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With the proposed Milltown Hill Dam project recently resurrected by Douglas County commissioners, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation again seeks public comment.
Fourteen years have passed since the dam's first Environmental Impact Statement was completed, yet the bureau is requesting public assistance for only a supplemental statement.
Douglas County recently reactivated its Small Reclamation Projects Act loan and grant application with the Bureau of Reclamation, originally approved in 1994 for $31.4 million.
"Last year, we as a board, we unanimously approved dusting the project off," said Douglas County Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman.
According to Tom Manton, natural resources division manager for Douglas County, the reactivation of the application is for the original budgetary amount.
"We can only go back to that amount we requested back then," Manton said.
Douglas County shelved construction of the project in 1998, only after the state Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to require a fish passage be built with the dam. Fish passage for cutthroat trout, coho salmon, steelhead and lamprey was expected to more than double the costs of the dam's original $44 million estimate.
At the time, Umpqua River cutthroat trout were listed on the federal Endangered Species List. The species was delisted in 2000.
Fourteen years have passed since the dam's first Environmental Impact Statement was completed, yet the bureau is requesting public assistance for only a supplemental statement.
Douglas County recently reactivated its Small Reclamation Projects Act loan and grant application with the Bureau of Reclamation, originally approved in 1994 for $31.4 million.
"Last year, we as a board, we unanimously approved dusting the project off," said Douglas County Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman.
According to Tom Manton, natural resources division manager for Douglas County, the reactivation of the application is for the original budgetary amount.
"We can only go back to that amount we requested back then," Manton said.
Douglas County shelved construction of the project in 1998, only after the state Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to require a fish passage be built with the dam. Fish passage for cutthroat trout, coho salmon, steelhead and lamprey was expected to more than double the costs of the dam's original $44 million estimate.
At the time, Umpqua River cutthroat trout were listed on the federal Endangered Species List. The species was delisted in 2000.
Last year, commissioners Doug Robertson, Dan Van Slyke and Marilyn Kittelman asked for a feasibility study to see if it made sense to build a 186-foot-high dam across Elk Creek in north Douglas County.
That study's estimate was $63.6 million for a dam -- without a fish ladder.
Manton said the county has contracted Kleinfelder, Inc., of Golden, Colo., to update the study again without a fish ladder. He said fish passage would be too costly, so the county intends to pursue mitigation factors with the Fish and Wildlife Commission instead.
Manton said the county spent $11.8 million on Milltown Dam in the past. Accounting for the loan and grant provided by the reclamation bureau, he said the county would have to come up with at least an additional $21 million to build the dam.
The Kleinfelder contract costs $82,590. The EIS update, which is contracted with Craven Consulting Group of Tigard, costs $211,396. The funding came from the county's water improvement fund, said Douglas County Commissioner Dan Van Slyke.
Douglas County Public Works Director Rob Paul said about $1.4 million remains in the county's water improvement fund.
It is unclear where the county would find additional funding to build the dam.
The proposed dam would create a 24,143-acre-foot reservoir on Elk Creek, a tributary of Umpqua River.
Opponents of the dam have worried about health risks if mercury from former nearby mines leached into the resulting reservoir. There are additional concerns the dam might become a financial boondoggle.
Proponents of the dam say its reservoir would provide drinking water, irrigation and recreation for households in north Douglas County. It would be the largest public works project in county history.
"Milltown is very, very important," Kittelman said.
Van Slyke said he'd be adverse to using general funds for the dam, since "it pales in comparison" to other county needs with a decline in timber harvests that began in the early 1990s and a devastating loss of its tax receipts.
* You can reach reporter Adam Pearson at 957-4213 or by e-mail at apearson@newsreview.info.
That study's estimate was $63.6 million for a dam -- without a fish ladder.
Manton said the county has contracted Kleinfelder, Inc., of Golden, Colo., to update the study again without a fish ladder. He said fish passage would be too costly, so the county intends to pursue mitigation factors with the Fish and Wildlife Commission instead.
Manton said the county spent $11.8 million on Milltown Dam in the past. Accounting for the loan and grant provided by the reclamation bureau, he said the county would have to come up with at least an additional $21 million to build the dam.
The Kleinfelder contract costs $82,590. The EIS update, which is contracted with Craven Consulting Group of Tigard, costs $211,396. The funding came from the county's water improvement fund, said Douglas County Commissioner Dan Van Slyke.
Douglas County Public Works Director Rob Paul said about $1.4 million remains in the county's water improvement fund.
It is unclear where the county would find additional funding to build the dam.
The proposed dam would create a 24,143-acre-foot reservoir on Elk Creek, a tributary of Umpqua River.
Opponents of the dam have worried about health risks if mercury from former nearby mines leached into the resulting reservoir. There are additional concerns the dam might become a financial boondoggle.
Proponents of the dam say its reservoir would provide drinking water, irrigation and recreation for households in north Douglas County. It would be the largest public works project in county history.
"Milltown is very, very important," Kittelman said.
Van Slyke said he'd be adverse to using general funds for the dam, since "it pales in comparison" to other county needs with a decline in timber harvests that began in the early 1990s and a devastating loss of its tax receipts.
* You can reach reporter Adam Pearson at 957-4213 or by e-mail at apearson@newsreview.info.
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is seeking public comment through Sept. 8 on the Milltown Dam, a proposed 186-foot-high dam to be built across Elk Creek in North County.
WHY: Douglas County recently decided to reactivate its Small Reclamation Projects Act loan and grant application with the bureau, originally approved in 1994. Before construction of the dam can be considered again, a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement has to be written to update the original 1992 EIS document. Comments on the proposal provided by the public will assist the reclamation bureau in determining issues to be included in the supplemental EIS and may help develop alternatives to the proposed action. No meetings are planned at this time, however, a project information letter is available by contacting Robert Hamilton at (208) 334-5087, or by e-mail at Milltownhill@pn.usbr.gov. Information on the project is available at www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/milltown/index.html. WHERE: Send comments to the above e-mail address, or by mail to Robert Hamilton, Regional Loan Engineer, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, ID 83706-1234. |
