By Bryan Navarro
NEAR BUTTE FALLS, Ore. -- River levels are higher after a canal break and landslide near Butte Falls. The extra water and sediment from the break is endangering the home for spawning salmon.
The runoff colored the Rogue River a muddy brown, meaning large amounts of sediment in the water. Oregon Department of Fish and wildlife is looking at the gravel on the riverbed where 95% of Chinook salmon lay their eggs.
The break and landslide sent an undetermined, but large amount of water tumbling down the hill and onto the road. The water is still flowing at Cobleigh Road, which has eroded the road, and in some places is about six feet deep. It'll be a few more days until the road is opened fully, and weeks before the road is completed.
Officials say there's no word yet, on the cost of the road repair, timeline to judge damage to the Chinook, or the cause of the canal break that started it all.
