A privately-owned dam on the North Umpqua River near Roseburg, Oregon, will require a fish ladder update by 2030, following a ruling by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Commission voted 6-1 on Friday to uphold an administrative law judge’s order finding the Winchester Dam in violation of state fish passage laws since construction work occurred in 2023.
The violation was initially brought to the attention of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) by WaterWatch, an environmental nonprofit organization. WaterWatch has previously proposed removing the 136-year-classic dam, offering to cover the costs for the Winchester Water Control District (WWCD), the dam’s owner.
“Right now that dam is just harming fish and the people who depend on and care about that river,” said Jim McCarthy, southern Oregon program director for WaterWatch of Oregon. “That’s the bottom line. Harm is ongoing at that dam and it needs to stop.”
The WWCD disputes the ODFW’s position and intends to appeal the ruling in a formal court setting. Ryan Beckley, chair of the WWCD Board, stated via email that the Commission’s “ruling” was anticipated and represents the initial stage of the legal process. He declined to comment further beyond the intention to appeal.
Built in 1890, the Winchester Dam has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places for three decades. While largely surrounded by private property, the dam is accessible to the public via a stairway from a state-owned parking area, according to historical registry documentation.
Recent repair work on the dam has too prompted emergency rescues of Pacific lamprey, according to reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting. The lamprey, a native fish species, became stranded during the work, requiring intervention from wildlife officials.
A judge previously allowed the ODFW to order the WWCD to address the fish ladder repairs by 2028, as reported by nrtoday.com, a decision that appears to have been superseded by the Commission’s more recent ruling extending the deadline to 2030. The Commission’s decision follows a similar order issued regarding a private dam near Roseburg, requiring updates to its fish ladder by the same 2030 deadline, according to reporting from NPR for Oregonians.
The WWCD’s appeal will determine the future of the fish passage improvements and the ongoing legal dispute with the ODFW.
