GOLD HILL, Ore. (AP) -- The Rogue River decided it was time to flow, and is now sweeping freely past the remains of Gold Ray Dam in southern Oregon.

The river unexpectedly breached a sand spit holding back a slough on Wednesday, a week and a half sooner than the construction crew removing the dam near Gold Hill had planned.

Scott Wright of River Design Group, which has spearheaded the $5.6 million demolition project, told the Mail Tribune that "Mother Nature has its own schedule."

Work continues on removing the century-old concrete dam that once produced power for gold mines in the region. Work is to be completed Oct. 1.

Gold Ray is the third dam in the past two years to be removed from the Rogue to help salmon and steelhead runs.

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Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/

Copyright 2010 The AP.