The Eugene Water & Electric Board figures it would be cheaper to stop using one of its McKenzie River hydropower dams to produce electricity than to carry out much of a salmon-related upgrade on the dam that’s mandated if the utility wants to keep the structure’s power turbines turning.

The good news: The utility still would proceed with the second major piece of the fish passage project, building a $12 million fish ladder that salmon coming upriver would use in order to get around the dam and continue up the McKenzie. Complete story here from OPB EARTHFIX: [LINK]

Not only will fish passage help salmon, it would also improve connectivity between Upper Mckenzie bull trout and lower river bull trout. [LINK]

LIDAR mapping of the dam and reservoir: [LINK]