Oregon Public Broadcasting

Supporters of taking out a dam on Oregon's Rogue River overcame a last-ditch attempt to stop the removal in court Wednesday.  Four southern Oregonians wanted to get an injunction to keep the dam in place.

Federal judge Owen Panner had granted a temporary restraining order last week, halting work. But Judge Panner ruled Wednesday that the dam removal opponents hadn't proven their claims of procedural problems, conflicts of interest, or issues of the dam's historical significance.

Pete Frost is with the Western Environmental Law Center – the firm that argued for allowing the removal to continue.

Pete Frost: "The work resumed immediately. The challengers have one more route of appeal – that's the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, but the fact that federal judge, Panner, has ruled against them, portends that LUBA would, too."

Environmental and fishing groups have been pushing for removal of dams on the Rogue River, to restore historic salmon runs.

The Rogue's Savage Rapids Dam was breeched last year.