Powerdale Dam, Hood River, OR

In June 2003, tribal, utility, government, and conservation interests, including American Rivers, agreed to remove the Powerdale Hydroelectric Dam on Oregon’s Hood River. The dam removal took place in Fall 2010 and the Hood River is now a free-flowing river.

The Hood River is home to a range of fish species including spring and fall Chinook,
Coho salmon, winter and summer steelhead, and bull trout — several of which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  Removal of the dam will help these species survive and thrive.

In addition to removing the Powerdale Dam, the dam owner, PacifiCorp, has agreed to transfer land to a public entity and provide funds to ensure the maintenance of these lands which will help protect the Hood River Basin. This agreement is a great example of the ways we can work together to protect rivers and the fish, wildlife, and people who depend on them.

For more information, please contact Brett Swift at 503-827-8648.