Page10
Rural Report
October 2023
Oregon seeks $27M
for Winchester Dam repair it says resulted in
mass death of Pacific lamprey fish
October 6th 2023, Douglas County, OR
— Oregon officials are seeking more than $27
million in damages over dam repairs they say
killed more than half a million Pacific lamprey
fish in what they’ve described as one of the
largest damages claims for illegal killing of
wildlife in state history.
In a claim filed in Douglas County Circuit
Court on Friday, the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife said that recent repairs to
Winchester Dam in the southern part of the state
resulted in the death of at least 550,000 juvenile
Pacific lamprey, an eel-like fish key to local
ecosystems and of cultural significance to many
Native American tribes in the region. The fish is
also listed as a protected species in Oregon.
“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. “The
damages claim seeks reparation for the loss of a
valuable public resource.”
The complaint was filed against the
Winchester Water Control District along with
TerraFirma and DOWL, companies that were
contracted, respectively, for dam repairs and
fish salvage operations.
The department has accused the defendants,
among other things, of unlawful killing of fish
and negligence. The Winchester Dam was
built in November 1890 and is in the National
Register of Historical Places. Constructed from
large timber cribs, the dam was originally built
4-feet high and in 1907 the dam was raised to
sixteen feet. Winchester Dam provided water
and electricity for the town of Roseburg until
1923. A former hydropower plant that is
now privately owned by the water district’s
residents, who largely use it for water sports
and recreation, according to the complaint. At
133 years old, Winchester Dam on the North
Umpqua River is an aging facility that has
been experiencing structural decline in the last
decade.
These issues include leaking water through
the dam face that present additional false
attraction flow for migrating fish. Additionally,
Veterans Corner
SAN DIEGO (AP) — After fighting in
Afghanistan, former U.S. Army soldier
Mauricio Hernandez Mata returned home
with post-traumatic stress, which he says
eventually led to getting in trouble with
the law and being deported to Mexico
— a country he had not lived in since he
was a boy.
On Wednesday, he and another deported
veteran were sworn in as U.S. citizens at
a special naturalization ceremony in San
Diego.
The two veterans were among 65 who
Story by Scooter Brown
the dam needs structural integrity testing per the
Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD)
requirements, which is a health and human
safety issue.
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.
“This is wonderful news for Pacific lamprey
which, for too long, have been disregarded
and treated as disposable, leading to dramatic
declines,” he said. “This is a win for Native
American tribes which have worked so hard to
raise awareness about the importance and value
of these fish, and to restore them.”
The complaint stems from repairs that the
Winchester Water Control District requested
last year.
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. This, on the condition that it take steps to
salvage and relocate fish and make a “sufficient
effort” to ensure that no more than 30,000
juvenile lampreys were killed in the process.
When the water drawdown started on August
7, however, those salvaging efforts were not
completed, stranding and exposing thousands
of lamprey in the sediment, according to the
complaint. 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. At least 550,000 lamprey died as
a result, the complaint said.
The incident was raised during recent
legislative hearings at the state Capitol in
Salem. State Sen. Jeff Golden, the chair of
the chamber’s natural resources committee,
has requested that the departments of Fish and
Wildlife, Water Resources and Environmental
Quality submit a report to lawmakers in the
coming months.
A Twist on a Classic Pie
1/4
2
2
cup, plus 2 teaspoons, brown sugar
refrigerated pie crusts
teaspoons whipping cream
caramel sauce
Heat oven to 350 F.
In large bowl, combine apples, sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon and lemon
juice until apples are covered. Set aside.
In oven-safe, 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter. Add 1/4 cup brown
sugar and remaining cinnamon; mix until combined. Boil 5-8 minutes.
In same skillet, place one pie crust over brown sugar mixture. Pour apples
over pie crust. Cover apples with second pie crust. Cut slits in top to
release steam. Brush whipping cream over crust. Sprinkle with remaining
brown sugar.
Bake 35-45 minutes until crust is golden brown.
Drizzle with caramel sauce.
