Editor’s note: The following editorial from Feb. 20, 1961, does not necessarily reflect the views of The Bulletin’s editorial board today.

Construction of dam comes at a good time

A multimillion dollar dam is to be constructed in the deep gorge of the Deschutes just west of the old plateau volcano known as Round Butte.

This was assured over the weekend when Portland General Electric cleared the final hurdle in its application to build the $70,900,000 structure. Clearance came when the Oregon Hydroelectric Commission voted 2 to 1 to grant license to PGE.

Chairman James W. Morrell, Portland, cast the negative vote. He maintained that “Round Butte is not in the public interest.” He said that Oregon is not facing a serious power shortage. He argued that fish passage problems have not been solved. He charged that facilities PGE proposed to construct in the Cove recreation area would not adequately replace those lost by flooding Lake Chinook.

There are many Oregonians who sided with Chairman Morrell in his losing battle. But it was a battle that was lost for Chairman Morrell and Portland sportsmen when the Pelton dam, a short distance downstream, was constructed several years ago.

In Central Oregon and in other parts of the state, there are many people who will grieve to see water from Lake Chinook creeping over the historic Cove area, in the shadows of the “Plains of Abraham,” as the Cove Island was known to pioneers.

But there is plenty of evidence that PGE, through a huge outlay of money, will make every effort to provide proper passage for fish and to replace, through construction of new park areas, bridges and roads, facilities to be lost when the Cove area is flooded.

Stringent rules relative to stream flow and pool levels have been drawn up for PGE. Also, a blueprint for the company to follow in creating new recreation areas has been traced.

None will agree that the beautiful area in the old Cove orchard grounds can be adequately replaced. But PGE must meet the challenge to match that area as closely as possible.

Action clearing the way for construction of the multimillion dollar project comes as a propitious time: There is great need for new work in the Central Oregon area. The Round Butte project will mean a new payroll that will even exceed that of the days when the Pelton dam was constructed.

Millions of dollars in wages will be released, not for a few short months, but for a full three years. That is the estimate of the time it will require to build the 440-foot high dam deep in the spectacular gorge of the Deschutes, just below the confluence of the Metolius.

Madras, only seven and a half miles distant, will benefit most from the project, as was the case in Pelton days when the Jefferson town was for a time a trailer city.

But other areas will also benefit.

Even Bend is only about 40 minutes distant from the high rim that overlooks the narrow gorge in which the multimillion dollar hydroelectric plant is to take shape.