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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 9.6pt; tab-stops: 8.0pt right 6.5in left 7.5in 8.0in 8.5in 9.0in 9.5in 10.0in 10.5in 11.0in 11.5in 12.0in 12.5in 13.0in" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT size=2>For Immediate Release<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2010</FONT> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT size=3>Jackson County Marine Patrol Urge Boaters to Avoid Gold Ray Dam Breach, Close Tou Velle Boat Launch<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>The Jackson County Marine Patrol has temporarily closed the Tou Velle boat launch at the Tou Velle State Park on the Rogue River and blocked vehicle access on Gold Ray Road.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Law enforcement officials are monitoring the upper and lower ends of the river to make sure boaters do not attempt to access the river near this dangerous area.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>A coffer dam was unexpectedly breached at the Gold Ray Dam near Gold Hill Wednesday morning, stranding several workers on an island and sending brown turbulent water downriver, the Medford Mail Tribune reported.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>“There are so many underwater strainers and large amounts of debris downstream of the coffer dam. The river is essentially flowing like a class V rapid,” says Lieutenant Pat Rowland of the Jackson County Marine Patrol.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“The current is so strong and turbulent, there's no way anyone could get out of there safely.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Rowland anticipates the area downstream opening up for use again by the weekend, but that will largely depend on whether there are significant underwater hazards identified by law enforcement officials.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“The upstream will continue to be closed until further notice,” Rowland adds.</FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Signs have been placed both above and below the dam.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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<DIV>Ashley A. Massey<BR>Public Information Officer<BR>Oregon State Marine Board<BR>503-378-2623<BR>503-378-8587 ext. 82623<BR><A href="mailto:ashley.massey@state.or.us">ashley.massey@state.or.us</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.boatoregon.com/">www.boatoregon.com</A></DIV>
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