Dams and the Consequences of Time Dam safety concerns of Scott Dam’s aging structure This year Scott Dam turned 100 years old, and as is the case with any century-old infrastructure, there are some concerns about its safety. Cape Horn Dam, 12 miles downstream, is 114 years old. Both were designed during a time when … Read more
In a setback to the Two Basin Partnership — which sought to gain control over the two fish-blocking dams on the Eel River — FERC denied a request for a delay by the coalition, damaging their chances at gaining control (and forestalling decommissioning of the dams). Friends of the Eel River think that this is … Read more
Between a Rock and Management Priorities – Immense Pressure on Scott Dam’s Questionable Foundation Of the many safety concerns at Scott Dam, the first we featured in our blog series was the uncertain quality of the bedrock and redesigned dam as discussed in Part 1: Design – What’s Wrong With This Picture? In this post … Read more
What is wrong with this picture? Looking below the surface at Scott Dam’s design Did you know Scott Dam was originally designed to run straight across the Eel River Canyon? So why is there an angle in Scott Dam? How does this design impact dam safety? Scott Dam, as we see it today, is a … Read more
There’s a proposal to remove the fish-blocking Scott Dam on the Eel River but looming problems still remain. Cape Horn Dam, just downstream of Scott Dam, technically allows for fish passage through its fish ladder–but that’s only when the ladder is properly functioning and the trouble is that fish often can’t use the ladder because it … Read more
Friends of the Eel River’s comments to FERC on the Initial Study Report filed by the coalition of five entities known variously as the Two Basin Partners, the Notice of Intent (NOI) group, or the Planning Agreement Group (PAG). Dear Secretary Bose and FERC staff: On behalf of our members, staff, and board, Friends of the … Read more
The EcoNews crew with guests Darren Mierau of California Trout and Klamath dam campaign veteran Craig Tucker discussing the nascent plan to remove Scott Dam and restore salmon and steelhead to the upper Eel River.
We’d really appreciate your help with a little project we’ve been working on: SCOTT DAM REMOVAL!!! As Friends of the Eel River has been arguing for decades, removal of Scott Dam is the most important thing we can do to give imperiled Eel River salmon and steelhead — especially critically endangered summer steelhead — the … Read more
Today’s filing proposes to remove Scott Dam, which would allow Eel River fish passage to their headwaters habitat for the first time in a century. That’s a start. But too many questions remain unresolved.
Amidst the tumultuous relicensing, auction, bankruptcy, and withdrawal developments for the Eel River dams, attention has largely centered around the most problematic of the two – Scott Dam, which is structurally unsound and has zero fish passage. However, while there is a fish ladder at the Van Arsdale Fish Station at Cape Horn Dam, recent … Read more