Valsetz Alert

[Blacktail Slayer]

Thought I would give everyone a heads up about what was talked about the Valsetz in a ODFW & OHA meeting. It sounds like Polk county, Luckiamute Watershed Council, and the Grande Ronde Tribe want to bring back the Valsetz Lake at three times its old size. It doen't even seem the public really knows this is going on. ODFW is not liking the idea, since it will take away a lot of elk habitat. Does anyone have any new information or updates about the proposed project?

[osulogger]

Wasn't Valsetz lake man made and serve as a log pond? And why would the Luckiamute Watershed Council be involved???? It doesn't even drain into the Luckiamute, it drains into the Siletz.

There's no elk up there anyway..... just wasting your time there

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

[Salty Walty]

A few threads on it from the main board.

Most recent;

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=246243

[hillbillygoat]

"There's no elk up there anyway..... just wasting your time there"

I'm with OSU on that one.

It is no more than a proposal at this point. I don't think it will go much farther.

[Twitchs_Tackle]

Originally Posted by osulogger

Wasn't Valsetz lake man made and serve as a log pond? And why would the Luckiamute Watershed Council be involved???? It doesn't even drain into the Luckiamute, it drains into the Siletz.

There's no elk up there anyway..... just wasting your time there

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Ahh, but the idea is to create a new lake, and divert the water OVER to the Luckiamute. Smart huh!?

The lake, created by a 100' high dam, would be around 3 miles wide at its widest, and 5 miles long. It would be larger than Detroit Res.

The public meeting was last week, and was quite amusing. As Walty posted, check out the other threads on the topic, including this one I started on another site.
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/f...ver#Post504861

[Twitchs_Tackle]

Originally Posted by hillbillygoat

"There's no elk up there anyway..... just wasting your time there"

I'm with OSU on that one.

It is no more than a proposal at this point. I don't think it will go much farther.

They just got $180,000 to start the feasibility study

[uhmw]

I for one would love to see a lake. The northern willy vally is fairly devoid of lakes esspecially lower elevation lakes. Maybe we could trade off some elk habitate for duck hunting and fishing oppertunity. seems to be plenty of woods around that area also.

[osulogger]

Who'd ever think that Fanno Ridge would be beach front property!

Reading the other thread, I would never have thought about the old town site being fully contaiminated.... but of course it would be. Interesting they want to build their drinking water resevior right on top of that!

Why not just dam up Rickreall Creek more and up the size of the resevoir they have already? At least that one is on the right side of the divide!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

[BrianMaguire]

Originally Posted by osulogger

Reading the other thread, I would never have thought about the old town site being fully contaiminated.... but of course it would be. Interesting they want to build their drinking water resevior right on top of that!

That just may be the key to stopping this.

[Ifisherkid]

Originally Posted by Twitchs_Tackle

Ahh, but the idea is to create a new lake, and divert the water OVER to the Luckiamute. Smart huh!?

The lake, created by a 100' high dam, would be around 3 miles wide at its widest, and 5 miles long. It would be larger than Detroit Res.

The public meeting was last week, and was quite amusing. As Walty posted, check out the other threads on the topic, including this one I started on another site.
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/f...ver#Post504861

Sounds good

[ling killer]

just a rumor i heard but anyways, i was told that there was a bunch of natural gas pockets under the mud n stuff or mercury or somehting to that extent is this true? does anyone know?

[Twitchs_Tackle]

Originally Posted by ling killer

just a rumor i heard but anyways, i was told that there was a bunch of natural gas pockets under the mud n stuff or mercury or somehting to that extent is this true? does anyone know?

Its an "archived" EPA Superfund hazardous waste site; there could still be glue wastes, asbestos, PCBs, and pentachlorophenol contamination in the area.

[ling killer]

yup thats what i was lookin 4..... anywas dosent sound like a good idea to turn into a lake but i guess i dont spend much time there i usually stop short and head up gravel creek and hunt twards rose lodge i know that area really well cuz i've logged quite a few units up there and seen some huge blacktail

[novice]

My grandfather worked at the Valsetz mill for many years.....could probably take you to the exact spot where 55 gal drums of toxic materials were disposed of (and it wasn't at the landfill either)....I have heard these stories many times...I would not drink that water!!!!

OSUlogger....Have been off Fanno many times myself....not real good beach landscape there is it!

I first heard of this 3 years ago...It was the tribe that first kicked this idea around and wanted to use the lake for a casino resort area....I think that is the real driving force behind this. There is no shortage of water on either side of the hill.

Hmmmm....I can just hear the radio spot now....Come visit pristine the Valsetz Casino....featuring the Fanno Ridge players every Friday night....with all you can eat (contaminated) fish out of the lake....Finish off the evening in the Sugarloaf lounge with our signature drink the "Bigtip"............................NO THANKS!!!!!!!!

