Largest dam removal in Oregon set for mid-summer
PGE will begin demolition of Marmot Dam in July

Following years of preparation, Portland General Electric (PGE) will start to remove its 22-mega-watt Bull Run Hydroelectric Project this summer. The Marmot Dam on the Sandy River will be dismantled in late July and August, followed by the Little Sandy Dam on its namesake river in the summer of 2008. The removals will provide unimpeded salmon and steelhead passage from the southwest slopes of Mt. Hood to the Pacific Ocean.

The dams are being decommissioned as a result of an agreement signed by PGE, the Sandy River Basin Watershed Council and twenty one other organizations and agencies.

The 47-foot-high Marmot Dam will be the largest dam ever removed in Oregon and the tallest dam removed in the Northwest in 40 years. PGE is also in the process of donating 1,500 acres of its Sandy River Basin lands as the centerpiece of a planned 9,000-acre natural resource and recreation area that will serve the entire region.

For more information, photos and news coverage of the dam removal visit www.portlandgeneral.com and click on the Dam Removal or Sandy River links.



To register for an event and receive directions to meeting place please send an email to with the name of the event in the subject line or call 503-668-1646. Children ages 10-18 are welcome when accompanied by an adult. For outdoor events please wear boots or sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.

July 2007
Thursday evening, July 19th	Beaver Creek Restoration Tour Find out how native plants are being used to improve habitat along the creek at Mt. Hood Community College campus. Get some tips on how to get rid of invasive plants.
Saturday, July 28th 9:30-11:30 a.m.	Native Plant Walk Walk along a creek in the Zigzag area and learn about native plants. Get some ideas about which ones would be suitable for planting where you live.
Saturday, July 28th 2:00-4:00 p.m. & Monday, July 30th 6:00-8:00 p.m.	Salmon Habitat Restoration Walk Take a short hike to discover how large logs help create important salmon habitat in the Clear Fork of the Sandy River. See the trunks of trees buried by a lahar during one of Mt. Hood's volcanic events in the 1790's.

August 2007
Saturday, Aug. 4th 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Wildflower Hike Enjoy the wildflowers near Timberline Lodge on this hike in the upper Zigzag and Salmon river area. The snows of winter will be gone but their benefits linger on; abundant wildflowers and clear creeks that provide cold water to the Zigzag, Sandy and Salmon rivers.
Saturday, Aug. 25th 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Old Growth Forest Hike Hike the Salmon River Trail to discover secrets of the interactions between the forest, river and salmon. Towering ancient trees, crystal clear water and salmon are some of the things that make this a special place. The forest shades the water, reduces erosion and when trees fall into the river they create pools where fish can hide on hot, summer days
Wednesday, Aug. 29th Full day	Tour the Bull Run Join the watershed council and the Portland Water Bureau for a tour of some habitat restoration sites plus part of the Bull Run watershed. $10. per person.

September 2007
Saturday 15th	Tour Mensinger Bottom Join the Bureau of Land Management staff to see habitat restoration work on this site that Western Rivers Conservancy set aside as open space in 2000. Contact: Salem BLM (503) 375-5687

November 2007
Saturday, Nov. 3rd 9:30 - Noon	Salmon Spawning Hike Watch Coho salmon spawn on a hike to the mouth of Cedar Creek, near the city of Sandy. This three mile round trip hike will take you through an open space park where the watershed council and City of Sandy are working together to replant native trees.
Saturday, Nov. 10th 9:30 a.m. - Noon	Fish Toss Join the Sandy River Basin Watershed Council to distribute adult salmon carcasses to nourish young salmon and the Sandy River ecosystem. The salmon are surplus from local fish hatcheries. Please bring washable raingear and rubber boots.