Note: This article is a sidebar to one of this issue’s feature stories, Northwest is asked to give up 18 dams.
The Oregon Natural Resources Council makes the case for eliminating 13 finished, one unfinished and four proposed dams. Historically, questions about dams have been limited to where dams should be built, but now the council asks whether they should be allowed to remain. Here is the council’s list of Damnable Dams, with the name, river, general location and owner.
Ice Harbor Dam, Snake River, southeast Washington, federal
Lower Monumental Dam, Snake River, southeast Washington, federal
Little Goose Dam, Snake River, southeast Washington, federal
Lower Granite Dam, Snake River, southeast Washington, federal
Hells Canyon Dam, Snake River, Oregon-Idaho border, Idaho Power Co.
Brownlee Dam, Snake River, Oregon-Idaho border, Idaho Power Co.
Oxbow Dam, Snake River, Oregon-Idaho border, Idaho Power Co.
Chiloquin Dam, Sprague River, southern Oregon, Modac Point Irrigation District (proposed)
Elk Creek Dam, Elk Creek of the Rogue River, southwest Oregon, federal (one-third complete)
Milltown Hill Dam, Elk Creek of the Umpqua River, southwest Oregon, Douglas County (proposed)
Pelton Dam, Deschutes River, central Oregon, Portland General Electric
Round Butte Dam, Deschutes River, central Oregon, Portland General Electric
Salt Caves Hydroelectric Project, Klamath River, southern Oregon, City of Klamath Falls (proposed)
Savage Rapids Dam, Rogue River, southwest Oregon, Grants Pass Irrigation District
Gold Ray Dam, Rogue River, southwest Oregon, Jackson County
Winchester Dam, North Umpqua River, southwest Oregon, Winchester Water Control District
Three Mile Falls Dam, Umatilla River, northeast Oregon, federal
Abert Lake Dam, Abert Lake, Southeast Oregon, Abert Lake Hydroelectric Association (proposed)
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Damnable dams.
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