I’ve been putting off writing about Deschutes steelhead returns as there are still almost two months left in the 2024/2025 season, and a good discussion should include where the fish in the Upper Basin have been detected, but the Bulletin ran a story that, as usual, needs some comment. Clearly, the number of adult steelhead that have been passed into Lake Billy Chinook is far in excess of any other return year. But, the story is more complicated than portrayed in the article.

The goal of the reintroduction program is to establish a naturally producing run of steelhead, spring chinook, and sockeye salmon. Thus far, the program has failed for all three species. Of the 961 steelhead passed above the dams so far this return season only six have been natural origin, fish that came from spawning in one of the tributaries of Lake Billy Chinook. All the other steelhead were raised in the Round Butte Hatchery and released as smolts. Six returning natural origin fish is also a record, but far under the goals set for the reintroduction program at this point.

Nevertheless, I remain a firm supporter of the reintroduction program. There is zero credible, peer-reviewed science showing the operation of the Selective Water Withdrawal tower being detrimental to fish in the Lower Deschutes. I have written extensively about this. If no damage is being done, then the reintroduction effort should continue. The good news from this season’s return numbers is that there is an increased chance of more natural origin fish in the future. More fish above Lake Billy Chinook equals a higher likelihood of more spawning pairs.

The Bulletin also could have done a better job discussing why current returns are so much better than in the past. It is true that over the years many changes have been made in the program, changes that have been in place for years. Only smolts are now released, not fry and smolts. Increased flows at night when smolts want to out migrate allow them to more easily find the SWW. Guidance nets at the SWW funnel smolts into the collection facility. Acclimation pens imprint homing markers on smolts. Etc.

These are not new and do not explain the record returns. Improved ocean conditions are the reason. It really is that simple. While ocean conditions continue to deteriorate overall (warmer temperatures, acidification, and reduced oxygen), the recent past saw what is believed to be a short term improvement off the west coast. A change in surface wind patterns created upwelling of cooler, more nutrient rich water, thereby reviving the food web that steelhead rely on. Steelhead populations across much of the west coast saw dramatic population improvement this season. SWW operations had nothing to do with these other rivers.