Keeping a Watchful Eye For Juvenile Fish

How Stranding Watch began: In the summer of 2000, dramatic fluctuations in river levels below the Soda Springs dam caused tens of thousands of young steelhead to die. Artificially large releases of water from hydropower operations, technically called “ramping,” caused small fish to move into otherwise dry areas along the river margin to avoid being displaced by high water velocities. Later, when the flow was rapidly reduced, those juvenile fish become stranded in shallow pools along the river bank, where they perished. Because hydropower operations result in low water during the heat of the day, fish die in the shallow pools due to decreased oxygen, increased temperature or lack of water. Stranded fish are also susceptible to predators, including raccoons, snakes, herons and raptors.

This was not the first time that ramping the river has resulted in the death of juvenile fish. The North Umpqua Hydropower Project operators were allowed to ramp the river for nearly 50 years. But in 2000, in response to public outcry, TNUF launched the Stranding Watch program to train volunteers to use US Geological Survey flow data, available at the USGS website, and teach the volunteers how to identify stranded fish, document the problem and rescue the juvenile fish, where possible.

Since 2000, TNUF has held five training sessions for volunteers. Participants have learned to track river flow information on the internet, have headed out to the river to visit a gaging site and known stranding locations. Forest Service hydrologist Mikeal Jones and fish biologist Jeff Dose, both from the Umpqua National Forest have led the training sessions. A number of volunteers have attended, and PacifiCorp has sent a representative to the training sessions.

Results are encouraging. In recent summers, virtually no ramping has occurred on the North Umpqua River. Now, fluctuations can be measured in .O3 TO .O4 feet per day. By contrast, in 2000, the river fluctuated .5 to 1.0 feet per day.

TNUF board member Charles Spooner stated, "We´re relieved that PacifiCorp is working to avoid ramping and the resultant strandings each summer. The North Umpqua Foundation is committed to helping the company reach that goal." Spooner said that if stranding incidents do occur, they will be promptly reported to PacifiCorp and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

How You Can Help (Right from from your desk!)