September 18, 2019 9:30 a.m.
Staff with Pacific Power, along with federal and state natural resource agencies, will host a public tour of the fish enhancement projects at the North Umpqua Hydroelectric Project on Friday October 4th.
Tom Gaunt of the utility said the annual tour will highlight state-of-the-art fish passage and protection facilities at Soda Springs Dam and upstream locations on the North Umpqua River within the Umpqua National Forest, 60 miles east of Roseburg.
Gaunt said the enhancements are part of Pacific Power’s 194-megawatt hydroelectric project that produces enough renewable, emission-free electricity to supply approximately 80,000 average homes each year. The project was built in the 1940s and 50s but has undergone many substantial improvements since 2001 to balance efficient energy production with fish, wildlife, recreation and other values.
The tour will begin at 11:00 a.m. and should last until around 3:00 p.m. Gaunt said it will begin with a presentation at the North Umpqua Implementation Center, which is about an hour east of Roseburg on Highway 138.
Carpooling is encouraged due to limited parking space. Those attending should bring a sack lunch and a hard hat if they have one. Hard hats are required for access to the dam and will be provided to those who don’t have one.
Reserve space on the tour by calling Pacific Power at 541-498-2617 prior to October 2nd.