Thousands of fish die as water drops in Oregon river

BEND, Ore. — State officials are looking into why thousands of fish became stranded and died after they lowered the level of the Deschutes River southwest of Bend.

The trout, sculpin and whitefish were discovered late last week in small pools and a dried-up channel of the river, KTVZ-TV and The Bulletin newspaper reported. The Oregon Water Resources Department has been reducing flows into the Deschutes in order to build up the water supply in the Wickiup Reservoir to supply irrigation water for the next growing season, but officials said they hadn’t done anything differently from recent years.

Area resident Kim Brannock said she was jogging on a trail along the river Thursday when she saw the dead fish. She returned with her husband, daughter and a neighbor the next morning and used buckets to haul hundreds of surviving fish into the main part of the river.

“It broke my heart to see that many fish, also to see really like vibrant, really big trout, too, that just laid there and suffered,” Brannock said.

For several hours Friday, the team, along with a pair of employees from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, moved 500 to 600 fish from one shrinking pool, nearly a quarter of a mile to the main channel of the Deschutes.

More than 400 rainbow and brown trout, as well as about 1,300 sculpin and 1,300 whitefish, were found dead, said regional manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The trout ranged in size from fingerlings to mature fish of more than 20 inches.

For the last few days, the water level has been dropping on the Central Oregon river.

“At the end of irrigation season, we’ll drop reservoir outflows down to begin storing water through the storing season throughout the winter,” said Oregon Water Resources Region Manager Kyle Gorman. “Hopefully, somebody will figure out what did happen this year, as to previous years, and then find a solution so it doesn’t happen again.”

Kim Brannock, who designs fishing waders and apparel for Patagonia, said she would like to see more water left in the river — for the sake of fish and other animals in what had been a wetland.

“I can’t believe, in this community, that the water is managed like this,” Brannock said. “It’s astonishing.”

For years representatives from conservation groups, irrigation districts, state agencies, tribes and Central Oregon cities have been talking about the distribution of water on the Deschutes, said Tod Heisler, executive director for the Deschutes River Conservancy. The talks focus on who gets what — and when.

“Ultimately, what we would like is to have some kind of agreed to (higher) minimum flow year-round on that upper river,” he said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.