Oregon Public Broadcasting

A federal judge in Medford has stopped work on removing Gold Ray Dam on the Rogue River. Four Southern Oregonians filed a lawsuit against Jackson County to halt the demolition.

Charles Boyer is one of them. He says the dam has historical significance. Boyer claims he has documentation which proves the County failed to acquire proper permits before beginning the project.

Charles Boyer: "No citizen would have been allowed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the federal government to operate and dump hundreds and hundreds and tons of materials into the Rogue River without a permit for two days without having some kind of significant repercussions."

Harvey Bragg is an administrator with Jackson County. He says the county had permission when it began the project in June. Bragg says the opponents are just trying to delay the dam removal.

The county must spend federal stimulus money for the project by the end of October.

The case goes to court Monday when U.S. District Judge Owen Panner will hear arguments from both sides.