway in August. I’m disappointed our government agencies have shown little concern for the fish, the river, and river-dependent communities by approving a repair plan with a history of harm to fish, habitat, and water quality — especially since these agencies had the authority to require a repair plan more protective of our natural resources. Since the Winchester Water Control District (WWCD) started repairs on the 130-year old dam, government agencies have received multiple complaints, including: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) • Operating heavy machinery in river without containment, some equipment using lubricants not approved for in-water work. • Spill of wet concrete into the river. • Placing boulder fill into plunge pools at the base of the dam. • Use of large mats made from vehicle tires as a temporary work surface for heavy equipment in the river. These mats, and dust and debris generated by driving heavy equipment on them, may release a toxic additive lethal to salmon and steelhead. Department of State Lands (DSL) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) • Construction of permanent concrete support footers in the river for a bridge and access road from the north downstream riverbank. This road and bridge were not disclosed in WWCD permit applications. Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) • Winchester Dam is storing more water than allowed under WWCD’s filed water storage claim. OWRD wrote to WWCD in January directing them to come into compliance by either lowering their reservoir pool 1.5 feet or applying for a new water right. WWCD has disregarded OWRD’s direction. As a result, when the reservoir is refilled, WWCD will unlawfully injure instream water rights for native fish. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) • ODFW inexplicably granted WWCD permission to kill 30,000 Pacific lamprey during the repairs. However, the repair contractor’s inadequate staffing of their required fish salvage effort contributed to a massive Pacific lamprey kill in the dam’s reservoir pool, despite an emergency effort by state, federal, and tribal agencies. NOAA Fisheries • Violation of Biological Opinion conservation measures intended to protect endangered Coho. As my elected representative, please ensure government agencies investigate these reports, and if substantiated, please ensure full enforcement and accountability. Please also support Winchester Dam’s removal to protect and restore fish, wildlife, and clean water in the North Umpqua. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

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Thank you for making your voice heard today and contacting your elected officials about the ongoing harm at Winchester Dam!