For over three decades Portland General Electric has held an annual “workshop” that discusses the health of the Lower Deschutes River and related topics. Presentations are from a variety of biologists from a range of agencies. If you wanted to hear real, peer-reviewed science about the lower river I suggest you attend. Here’s a link to the registration form. I have been going for many years and have found it invaluable, here’s my post summarizing last year’s workshop.