BLM proposes removal of Hult Dam to protect public safety

Springfield, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management is announcing a proposal to remove Hult Dam in the interest of public safety. After years of analysis, public input, and planning, BLM officials selected removal of the dam as its preferred alternative in the final environmental impact statement released today, determining that the most responsible and safest way forward is to decommission and remove the dam.

“Community input has been crucial in helping us reimagine the area,” said Dennis Teitzel, BLM Northwest Oregon District Manager. “Decommissioning the dam allows us to address public safety concerns while continuing to offer outdoor recreation in the area.”

Despite ongoing maintenance efforts to protect public safety, the dam has received multiple cautionary ratings in recent decades. If no action is taken, assessments indicate that the existing dam would likely fail in the coming years. Dam failure could result in potential damage to critical infrastructure downstream, as well as potential loss of life. BLM’s proposed alternative includes removing the dam and reestablishing a natural stream channel, restoring riparian and wetland areas, and improving recreational facilities in the area, including construction of a new day-use area.

The Hult Dam, located in the Lake Creek watershed near Horton, was built in the 1930s or 1940s to create a log-holding pond for the Hult Lumber Company. Today, the BLM manages the area for recreational and historical purposes, which will continue under the proposed plan.

To learn more about the project, visit the project webpage: https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/oregon-washington/hult-dam

To view planning documents and learn more about the EIS process, visit the ePlanning site: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/99598/510

To receive quarterly updates on the project, email BLM_OR_NO_SIU_Hult_Dam_EIS@blm.gov.