Oregon Valsetz Alert

[blacktailslayer]

Thought I would give everyone a heads up about what was talked about the Valsetz in a ODFW & OHA meeting. It sounds like Polk county, Luckiamute Watershed Council, and the Grande Ronde Tribe want to bring back the Valsetz Lake at three times its old size. It doen't even seem the public really knows this is going on. ODFW is not liking the idea, since it will take away a lot of elk habitat. Does anyone have any new information or updates about the proposed project?

[blacktailslayer]

For those who don't want to see a dam and reservoir built on the Siletz River.

Valsetz Lake Bed is Eyed for Water:

Panel discussion of the Valsetz Reservoir and Dam Proposal.

Panelists include:

Mike Propes/Austin McGuigan, Polk County

Mark Milligan, Buell-Red Prairie Water Association

Barry McPherson, Retired Fisheries Professional

Stan van de Wetering, Siletz Tribe Fisheries Biologist

TBN, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Professional

Polk County received a $160,00 grant in January to fund a feasibility study. The proposed dam and five mile long, three mile wide reservoir would be for a water source for Polk County's future water needs. It would be built where the old Valsetz Lake dam site was that was torn out in 1988. That is a reservoir larger than Detroit Lake. It will reduce wildlife habitat, including main deer and elk habitat. The big problem is when you flood the upper river and the small tributaries you lose all the spawning beds for salmon and steelhead. Did you know that if a dam is built and a reservoir created, it would destroy prime spawning and rearing habitat for wild summer steelhead, spring and fall Chinook, and coastal cutthroat trout.

Here is what some people have said:

"Why not just dam up Rickreall Creek more and up the size of the reservoir they have already? At least that one is on the right side of the divide!”

“My grandfather worked at the Valsetz mill for many years.....could probably take you to the exact spot where 55 gal drums of toxic materials were disposed of (and it wasn't at the landfill either)....I have heard these stories many times...I would not drink that water!!! I first heard of this 3 years ago...It was the tribe that first kicked this idea around and wanted to use the lake for a casino resort area....I think that is the real driving force behind this. There is no shortage of water on either side of the hill.”

You can contact Polk Co. commissioner’s office at:

Ph: 503-623-8173

Fax:503-623-0896

Commissioner Propes also has an email address. Send your message to [email protected]

Some interesting reading if you are interested.

http://www1.wrd.state.or.us/pdfs/OWS...nal_Report.pdf

http://www1.wrd.state.or.us/pdfs/Fun...olk_County.pdf

http://www.co.polk.or.us/ComDev/Docu...sment_2004.pdf

Very interesting point on page 41 section 4.2.6 Other Options

I wonder what has changed in five years that makes the Valsetz site acceptable now.