Don't Leave Them High and Dry!

The North Umpqua Foundation (TNUF) offers workshops on how to monitor hydropower-caused river flow changes and report instances of stranded juvenile fish. The latest "Stranding Watch" workshop was held in July at the Tannlund residence, followed by a no-host lunch at the Illahee Restaurant in Glide, Oregon.

The Problem:
For decades, hydropower production has caused water levels on the North Umpqua River to fluctuate unnaturally, trapping thousands of young salmon and steelhead along the shallow river edges where they die from heat, lack of oxygen or predation. The situation is critical when water levels are low, water temperatures are elevated and at-risk species are present. Juvenile fish are particularly vulnerable, as they seek lower-velocity water found at the river's edge. When that shallow water begins to "ping-pong" daily, as PacifiCorp draws on the North Umpqua River to meet California energy needs, thousands of juvenile fish are left high and dry in the many bedrock pools that line the banks of the river.

The Current Situation:
PacifiCorp has been negotiating the terms of a new hydropower production license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which will allow them to continue to operative eight dams on the North Umpqua River. Even though the new license terms include different "ramping" (flow-change) limits, than have been allowed over the past 50 years, river enthusiasts continue to report events of stranded fish as the water makes daily power production fluctuations. Some have voiced concern that the new license terms may prove to be too liberal to adequately address fish stranding problems.

Stranding Watch Workshop:
The Stranding Watch workshop teaches volunteers to access and read river flow information on the Internet. Volunteers can then keep an eye on flows from their home or office, and report flow changes caused by power production. Volunteers then visit sites on the North Umpqua River that are known to have experienced fish stranding events in recent years. Report forms are provided for documenting water temperature, flow rates and occurrence of trapped or dead fish. Instruction will be provided by a Mikeal Jones, hydrologist, and Jeff Dose, fish biologist.

The foundation would like to encourage all conservation-minded citizens to attend the workshop, regardless of whether they actually plan to visit the river this year. By using information available on government websites, anyone can help monitor river flows and protect salmon and steelhead on the North Umpqua River -- even if people are working or living in Portland -- or as far away as New Jersey!

Watch this space for details of future workshops or email us for a schedule.

For information on how you can help preserve this wonderful river please email us or write to:
The North Umpqua Foundation
1224 Walnut St, PMB 310
Roseburg, Oregon 97470