Lovelace Dam Removal and Restoration Project

This project is located on private property in Josephine County, on Slate Creek within the Rogue River Basin.

One stream-spanning concrete dam blocks or impedes adult and juvenile fish passage to spawning habitat. Impacted species include Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, summer and winter Steelhead, Pacific Lamprey, Cutthroat Trout, and Suckers. Lovelace Dam serves no water supply, flood control, or hydropower purpose and does not comply with NOAA and ODFW fish passage criteria. Removal of the dam complements salmon restoration efforts ongoing throughout the Rogue Basin and will significantly improve access to spawning and rearing habitat. Large wood and boulders will also be placed instream to improve salmonid habitat. WaterWatchs project partners include the landowner, ODFW, USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, BLM, Rogue River Watershed Council, River Design Group, and Rogue Basin Partnership.

The project will benefit salmon and steelhead and other native fish species and eliminate the adverse impacts caused by the existing Lovelace Dam. Fish passage conditions in Slate Creek will be improved by eliminating Lovelace Dam, and access to submerged spawning and rearing habitat will be restored. Gravel recruitment in Slate Creek will also improve as the dam will no longer impede gravel movement. By eliminating the pool behind Lovelace Dam, predation on juveniles salmon will be reduced. Water quality will additionally be improved due to reduced heating of water. Instream large wood and boulder placement will improve salmonid habitat by creating a diversity of instream habitat.