Along the edges of the dam pool at Gorge Metro Park, excavators and cranes now hum with activity, kicking off the sediment removal process. Black tubing floats atop the water to pump sediment through a temporary pipeline. While direct access is restricted, glimpses of the construction unfold through breaks in the dense, summer greenery as the industrial scene slowly reclaims a long-altered river.

Trails that lead to the dam, like Highbridge and the T-dock, have been closed since early July to protect the public as heavy machinery and pipeline construction take over the area.

After more than a decade of planning and discussion, the Gorge Dam is finally coming down. The project is underway, starting with the massive task of clearing decades of sediment accumulated behind the dam.

Initiall

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