The return of over 950 adult steelhead to the Pelton Round Butte hydro project on the Deschutes River during the 2024-2025 run has marked an unprecedented success in fish restoration efforts in the region. This achievement, recorded as the highest population since the 1960s, has been attributed to favorable ocean conditions and improved fish management practices.
The Background of the Restoration Efforts
Foundations Laid in the Early 2000s
In 2010, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Portland General Electric (PGE), co-owners of the Pelton Round Butte hydropower complex, undertook significant efforts to reintroduce steelhead and ocean-going salmon to the Deschutes River. For over five decades, these species faced barriers along the river, preventing their passage until then. Initial scientific models from the 1990s established an annual goal of having 955 steelhead adults upstream, a target based on the available habitat. The return this season has brought that goal within reach, highlighting a monumental milestone in the ongoing restoration endeavor.
Austin Smith Jr., the natural resources manager for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, stressed the importance of continuous efforts despite this landmark achievement. While the exceptional return of steelhead represents a significant step forward, maintaining momentum in conservation, adaptive management, and educational outreach remains crucial. Smith underscored the Tribes’ unwavering commitment to preserving and rehabilitating this vital aquatic species.
Enhancing Juvenile Fish Passage
One of the notable elements contributing to the success of the restoration effort has been the comprehensive approach to juvenile fish passage. Of the 950 steelhead recorded, 675 embarked on their journey through the Pelton Round Butte’s fish collection facility as juveniles. State-of-the-art methods at the Selective Water Withdrawal (SWW) facility in Lake Billy Chinook have facilitated safe passage of young fish from the Upper Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius Rivers around the three dams, ensuring these fish could continue their ocean migration. By mitigating temperature impacts from the dams, the SWW has also played a crucial role in maintaining more natural river conditions in the Lower Deschutes.
Megan Hill, senior environmental science manager at PGE, praised the steelhead’s remarkable journey spanning 100 miles down the Deschutes River to the Columbia River, a 200-mile migration past the Bonneville Dam out to the ocean, and their eventual 300-mile return journey after spending two years at sea. This year’s successful steelhead run highlights the symbiotic relationship between favorable ocean conditions and effective collaborative fish passage and reintroduction initiatives.
The Role of Innovative Techniques and Cooperative Strategies
Advanced Techniques in Fish Collection
Since the inception of the reintroduction initiative in 2010, the deployment of improved strategies has notably increased the success rate of juvenile fish collection. Advancements such as net installations guiding fish toward collection areas and the establishment of stress-relief ponds have contributed to enhanced outcomes. Moreover, collaborative efforts involving the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s smolt acclimation practices have bolstered juvenile fish collection performance. These science-based methodologies have proved instrumental in the rising capture rates.
The Importance of Ocean Conditions
The favorable conditions of the ocean played an indispensable role in the steelhead’s survival rates and ultimate return. Alongside the thriving natural steelhead population, 275 hatchery-origin steelhead from the Deschutes River were released upstream as excess broodstock. These hatchery fish were screened for diseases, monitored post-release, and identified as being genetically similar to native upper basin steelhead. This measure ensured genetic diversity and resilience among the population, enhancing the overall success of the program.
Continuous Monitoring and Data Collection
Biologists have embraced the critical task of radio tracking to monitor steelhead movements extensively and collect valuable data. This monitoring includes tracking steelhead as they navigate their migration paths, understanding their spawning behaviors, and assessing their adaptability to varying environmental conditions. Adult steelheads display diverse migratory habits: some return to the ocean once again after spawning, while others remain in the upper basin regions to lay eggs. Already, the presence of gravel nests, known as redds, provides a hopeful sign of ongoing reproduction and an expanding steelhead population.
The Future of Steelhead Restoration
Building on Success
The documented success of the steelhead spawning season at the Pelton Round Butte hydro project signifies a pivotal moment in the journey towards full restoration of the Deschutes River’s fish population. The harmonious collaboration between favorable environmental conditions and innovative methodologies underscores the potential for continuous, sustainable success. Moving forward, ensuring perseverance in conservation practices, continuous monitoring, and adaptive management is essential.
Long-Term Commitment and Community Investment
The 2024-2025 return of over 950 adult steelhead to the Pelton Round Butte hydro project on the Deschutes River signifies an extraordinary triumph in fish restoration efforts within the region. This milestone is not just a notable achievement but also a historic one, marking the highest steelhead population observed since the 1960s. Success factors include favorable ocean conditions that have allowed the steelhead to thrive and reach maturity. Additionally, enhanced fish management practices, such as improved hatchery operations and better habitat restoration efforts, have played crucial roles in supporting the steelhead population. This year’s record-breaking return is a testament to the collaborative efforts of conservationists, local authorities, and fisheries management teams who have worked tirelessly to create an environment conducive to the steelhead’s survival and growth. The restoration of this significant fish population offers hope for further ecological balance and bolsters the overall health of the river’s ecosystem.
