The Banks Chamber of Commerce will host Tualatin River Watershed Council Exec. Director Scott McEwen, who will provide updates on the Balm Grove Dam removal project, the landslide that struck an unnamed tributary to North Fork Gales Creek, the Killin Wetlands, and more Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in Banks.
Balm Grove
Balm Grove Dam removal project to begin in August
Preparations to remove the Balm Grove Dam will begin this month, the Tualatin River Watershed Council announced Tuesday. In mid-September, the dam will be broken apart piece by piece.
Contract awarded to begin dam removal project at Balm Grove
The Washington County Board of Commissioners—who also serve as the Clean Water Services Board of Directors—awarded a $924,950 contract to remove the Balm Grove Dam and do stream restoration work at the site to Biohabitats, Inc. Tuesday evening.
Community members get one last look at the Balm Grove Dam
Community members got an opportunity for one last look at the Balm Grove Dam before the old barrier—likely close to a century old, though a firm construction date is unknown—spanning Gales Creek comes down this summer.
Balm Grove open house scheduled June 9
An open house planned in advance of the recently-funded Balm Grove Dam removal project will be held onsite at Balm Grove in Gales Creek Thursday, June 9 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Hosted by the Tualatin River Watershed Council and Clean Water Services, which owns the property, information on the[Read More…]
Balm Grove Dam removal project receives $270,000 grant approval from state
A significant chunk of funding to remove the Balm Grove Dam on Gales Creek was approved Tuesday after a vote of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board awarded a $270,000 grant for the project to the Tualatin River Watershed Council.
Balm Grove Dam removal rescheduled for summer of 2022
Plans to move the stalled Balm Grove Dam removal project forward are back, the Tualatin River Watershed Council announced Wednesday evening. In an email, TRWC Executive Director Scott McEwen said that removal of the decades-old concrete dam will begin this summer. “Removal of the structure and restoration of the site[Read More…]
Clean Water Services asks public to stay off Balm Grove property
The former Balm Grove Tavern on May 5, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley Clean Water Services is asking the public to stay off the historic Balm Grove property in Gales Creek. “We know that historically this has been a popular gathering place in the community. However, the fish passage barrier poses[Read More…]
Grant funding sought to resume Balm Grove Dam removal project
The Balm Grove Dam on May 1, 2019. Photo: Chas Hundley The stalled Balm Grove Dam removal project may see movement again after the Tualatin River Watershed Council submitted an application in late April for a grant to partially fund the removal of the decades-old structure in Gales Creek and[Read More…]
Balm Grove dam removal project stalls in Gales Creek
The Balm Grove Dam. Photo: Chas Hundley BALM GROVE – A project to remove a near century-old dam spanning Gales Creek at Balm Grove is on hold after funding for the project never materialized. The Balm Grove dam removal project was once envisioned as a way to mitigate negative impacts[Read More…]
