In an age when water quality is recognized as a limiting factor for successful/sustainable salmonid populations, it really is amazing how far this river has fallen. The idea of creating pre-dam conditions and safe passage for sockeye to the historical spawning in the Metolius River was novel, but the implementation has left out serious aspect of those historical conditions AND produced un-forseen consequences for the lower river, turning a world class steelhead and trout fishery into a shell of it’s former self. Nitrogen rich surface water, combined with higher water temps is creating a biological soup of new oxygen dependent organisms creating an ecosystem unfit for the salmonids which require clean, cold water. The fact that PGE will not address their impacts directly is a shame.
Visit the DRA website to get involved: http://www.deschutesriveralliance.org
JM