Emily Wood & Associated Press
 
October 9, 2009
 
NEAR GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- After 88 years, the Rogue River is again free flowing through its historic channel at Savage Rapids.
 
A dam has blocked the river since 1921, but it's being breached.
 
On Friday, crews removed the final temporary coffer dam from Savage Rapids Dam. Demolition crews diverted the Rogue into a new "pilot channel" carved through the gravel. This was one of the largest dam removals in U.S. history.
 
WaterWatch Staff Attorney Bob Hunter has been the driving force behind the removal of Savage Rapids Dam.
 
WaterWatch is a nonprofit environmental group that aims to restore the health of lakes and rivers in Southern Oregon.
 
"It's really a thrilling moment it was actually quite emotional to see the river finally coming through," said Hunter.
 
Environmentalists say this will help restore the health and natural flows of the river while increasing salmon runs.
 
The Bureau of Reclamation says sediment left behind the dam will naturally wash away with the river.