I scheduled a Monday hike along the Elk Creek Trail because it would be new to some of our hikers and because it is relatively level, good for hikers recovering from heart difficulties.

The day was overcast with threatening clouds, with the temperatures in the 40s to 50s. But our 15 hikers were prepared with warm clothes and rain gear.

The showers held off until we were hiking back to the TH, so we had a good time enjoying the sight of the Spring green valley and our exploration of the Elk Creek "notched" Dam.

We drove 5 miles up Elk Creek Road off Highway 62 and parked at the intersection. The TH was across the road and around a green gate. We hiked down the service road next to the west branch of Elk Creek to the main path at the floor of the valley. We headed south on the Yellow Rock Trail out to the dam.

The notched opening in the dam was wider than I thought, from when we first started this hike back in 2017. The wider gap allows the creek to flow freely during winter flooding.

The section of the dam across Elk Creek was removed to allow endangered salmon to complete their spawning route upstream.

Here is an article about the history of the Elk Creek Dam Project.
The 1980s-era Elk Creek Dam, an unfinished, 90-foot concrete structure on a Rogue River tributary in Oregon, was partially removed in 2008 to restore fish passage. The project, heavily pushed by conservation groups, aimed to reopen miles of habitat for salmon and steelhead, with restoration work continuing in subsequent years to ensure long-term environmental recovery.