[hawg boss]

Originally Posted by osulogger

Why not just dam up Rickreall Creek more and up the size of the resevoir they have already? At least that one is on the right side of the divide!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Why further destroy one run of steelhead in favor of another?
I say that because they were looking at options on Rickreall cr and at least one of them involved bulding a new dam below the present one. Raising the existing dams height would also flood a lot more of the spawning habitat above the dam. That is important because one of my goals is to get fish passage over that dam.

I went to this meeting. I am opposed to the idea. I was concerned when someone asked about alternative dam sites on both Rickreall cr and Willamina cr. The runs of Steelhead on both of these 2 creeks are no less important than the Steelhead on the Siletz. The Little Luckiamute, and Mill cr however, both have impassible natural watterfalls. If any dam is built it should be on one of these 2 streams where migratory fish are not present, but.....

If concervation measures were taken there would not be a water issue I believe. A drive through Dallas in the summer at night will reveal a lot of wet sidewalks, and roads. This is a result of sprinklers overshooting the flowerbeds, rose bushes, and lawns. There is also the issue of watering plants that need no watering, and overwatering plants that only need occasional watering.

[osulogger]

hawg boss,

I see your argument, didn't realize that there was a steelhead run up Rickreall Creek. The only reason I suggested that reservior is because if my memory serves me right, that drainage is rather narrow anyway as opposed to Mill Creek or the Little Luckiamute. Both of those are wide drainages. Also, the land surround Rickreall Creek belongs to the same landowner as the Valsetz drainage...... anyone know what the landowners thoughts are on flooding out prime timber ground land???

Novice; At least on the south side of Fanno it drops off pretty dang quick back down to the old town.... could get some spectacular views of the Toledo papermill and the ocean from a casino up there

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

[GSD]

Luckiamute and Little Luckiamute River: New for 2009: The mainstem Luckiamute and Little Luckiamute up to the falls at Falls City open May 23 with a limit of two trout per day, 8-inch minimum length. The Little Luckiamute above the falls at Falls City opens for trout April 25 with a limit of two fish per day, 8-inch minimum length. Angling in both streams is restricted to artifical flies and lures. Both streams support healthy populations of native cutthroat trout, particularly in their upper reaches where excellent bank angling opportunities abound.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/RR/fishin...willamette.asp

[Terdog13]

Maybe I just don't get it!!!

They would have to dam up both ends! If you dam up the southside
the level would raise up and flow to the Siletz. I know I'm not an engineer
but trust me I've logged a few hoof prints there and i don't see it.

[hawg boss]

Originally Posted by osulogger

hawg boss,

I see your argument, didn't realize that there was a steelhead run up Rickreall Creek. The only reason I suggested that reservior is because if my memory serves me right, that drainage is rather narrow anyway as opposed to Mill Creek or the Little Luckiamute. Both of those are wide drainages. Also, the land surround Rickreall Creek belongs to the same landowner as the Valsetz drainage...... anyone know what the landowners thoughts are on flooding out prime timber ground land???

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

It is narrower overall.

My hope is that those that oppose the Valsetz site for reasons related to fish, will also oppose the Rickreall, and Willamina cr sites for the same reasons. My fear is that since no fisheries exist on the 2 creeks at this time, (Salmon and Steelhead) less people will oppose a dam on either of them.

[ling killer]

at least if there was a casino in the brush id never have to go home, lol besides my boss always said kid u are home but on another note if they decide to build something like a casino and lake in valsetz i hope it goes all to hell on them and a natural disaster could swallow that $ pit

just my opinion, lol besides how many thousand of tourists will end up geting lost?

[Bigshot]

My Grand Dad worked the Valsetz mill as well and there has been talk of a major dam and big lake up there for at least 30+ years that I know of.... Never gonna happen... BTW,,, I thought Fanno was a secret...

[hillbillygoat]

Originally Posted by Bigshot

My Grand Dad worked the Valsetz mill as well and there has been talk of a major dam and big lake up there for at least 30+ years that I know of.... Never gonna happen... BTW,,, I thought Fanno was a secret...

It is, shh.

[ling killer]

it's kinda like haveing a secret fishin hole everyone has been ther or by it they just dunno about it

[in 'em]

What secret? I thought we all agreed there were no elk up there?

I can see it now...campgrounds, casino's and Fall's City will have a McDonalds and Chevron!

[Etonfish]

Originally Posted by in 'em

What secret? I thought we all agreed there were no elk up there?

I can see it now...campgrounds, casino's and Fall's City will have a McDonalds and Chevron!

McDonald's would fit perfectly in Fall's City.

[in 'em]

Lol!

[Blacktail Slayer]

Originally Posted by Etonfish

McDonald's would fit perfectly in Fall's City.

Is that the new Fall City or Elgin McDonald's?

[SILVERSINK]

every one of those houses and the mill were on septic systems. I womder if all the septic tanks were removed after abandoned? Maybe they are still full and waiting for a lake to dilute the contents