Dam problems force release of 50,000 fish from Leaburg hatchery

By Christian Wihtol
Register-Guard

The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife has implemented an emergency early transfer of more than 50,000 trout from its Leaburg hatchery into Willamette Valley fishing spots because of the problems at the Eugene Water & Electric Board’s Leaburg Dam on the McKenzie River, ODFW said Monday.

Due to mechanical problems, two of the dam’s three gates are stuck in the closed position, letting little water through; the third gate is open, allowing water through. EWEB has said it does not want to raise or lower the third gate by very much because it does not want to risk that gate also malfunctioning. Read more