• The dam generates power for the city of Roseburg.
False – the dam hasn’t produced electricity since 1964.
• The dam supplies Roseburg’s drinking water.
False – the intake for the drinking water supply for 37,700 Douglas County residents is 50-feet downstream of the dam.
• The dam provides flood control.
False – Winchester Dam has never provided flood control.
• The dam provides water for irrigation.
False – Winchester Dam does not provide water for irrigation.
• Douglas County operates and maintains the dam.
False – it’s privately owned by Winchester Water Control District.
• Homeowners lose water rights if the dam is removed.
False – they retain their waters rights after removal.
• The August 2023 dam repairs will last 100 years.
False –the dam leaks even worse since the recent repairs.
• The dam keeps out smallmouth bass & invasive fish.
False – Even Oregon Department of fish and Wildlife admits this is false. Invasive fish like the warm water behind the dam.
• The dam helps salmon & steelhead migrate upstream.
False – the 17-foot dam is too high for native fish to jump. According to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the dam and its fish ladder are the worst man made obstacle to fish on any Oregon river.
• It’s the only fish counting station on the North Umpqua River.
False – The Soda Springs Dam and the Rock Creek Dam are both on the North Umpqua River and both have fish counting stations nearly identical to the one at Winchester Dam. Additionally, fish count data is obtained from spawning surveys, creel & catch records, and hatchery escapement data.
