Fish ladder complete on North Umpqua dam

This Nov. 14, 2012 photo shows the Soda Springs Dam in Toketee, Ore. The long debate about whether to remove the Soda Springs Dam has ended with the construction of a ladder that salmon and steelhead are already using to reach a portion of the North Umpqua River that fish haven't traveled for 60 years. Federal regulators in 2003 renewed PacifiCorp's license to operate the dam east of Roseburg for the next 35 years. The utility, however, had to build a fish passage. Monte Garrett, who led the $60 million project for PacifiCorp, said the fish ladder balances competing interests. The dam will continue to produce hydroelectricity while the ladder enhances fish runs. (AP Photo/The News-Review, Vicki Menard)