“The North Umpqua River’s diverse fish populations are unique within Oregon and are of considerable social, cultural, and economic importance locally and regionally,” the fish and wildlife department said in a news release. Environmental groups have long criticized the dam, describing it as an old, disintegrating structure that kills or prevents fish including lamprey and salmon from swimming upstream. Jim McCarthy, Southern Oregon Program Director of WaterWatch of Oregon, said he hoped the damages claim would mark a turning point for lamprey conservation. To carry out the repairs, the district received authorization from the fish and wildlife department to temporarily drain part of the reservoir behind the dam and close the fish ladder. Two days later, the fish and wildlife department determined that an emergency salvage operation was necessary and recruited employees from across the western side of the state to assist.

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Persons: they've, Ryan Beckley, Jim McCarthy, ”, Salem . State Sen, Jeff Golden, ___ Claire Rush Organizations: —, Oregon Department of Fish, Wildlife, Winchester Water Control, Jim McCarthy , Southern Oregon, Water Resources, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: PORTLAND, — Oregon, Douglas County, Winchester, Oregon, Umpqua, Jim McCarthy ,, Salem . State, Fish