Now, listen here, folks. There’s been a lot of talk about that Hult Reservoir and the dam down by Blachly. Been hearing some noise about the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM as they like to call themselves, wanting to take that dam down. They say it’s for safety reasons, y’know, to keep people from getting hurt, and to save some of those taxpayer dollars. Sounds a bit much, don’t it? But that’s what they say they’ve been working on for years, lookin’ at the situation, hearing what folks got to say, and planning it all out. And now, it looks like they’re ready to take that old dam down, clear as day. The folks at BLM even put out a fancy statement about it, just to let everybody know what’s going on.
Now, back in the day, I reckon it was 1994 or thereabouts, the BLM got their hands on that dam and a good chunk of land—54 acres of it—from Willamette Industries. They figured they’d turn it into a place where folks could go for a bit of fun and recreation. I heard a lot of people like to fish and swim out there. It’s a pretty little spot, if you ask me, but it’s been a bit of a bother with that old dam hangin’ around, I suppose. You see, that dam’s been around for a long time, and over the years, it’s got its fair share of wear and tear. And when something’s as old as that dam, you just can’t trust it no more, especially if it’s holding back all that water.
They say taking the dam down is the best move, for safety and all that. Well, I suppose they might be right. No point in havin’ a big ol’ structure like that if it’s a risk to folks who come around to enjoy the place. The BLM’s been talking about how this’ll lower any dangers downstream, like floods or whatnot, and it’ll give the fish a better place to swim too. And if you ask me, the fish need all the help they can get these days, with all the changes in the water and such. They also say it’ll create new opportunities for folks to enjoy themselves. Who knows? Maybe there’ll be more room for folks to walk around, maybe a place to sit and have a picnic or whatnot.
But taking down a dam, well, that ain’t no simple thing. It’s gonna cost some money and cause a bit of fuss, I reckon. And, I hear it might not be too easy on the folks who’ve been used to the way things are now. Some people enjoy the little reservoir as it is, and they’re not too happy about the changes. And I can understand that. Change don’t come easy to anyone, especially when it’s somethin’ you’ve grown used to. The BLM, they’re trying to ease the transition, though, making sure everybody’s got their say before they go ahead and make any big moves. They’ve been holdin’ public meetings and taking in comments, trying to be fair, I suppose.
Now, if you’ve been to that Hult Reservoir yourself, you know it’s a peaceful place. A 41-acre pond, right by the Lake Creek area, near Horton. It’s a nice spot to take the family or just sit a spell. The water’s calm, the air’s fresh, and for a while, people have been enjoyin’ that spot for fishin’ or just gettin’ their feet wet. But, as I said, when things get old, they start to cause trouble. So, the BLM says it’s time to take the dam out and make the place safer, which, in their minds, will be better for everyone in the long run.
Some folks aren’t too sure about it, though. Taking down that dam, they worry about the changes. Will the fish be happier? Will it really make the place safer? And what about those who’ve enjoyed the spot just as it is? Well, those are all good questions, and I suppose only time will tell what’ll happen when that dam’s gone. Maybe folks will find new ways to enjoy the place, maybe not. But one thing’s for sure: change is comin’.
So, for now, we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds for that little patch of water. Whether the BLM’s decision to remove the dam turns out to be the right one, well, we can only guess. But at least they’ve been listenin’ to what people have to say, and that’s somethin’ to be thankful for. I reckon it’ll all work out in the end, though I do wonder what will happen to that peaceful place we’ve all come to know.
Tags：[Hult Reservoir, Hult Dam, BLM, Oregon Reservoir, Blachly, Hult Dam Safety, Recreation Area, Fish Habitat]
