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Restoring the Sandy River
 The biggest dam removal in the Northwest in over 40 years, the removal of Marmot and Little Sandy dams will restore salmon and steelhead, improve recreation, and create a wild river refuge in Portland’s backyard.
American Rivers helped negotiate this important dam removal and river restoration agreement with Portland General Electric and more than 20 other groups and agencies.
For background info and benefits of dam removal, download our Sandy River brochure (PDF).
For more information contact Amy Kober, 206-213-0330 x 23 or Brett Swift, 503-827-8648.
In the Spotlight: Sandy River Film
In May 2007, a film crew shot footage for a short film about the Sandy River. Watch the final version below.
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Maps & diagrams:
Marmot Dam deconstruction:
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PGE’s contractors will build a shallow dirt and rock coffer dam upstream from Marmot Dam to keep the river away during removal. It will be built on top of the river sediment. The bypass channel will allow fish to pass. The solid concrete Marmot dam will be removed piece by piece. |
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After the concrete dam is removed, the coffer dam will be extended across the river. Normal high water flows will wash away the coffer dam in fall 2007, probably following a major rain. PGE will maintain fish passage on the Sandy during project removal, assisting the fish if necessary. |
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Sediment will continue to flow downstream naturally as the river is restored toward its natural state. State and federal fish management agencies and environmental groups determined that this method is the best alternative for salmon, steelhead and other fish.
(The smaller Little Sandy Dam will be removed in similar fashion during summer 2008. This dam has a relatively small amount of sediment behind it.) |
In the news:
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