Protect and Restore Free Flowing Oregon Rivers

In 2007 Deschutes Basin irrigation districts asked conservation groups, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, and state and federal agencies to help develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to govern irrigation water management in the Upper Deschutes Basin. After an investment of more than $3.3 million in public funds and over ten years of work, HCP development is now in its final stages.

Scoping took place in August, and draft conservation measures were unveiled to stakeholders in December. Unfortunately, it appears that the irrigation districts’ proposed conservation measures for the Upper Deschutes River below Wickiup Dam will not meet the needs of the Oregon Spotted Frog, one of the most vulnerable populations of all the fish and wildlife covered by the HCP. The frog is also listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

As noted in WaterWatch’s last newsletter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recently released Biological Opinion for spotted frogs recommended winter flows in the Upper Deschutes River of 600 cubic feet per second (cfs) over time. The draft conservation measures developed by irrigators, on the other hand, top out at 400 cfs, and if the irrigators’ draft plan is to be believed, will not reach even this inadequate level for another 21 years. Higher flows are needed in the winter – and much sooner – to ensure that the complex wetland habitat where the frogs overwinter stays wet. On the flip side, flows in the summer need to be scaled back because summer releases for irrigation scour riverbanks and destroy riparian habitat and vegetation. The Districts’ plan is silent on capping summer flows.

WaterWatch is paying close attention to this plan as it develops. Your voice matters in this process! Please stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to submit public comment on the HCP.

This year, the Rogue River is projected to have the biggest fall chinook return on the Pacific Coast south of the Columbia River for the second year running. The anticipated salmon return on the Rogue is just blowing other rivers away.

Last year the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife projected 246,900 fall chinook would return in the Rogue. This year the department is projecting a whopping 462,800 will return to the Rogue with the fall run.

The Rogue stands out compared to neighboring rivers such as the much larger Klamath River just to its south, which saw near record low fall chinook returns last year, and is still struggling this year. What might explain the relative health of these Rogue runs? Well, there are two key factors: 1) The Rogue’s salmon have a dedicated water supply under federal law, shaped by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists each year to benefit fish; and 2) Thanks to your support, the Rogue has seen a series of high priority fish barriers removed in recent years. No river on our coast has seen so many high priority barriers removed. And no other river is doing so well.

The lesson here seems to be if you give the salmon a chance, they will respond, and people will benefit too. WaterWatch will continue to work to ensure the still crucial work of barrier removal continues in the Rogue, and Rogue’s example is replicated in other basins.

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