On March 30^th I wrote a post titled, “It’s spring and fish killing season”, and simultaneously sent it to the Bulletin for their consideration as a guest opinion column.  It does not bother me that the paper did not publish my submission.  They are a private business, not a public utility, and can chose to publish what they think best serves their economic interests.  If they think readers would prefer to see nationally syndicated columnists over local items of interest, it’s their prerogative.  Then, two days ago, this article appeared in the paper, which is clearly based on my writing.  I have no issue with this either. Writing a longer story based on my submission is fine, the topic deserves more than the 650 words to which a guest column is confined.  What does bother me, however, is the continued deference to irrigators and lack of concern for fish and wildlife issues, especially when I so clearly discussed them.

As usual, irrigation district operating practices were not discussed.  Flows in the Deschutes River above Bend are carefully managed so they gradually rise and fall, reducing but not eliminating the impact on aquatic species.  This is a relatively new practice, forced upon the irrigators after highly publicized fish kills resulting from previously sudden and dramatic changes in flows as well as changes required by the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan.  Sudden and dramatic changes in the Deschutes River below North Canal Dam continue, however, with corresponding ecological damage and little to no press coverage. 

In the past few days, the Middle Deschutes has seen wild swings in water levels with flows reaching as low as 67 cfs!  Critically, this is occurring during trout spawning season, likely exposing newly laid eggs when flows drop or washing them away or covering them with silt when flows dramatically rise.  The Bulletin also failed to mention the recent fish kill in Wychus Creek resulting from dramatic changes in irrigation diversions.

Quoting an ODFW employee at the end of the article with the statement that “low flows negatively impact fish” hardly does the topic justice. Further, anyone who has any understanding of the issue knows that ODFW employees are severely limited in what they can publicly say.

I have grown used to articles in the Bulletin that are deferential to irrigators and dismissive of environmental concerns.  It is irritating, however, when the information is given to them and then ignored.  Accordingly, I am sympathetic with all the people who tell me they have stopped reading the Bulletin.  Over the past 20 years the quality and quantity of local stories has declined.  Nevertheless, I continue to encourage everyone to subscribe.  An informed public is foundational to a functioning democracy.  I just wish the paper was more informed.