On Thursday the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it has awarded a $7.9 million contract to the firm McMillen-McDougall to remove a section of the Elk Creek Dam in the Rogue River basin and restore Elk Creek to its historic alignment.

Construction of Elk Creek Dam was halted in 1988 in response to lawsuits over its construction but the partially completed dam has remained as a barrier to fish and navigation. Work on the site is expected to begin in May with most of the work completed by late July. Channel restoration should be done by mid-September in time for boaters to explore the river by next fall's paddling season.