The Bureau of Reclamation is pushing the release out of Bowman Dam to 2,000 cfs today. This is required for flood control, which is the primary purpose of the dam. Prineville Reservoir is now at 84% of capacity and they need to keep space for more inflows. This is problematic for fish as it will introduce potentially lethal gas bubble disease, particularly for fish over 12″. Gas bubble disease is caused by the turbulence from high flows released from the dam which supersaturates the water with atmospheric gases. The Crooked would have high flows prior to the dam being built, but the water could spread out in the canyon, not be forced through a small opening. The fish ladder at Opal Springs Dam has also been shut down due to high flows which is unfortunate as there are steelhead who now want to move from Lake Billy Chinook up into the river.