News Release Archive

Temporary Flow Increase on Crooked River to Test Benefits for Steelhead

Media Contact: Kirsten Strough, (208) 378-5213, kstrough@usbr.gov
Carolyn Chad, cchad@usbr.gov

For Release: May 12, 2016

PRINEVILLE, Oregon – Through the week of May 16, the Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries, will release additional water from Bowman Dam on the Crooked River to determine if increased flows will aid steelhead smolts in their downstream migration to Lake Billy Chinook.

On the evening of Monday, May 16, flows will increase through the night to reach a total flow of roughly 768 cubic feet per second, an increase of 500 cfs. Flows will decrease the evening of May 18 and return to their current 268 cfs level by the morning of Friday, May 20.

These experimental “pulse flows” are being timed to minimize the effects to anglers fishing the Crooked River. While Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife anticipates no negative impacts to redband trout populations below Bowman Dam, fishing will be difficult and is unadvised during the pulse flow event.

“This is a great example of cooperation between local, state and federal agencies and will support the ongoing effort to restore the steelhead population in the Crooked River,” says Bridget Moran, Manager for the Bend U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office.

Many organizations have partnered in this experimental pulse flow event including the Ochoco Irrigation District, ODFW, and Portland General Electric.

For questions about this research, call NOAA Fisheries at (503) 231-6268 or the USFWS Bend Field Office at (541) 383-7146.

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