Work Out Tips that Keep You Fit & Healthy
Consider these popular ways to disconnect for a short while
so you can take on busy days without feeling overwhelmed.
1. Stretch - After hours of sitting, stretching from head to toe
can be a good way to get physically active if you’re short
on time and stuck at your desk. Neck, shoulder, arm, back
and leg stretches are all easy ways to stand up and disengage
from the computer. Another trick: practice wrist exercises to
avoid injury or strain from typing.
2. Go for a Walk - If you have a few minutes to spare, leave
the office or your desk at home entirely and head outside
for a walk. A stroll through your neighborhood or the city
sidewalks can provide the fresh air and physical activity
your body craves.
3. Take Five Outside - On hot days when a mid-workday
walk might not be the right refresh, skip it and simply find a
shady spot to sit down. You can enjoy the benefits of fresh
air and sunlight without getting too hot.
4. Rest Your Eyes - Follow the rule of 20s. If you’re work-
ing a computer job, eyestrain may be a serious concern.
Give them a break by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds
Continued on Page 12
every 20 minutes.
5. Enjoy a Favorite Snack - Push that office chair away from
the computer and treat yourself to a bite of something you
enjoy. For example, Nestlé rallies nut butter bombs are a
perfect cure for those back-to-back video calls, delivering a
balance of permissibility and indulgence while helping you
rally through your workday. Available in three craveable
flavors - raspberry peanut butter, brownie almond butter and
salted cashew butter - the chilled delights combine decadent
chocolate and smooth nut butter for a rich burst of flavor
with no preservatives, artificial flavors or artificial colors.
6. Check in with Friends - Squeeze in a midday chat to catch
up with a friend or coworker. Socializing is a feel-good way
to take your mind off work even for just a few minutes.
7. Sip an Afternoon Coffee - If caffeine gives you that
much-needed jolt to finish out the workday, head to your
favorite local shop for a refreshing iced beverage. Pair it
with a chilled snack like Nestlé rallies nut butter bombs for a
perfect sweet and savory afternoon pick-me-up.
Douglas County
Commissioners Issue Proclamation
in Honor of Veterans and
Military Families Month
Deported Veterans
Return as US Citizens
have been allowed back into the United
States over the past year ago as part of a
growing effort by the Biden administration
called the Immigrant Military Members
and Veterans Initiative to make amends
with immigrants who served in the U.S.
military only to wind up deported.
Hundreds of U.S. military veterans,
including some who were charged with
crimes such as drunk driving or theft,
have been deported over the years in what
immigration advocates and others have
Continued from Page 8
The 68th Annual Douglas
County Veterans Day Parade
This year;s Paerade will
be in downtown Roseburg
on Saturday, November 11,
2023, beginning at 11:00 am.
The Douglas County Veterans
Day Parade has a long-standing
tradition of honoring our veterans
on the Veterans Day Holiday
and has been held in Roseburg
every single year since 1955. The
worthy and steadfast tradition has
a well-earned title as “Oregon’s
Greatest Veterans Day Parade.”
This year the Grand Marshals
for the Douglas County Veterans
Day parade will be National
Guardsmen, as well as Gold Star
Families.
Douglas
County
–
The
Douglas County Board of
Commissioners
issued
a
proclamation on, Wednesday,
October 25, 2023, at the Weekly
Business Meeting calling upon
all citizens of Douglas County
to celebrate and honor Veterans
and Military Families Month.
The proclamation also
recognized
and
invited
residents to honor all veterans
on Veterans Day and attend
the 68th Annual Douglas
County Veterans Day Parade.
The proclamation was
presented by Commissioner
Boice, on behalf of the Board and
acknowledged that, “throughout
our history, courageous men
and women have donned the
uniform of the United States
Armed Forces and built a
noble tradition of faithful and
dedicated service to our Nation,
thus we know that the freedoms
we enjoy as Americans have
been purchased and protected
at an incredibly high price.”
A copy of the video
presentation can be found
on
the
Douglas
County
Government Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Douglas
CountyeGovernment.