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Oregon Field Guide: The White Salmon River Runs Free

What happens when a dam disappears and a river returns? Watch this special edition of Oregon Field Guide about the historic removal of Condit Dam.

 

1859[1]In 2012, the 100 foot-tall Condit Dam was removed from the White Salmon River in southeast Washington, making it the largest dam in the world ever removed. The goal was simple: Restore habitat for threatened salmon. This first-ever project tested the ingenuity of those tasked with the massive project. But it may also represent a turning point. In a region built on hydropower, is removing dams for threatened salmon the new norm?

Producer & Director of Photography – Andy Maser
Editor – Nick Fisher
Associate Producer – Hayden Peters
Additional Video – Michael Bendixen, Hayden Peters, Nick Fisher, Todd Sonflieth, Brian Lippy, Andy Johnson-Laird & Sylvain Chancel
Stock Material – Steve Stampfli, Zach Zoller, Ralph Bowman, Ryan Scott, Kevin Felts, Sam Drevo, Oregon Historical Society, Daniel Dancer, PacifiCorp,
Special Thanks – Jaco Klinkenberg, Wet Planet Whitewater, Heather Herbeck, Sam Drevo, Todd Olson of PacifiCorp, Tom Gaunt of PacifiCorp, Rod Engle of USFWS, Larry Moran of JR Merit, Tony Washines of Yakima Nation, Ed Jahn, American Rivers, American Whitewater

Appeared in episode: The White Salmon River Runs Free: Breaching the Condit Dam

For more information:

Andy Maser Films

White Salmon Timelapse Project

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Condit Dam Removal Explained

In late October, 2011, the White Salmon River in Washington flowed again as the nearly 100-year-old Condit Dam was disabled with explosives. See this spectacular video of the dam’s lake draining, and find out how the end result is affecting habitat for salmon spawning. Further dam demolition is scheduled in 2012. The event was a significant milestone for river restoration and dam removal nationwide. This video is by Andy Maser.

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Condit Dam Removal

On Wednesday October 26th, 2011, Condit Dam on the White Salmon River was dramatically breached with explosives. This was the first step in a year-long project to remove the 100 year-old dam and restore spawning habitat for threatened salmon.

This video is by Andy Maser.