Oregon
Fishing, environmental groups sue over Umpqua River dam

A coalition of environmental and fishing groups are suing a water district in southern Oregon over an aging, privately owned dam that they say hinders the passage of struggling salmon populations in the pristine North Umpqua River.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Eugene, asks a judge to order the Winchester Water Control District to build a new fish ladder and make major repairs to Winchester Dam, which dates to 1890 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The dam is also one of the oldest in Oregon.
The aging fish ladder on the 130-year-old dam blocks the progress of migrating Oregon Coast Coho salmon — a federally protected species — as well as spring and fall chinook, summer and winter steelhead, cutthroat trout and Pacific Lamprey, according to the lawsuit. There’s also no record that the water district has rights to hold and store water behind the dam under state law, the lawsuit said.
Dominic M. Carollo, the water district’s attorney, did not return a call for comment Tuesday.
The North Umpqua River is pristine fish habitat and is cherished by environmentalists and anglers alike, said Jim McCarthy, with WaterWatch of Oregon, one of the plaintiffs.
The 167 miles (268 kilometers) of river above the dam are some of the highest-quality fish habitat in the state, he said, and are a key part of the coastal fishing industry.
-
Crime & Safety1 week ago
Parent caIIs for responsibiIity after her 5-year-oId was Iured by severaI oIder chiIdren ‘who acted friendIy and took the chiId by the hand’ before indcentIy assauIting the girI and brutaIIy beating her untiI she was unconscious, then Ieft her where she was
-
Crime & Safety4 days ago
SchooI empIoyee dies after attempting to prevent a 14-year-oId who wanted to Ieave a residentiaI buiIding without permission, only to be struck by the girI, causing fataI injuries: police
-
Crime & Safety4 days ago
Woman who cIaims she doesn’t remember kiIIing her father years ago, saying her mother told her she did, now kiIIed the eIderIy woman minutes after the victim caIIed 911 and told the dispatcher her famiIy member was being vioIent: police
-
Oregon1 week ago
Oregon State Police ask for public assistance to identify suspect in fatal hit and run in Douglas County
-
Crime & Safety1 week ago
Mother knew her 1-year-old was unweII after Ieaving the chiId with her partner for days, but didn’t bother to check on her and decided to get high and go to sIeep, only to find her unresponsive the foIIowing day, Iater pronounced dead: police
-
Eugene6 days ago
Eugene Springfield Fire responds to early morning structure fire in west Eugene
-
Eugene6 days ago
Eugene police arrest five individuals for DUII over the weekend
-
Eugene6 days ago
Eugene police investigate report of suspicious man following juvenile girls in Tugman Park