Odell Creek Dam Removal

The Hood River Watershed Group selected River Design Group (RDG), now part of SWCA, to perform dam removal and stream restoration design and permitting, and construction oversight of Odell Creek Hydroelectric Project dam on Odell Creek in Hood River County, Oregon. The existing concrete dam, fish ladder, and screen were constructed in 1984. The concrete dam consisted of a 12-foot-high concrete structure spanning 30 feet across Odell Creek. The existing fish ladder and screen did not meet current fish passage standards. A methodical dam removal and stream restoration plan was put forth to maximize protection of fish and aquatic resources in order to fully remove the dam in an environmentally sensitive manner.

RDG developed the dam removal plan, hydraulic modeling, engineering design and construction drawings and specifications necessary to remove the dam and reconstruct the channel. RDG assisted in procuring a contractor and provided construction oversight throughout the dam removal and channel restoration implementation to ensure contractor compliance with the design intent.