BEND, Ore. — Despite efforts to reintroduce salmon in Oregon’s Deschutes River, there still aren’t enough of the fish for a sustainable run.
The Bend Bulletin reports that people have raised concerns about fish passage operations and water quality, but experts say restoring the upstream salmon may just take time.
Officials are trying to restore salmon runs upstream of a 20-mile dam complex operated by Portland General Electric. The three-dam complex was completed in 1964 and stopped salmon runs decades ago.
PGE fisheries and water quality manager Megan Hill says people want to see immediate results but don’t realize that reintroducing salmon takes time.
