Built in 1912, the Marmot Dam along the Sandy River in Northwest Oregon has been a part of the Bull Run Hydro project that supplies power to the residents of the greater Portland area. In October 2007, the dam was removed, and for the first time in nearly 100 years, the Sandy River ran free. You can watch the entire dam removal http://www.marmotdam.com/video6_files/tl_teardown_video.html video in 67 seconds! Or see the dam breach  http://www.marmotdam.com/video9_files/marmot_breach_timelapse_USGS.html video. After the dam was removed, I was sitting on a rock outcropping that jutted into the middle of the Sandy. I could hear boulders rolling along the river bottom crashing into the outcropping just below me. The power of the river was un-deniable. Thinking back 100 years, it was an obvious decision to harness the power of this river to provide electricity. That type of decision is not so simple today - we need energy and we need the benefits that a free flowing river provides whether it's kayaking, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, picnicing, photography, hiking... Thanks to PGE, who donated water rights to the State of Oregon, and nearly 1,500 acres of land in the Sandy River Basin to the Western Rivers Conservancy. http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3839/309496301_Yo9xM-Ti.jpg http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/5124286_sti6d/ 2008-06-08T08:35:15Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />The Sandy River Looking up the Sandy River just downstream from where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309496301_Yo9xM" title="The Sandy River Looking up the Sandy River just downstream from where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3839/309496301_Yo9xM-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The Sandy River Looking up the Sandy River just downstream from where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="The Sandy River Looking up the Sandy River just downstream from where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3839/309496301_Yo9xM-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 13:32:34 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />Sandy River cuts through 100 years of silt about 1/4 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309500692_BP2th" title="Sandy River cuts through 100 years of silt about 1/4 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3810/309500692_BP2th-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Sandy River cuts through 100 years of silt about 1/4 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="Sandy River cuts through 100 years of silt about 1/4 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3810/309500692_BP2th-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 12:37:17 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />Sandy River about 1/4 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309499577_xXUDw" title="Sandy River about 1/4 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3809/309499577_xXUDw-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Sandy River about 1/4 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="Sandy River about 1/4 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3809/309499577_xXUDw-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 12:36:32 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />Newly cut river bank. Sandy River. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309504138_2Qmng" title="Newly cut river bank. Sandy River. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3799/309504138_2Qmng-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Newly cut river bank. Sandy River. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="Newly cut river bank. Sandy River. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3799/309504138_2Qmng-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 12:19:52 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />Boaters Warning Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309503122_DfzPr" title="Boaters Warning Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3793/309503122_DfzPr-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Boaters Warning Clackamas County, Oregon" title="Boaters Warning Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3793/309503122_DfzPr-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 12:15:32 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />Sandy River about 1/2 mile above the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309502004_JjqWa" title="Sandy River about 1/2 mile above the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3788/309502004_JjqWa-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Sandy River about 1/2 mile above the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="Sandy River about 1/2 mile above the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3788/309502004_JjqWa-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 12:13:19 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />Water Worn Rocks Sandy River about 1/8 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309498420_UnHt3" title="Water Worn Rocks Sandy River about 1/8 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3784/309498420_UnHt3-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Water Worn Rocks Sandy River about 1/8 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="Water Worn Rocks Sandy River about 1/8 mile upstream from the old Marmot Dam site. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3784/309498420_UnHt3-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 11:47:40 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />Sandy River Flows Free Looking up the Sandy River from the spot where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309497425_LHKnS" title="Sandy River Flows Free Looking up the Sandy River from the spot where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3759/309497425_LHKnS-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Sandy River Flows Free Looking up the Sandy River from the spot where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="Sandy River Flows Free Looking up the Sandy River from the spot where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3759/309497425_LHKnS-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 10:34:17 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />The Sandy River looking upstream from where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309493662_entmJ" title="The Sandy River looking upstream from where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3757/309493662_entmJ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The Sandy River looking upstream from where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="The Sandy River looking upstream from where the Marmot Dam once stood. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-3757/309493662_entmJ-Th.jpg 2008-06-07 10:30:06 <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />Marmot Dam The Marmot Dam just months before its removal. The fish ladder is on the right side of the dam. Sandy River, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309494703_XLLCx" title="Marmot Dam The Marmot Dam just months before its removal. The fish ladder is on the right side of the dam. Sandy River, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-2669/309494703_XLLCx-Th.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Marmot Dam The Marmot Dam just months before its removal. The fish ladder is on the right side of the dam. Sandy River, Oregon" title="Marmot Dam The Marmot Dam just months before its removal. The fish ladder is on the right side of the dam. Sandy River, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-2669/309494703_XLLCx-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com">Peter K. Ziminski</a><br />The Sandy River and The Marmot Dam Looking upstream from the Marmot Dam just months before the dam's removal. Clackamas County, Oregon</p><p><a href="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/5124286_sti6d#309492482_fSSTT" title="The Sandy River and The Marmot Dam Looking upstream from the Marmot Dam just months before the dam's removal. Clackamas County, Oregon"><img src="http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-2665/309492482_fSSTT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="The Sandy River and The Marmot Dam Looking upstream from the Marmot Dam just months before the dam's removal. Clackamas County, Oregon" title="The Sandy River and The Marmot Dam Looking upstream from the Marmot Dam just months before the dam's removal. Clackamas County, Oregon" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-21T10:24:13Z Peter K. Ziminski http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com http://pkzphotos.smugmug.com/Conservation-Photography/Marmot-Dam/MarmotDam-2665/309492482_fSSTT-Th.jpg