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Agreement expected to spare Butte Creek Mill s water rights
The Butte Creek Mill Foundation and Trout Unlimited indicated on Thursday that there is a path forward to keep the water-powered mill operating the way it did historically.
Posted: May 13, 2021 5:18 PM
Updated: May 13, 2021 5:26 PM
Posted By: Jamie Parfitt
EAGLE POINT, Ore. The rebuilt Butte Creek Mill in Eagle Point now has a good chance of retaining its historic status as a water-powered mill, project stakeholders announced on Thursday.
The Butte Creek Mill Foundation sounded the alarm in February, saying that the mill s traditional water rights were being sold by the mill property s original owner to a new buyer. Supporters renewed fundraising efforts in an attempt to buy replacement water rights.
The water rights were retained by the previous owner, Bob Russell. Oregon’s “Trout Unlimited” made a deal to buy the rights from Russell, and was given two years to raise the money for the purchase.
It will cost just under $600,000 and the mill foundation hopes to raise $91,000 of that to help complete the purchase.
It’s the foundation’s part of the partnership. By doing that, it can use the water to power the mill, and keep its historic status by leasing it from “Trout Unlimited” for just a dollar a year.
“Trout Unlimited” and the Butte Creek Mill Foundation are currently seeking funding for the project through state grant programs and private donations. This effort has reached a critical point in the campaign as grant applications are reviewed by funders.
The group of 6 students in the advanced welding class volunteered their time for the project.
The team has been working since November to replicate the exact mill railing.
“It’s super exciting and this is my senior year so it’s a great project to be a part of for my last year here, it gets me back in school and it’s been a really awesome project and I’m so happy to be part of something so historical,” says Isabella Camarena, Project Manager.
The mill railing is being broken into 4 sections, totaling around 30 feet.
NBC5 News Reporter Jenna King is a Burbank native. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Sports Business. During her time at the U of O, she was part of the student-run television station, Duck TV. She also grew her passion for sports through interning with the PAC 12 Network.