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The North Umpqua River is renowned for its beauty and its world-class fishing. It is also known for the North Umpqua Hydroelectric Project -- a 1950's-era system of eight dams, three reservoirs, more than 30 miles of flumes and canals, six miles of penstocks and tunnels, and approximately 100 miles of project-related roads.

Since the project was built, it has harmed aquatic and terrestrial species and habitat within the river basin and on nearby forest lands. The Soda Springs Dam -- the lowermost of the eight dams -- has caused a substantial amount of harm to the fish and other aquatic life on the river.

During the relicensing process, federal scientists determined that removing the Soda Springs Dam would be the best way to improve fish habitat and restore the natural rhythms of the river's ecology. The Forest Service ignored these findings and allowed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to relicense the project without removal of the dam.

Earthjustice is working with a coalition of environmental groups to compel the government to heed its own scientists' recommendations to remove or breach Soda Springs Dam and to issue a hydropower license that fulfills the government's obligation to protect species and their habitat.