BC Government supportive of working with the US to remove defunct Enloe Dam on the Similkameen River
Mark Angelo photo
An obsolete dam south of Osoyoos across the US border that has damaged the Similkameen River’s natural ecosystem for over a century while blocking access for salmon to more than 500 kilometres of prime river habitat has taken another step forward towards its potential removal, thanks to recent support from BC’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
In a letter obtained by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC from Minister George Heyman to Washington State decision-makers, the minister expressed his support for the decommissioning process of the Enloe Dam on the Similkameen River near Oroville, Washington, which would help restore the river’s natural ecosystem, while also providing vital fish passage and new habitat for declining salmon and steelhead populations in the Similkameen River and its tributaries.
The Similkameen River starts east of Manning Provincial Park and flows freely past Princeton, Hedley, Keremeos and Cawston before crossing into the US where, near Oroville, the river reaches the Enloe Dam, an 18-meter concrete wall.
The dam was constructed in 1920 but was never equipped with fish ladders to enable salmon migration. The dam subsequently eliminated salmon and steelhead runs from the Similkameen River and its tributaries in the US, and especially in BC.
The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC) and its River Chair, Mark Angelo, have long been advocates for removing old dams that have outlived their usefulness but continue to have adverse environmental and recreational impacts.
Says Angelo, “Removing the Enloe Dam would be a great opportunity for both governments to work together to help restore the Similkameen River’s natural ecosystem and we applaud the Province and Minister Heyman for their support of the dam decommissioning process.”
The Enloe Dam has not produced hydropower since 1958 and provides no benefits for irrigation or flood control purposes. Efforts are now underway in Washington, in consultation with indigenous governments, to determine the feasibility and costs of removing the Enloe Dam.
Added Angelo, “Removing this obsolete dam would be a great step forward in restoring the Similkameen River and would be very beneficial to both Canada and the United States”.
The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC had previously encouraged the BC government to have direct dialogue with the state of Washington and the US government regarding the importance of removing the dam and restoring the river’s natural flow. The ORC is very encouraged by Minister Heyman’s letter, which confirms that there is significant interest and support in BC for the removal of the obsolete Enloe Dam.
