A Dam Goodbye in Grants Pass, OR

A Dam  Goodbye in Grants Pass, OR

The Savage Rapids Dam in Grants Pass, OR is no more.

It stood since 1921, but Oregon's needs changed and she no longer needed the dam.  Besides that, recent studies by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife have in the last two years come up with new statistics on the harm being done to our native salmon and steel-head by dams. 

I remember all these last 39 years I have lived in Oregon, seeing them dump millions of hatchery fish into our rivers each year to spawn and replenish those fish lost by dying at the dams, unable to reach their spawning grounds.  Now they say the fish that spawn from these hatchery fish, mixing with the wild salmon and steel-head have been producing inferior offspring.  A tremendously lower survival rate and a vastly substandard fish has evolved.

Next to go will be the "Gold Ray" dam near Gold Hill, OR.

Hopefully very soon now, our fish may start returning instinctively to their original spawning grounds.

While the rest of the country seems to be trying to encase itself in concrete and asphalt, we in Southern Oregon are proud to be returning a lot of our state back to nature to be enjoyed by all.

Do come visit us soon.

Gary Swanson -- Re/Max Ideal Brokers, Inc. -- Grants Pass, OR