Hemlock Dam, Trout Creek, WA

The 26 foot high Hemlock Dam on Trout Creek, a tributary of the Wind River in Washington State, has harmed fish populations, including the currently threatened Lower Columbia steelhead, by obstructing fish passage to 15 miles of upstream habitat and many more miles of seasonal habitat on tributaries.

The dam was removed during the summer of 2009, which has opened up the river and returned it to natural stream flows with cooler water temperatures that will help fish populations survive.  The removal also helps make Trout Creek safer for local citizens. The dam was classified as High Hazard, meaning that if the dam were to fail, there is the potential for loss of life. The removal will also lessen the chances of injury from swimmers jumping off the bridge into the shallow reservoir, or being swept over the dam.

American Rivers contributed $75,000 in funding through a National Partnership with the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program to assist with the design of and removal of this dam.

Please contact Kavita Heyn at 503-827-8648 for more information.