Pudding River Watershed Project/Scotts Mills County Park
Videos about Scotts Mills Dam Removal
Video 2: Why not just repair the dam?
Video 3: Why remove the dam?
Written Resource:
Interactive PDF with Linked Articles, Attached (also on The Pudding River Watershed website - click here to access)
There is a renewed aggressive project dedicated to restoration of the Natural Waterfall at the Scotts Mills County Park including removing the decaying and very dangerous concrete berm/weir (errantly referred to as a "dam") - returning it to what it was intended to be for nature to thrive It was installed in 1917 - so water flow could be controlled and re-directed to provide power for PGE. The purpose for the weir has long been gone, yet the environmental damage has continued, and, in fact, increased. No environmental factors were taken into consideration at the time of the build. Over the years, the concrete has been crumbling. Every high-water event running over it has weakened it more, and created more damage. There has been a hard decline of natural "wildlife" including fish in the creek. There are many environmental reasons for this to be completed, as well as safety issues. We along with Scotts Mills City Council are in full support of the project and would appreciate area neighbors contacting Marion County Commissioner's Office to share their SUPPORT for this important restoration project. https://www.co.marion.or.us/BOC
If the extensive environmental mess and eyesore of a dam at Oregon City can be totally restored to a natural setting, ridding the area of much environmental decay, industrial defunct buildings and operations, surely this beautiful area of our unique community can be restored. For more information about the Pudding River Watershed Project of which Butte Creek is a part, contact Kurt Berning at kurt@puddingriverwatershed.org, 503-475-2871, or check out https://www.facebook.com/puddingriverwatershed/ or their website: https://puddingriverwatershed.org/