[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 133 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH of Oregon (for himself and Mr. Wyden):
  S. 3227. A bill to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide for 
the installation of pumps and removal of the Savage Rapids Dam on the 
Rogue River in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                   THE SAVAGE RAPIDS DAM ACT OF 2000

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Savage 
Rapids Dam Act of 2000, which is cosponsored by my colleague Mr. Wyden. 
This bill would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide for the 
installation of pumps and removal of the Savage Rapids Dam on the Rogue 
River in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes.
  Introduction of this bill follows months of negotiations between the 
Grants Pass Irrigation District, which owns the dam and has received 
water from it since 1921, federal and state agencies, and other 
stakeholders in the Basin. Removal of the dam, following the 
installation of modern electric irrigation pumps, will resolve the 
ongoing issues related to fish passage at the facility.
  Early on, I made a commitment to help the District resolve the 
controversies surrounding the dam in a manner acceptable to the 
District and its patrons, and in a way that left the District 
economically viable. This bill achieves both those goals.
  In December 1999, the board of directors of the Grants Pass 
Irrigation District adopted a resolution outlining the proposed 
settlement of disputes relating to the dam. The patrons of the district 
subsequently voted to adopt the settlement at the beginning of the 
year. The settlement supports dam removal, but only following the 
installation of irrigation pumps. The proposed settlement had several 
other components that have been addressed in the crafting of this 
legislation.
  I realize that it is late in the 106th Congress to be introducing 
legislation. However, I felt that this was the most effective way to 
focus attention on this proposal. Despite our best efforts to 
communicate with all interested and affected parties, I believe 
introduction of the bill at this time will enable us to gain valuable 
feedback before the start of the next Congress. This will enable us to 
reintroduce the bill early next year.
  I recognize that dam removal proposals can be controversial. This 
facility, however, is not a large multi-purpose dam. It does not 
generate electricity, and provides no flood control. It does not affect 
commercial navigation. There will be an impact on flat-water 
recreational opportunities, so the bill directs the Secretary of the 
Interior to work with the State of Oregon and the counties of Josephine 
and Jackson to identify and implement recreation opportunities. The 
bill includes an authorization of 2.5 million dollars for the federal 
share of these recreation facilities.
  I look forward to working with the Grants Pass Irrigation District 
and the other stakeholders to bring resolution to the disputes that 
have gone on for several years now. This is an opportunity to restore 
salmon and maintain an agricultural way of life for the patrons of the 
District.

                          ____________________