BLM Awards PGE, Rivers Conservancy for Sandy River Work (Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife News Bulletin)

Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife News Bulletin,

Sandy, OR - For their contribution to setting aside for conservation and public uses 4,900 acres of land along the Sandy River east of Portland, Ore., and for PGE's decision to remove its Marmot and Little Sandy dams, the Bureau of Land management gave Portland General Electric and the Western Rivers Conservancy the federal Department of Interior's Four Cs Award this week at a ceremony on the Sandy River.

According to BLM, the award recognizes PGE and Western Rivers Conservancy for exemplifying the Department of the Interior's Four Cs philosophy of "consultation, cooperation and communication, all in the service of conservation."

"This has been an extraordinarily positive and dynamic partnership and I am proud to give this award to Western Rivers Conservancy and Portland General Electric for all of their fine work," said Kathleen Clark, BLM's director. "This partnership guarantees that Oregonians will be able to continue to enjoy the national treasure that is the Sandy River."

PGE completed an agreement in 2003 with state, federal, tribal and conservation groups that will result in the removal of two dams by 2008. Marmot Dam on the Sandy River was energized in 1913 and the Little Sandy Dam on the Little Sandy River was energized in September 1912. The two dams are connected by a series of penstocks and flumes and together generate about 22 megawatts of electricity, said PGE spokesperson Mark Fryburg.

"We're actually hoping to have the dams removed by the end of 2007," Fryburg said. However, he said the official timetable is to remove the Marmot Dam in 2007, the Little Sandy Dam in 2008 and to decommission and remove structures peripheral to the dams, such as the penstocks and power house, in 2009.

Of the 5,000 acres that will be set aside by Western Rivers Conservancy, 1,500 acres were donated by PGE. The land will go to the BLM and receive a special management designation, which is similar to wilderness status but with greater public access.

"The Bureau of Land Management is doing a great job of land conservation on the Sandy River," Western Rivers Conservancy Vice President Sue Doroff said. "We are proud to be partners with them and with Portland General Electric."

"PGE is leaving an environmental legacy in the Sandy Basin," said Peggy Fowler, CEO and president of PGE. "Our company is proud to contribute to a resource that will be enjoyed for many generations on one of western Oregon's most scenic rivers."

BLM will purchase the land from Western Rivers Conservancy with funds from the 40-year-old Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was enacted by Congress in 1964 to acquire land for public use. $8.1 million in LWCF appropriations have been used to secure lands along the Sandy River.

"The Sandy River project continues to be a major success story for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and for Oregon," said Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith. "Over the years, the Oregon delegation has been highly effective in bringing home funding from the Land and Water Fund to support this partnership to set aside critical portions of two beautiful rivers, the Sandy and Little Sandy, for people, fish and wildlife."

So far, Western Rivers Conservancy has purchased 2,204 acres of the total 4,900 acres, which accounts for 7.5 miles of the Sandy River shoreline. The Conservancy has committed to purchase a total of 3,400 acres, in addition to the 1,500 acres donated by PGE. That would account for 15 miles of shoreline. The land will be sold to the BLM to be managed as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Conservancy will be reimbursed with LWCF funds.