Final Full Video 

Opal Springs Fish Passage 

By Wahoo Films

Past and Current Direction

Over the past decade, the Crooked River Watershed Council has largely focused on it's 'Connecting Waters' fish passage program which addresses passage needs at 12 major, and over 10 minor barriers in the lower Crooked River area. This effort is largely complete with the culmination of the Opal Springs fish ladder and a passage project on Ochoco Creek to be completed in 2021. In addition to ongoing physical habitat improvement projects, the council's new focus topic is water quality. A locally-led group is taking on the task of improving water quality coming out the the watershed. Primary parameters of interest include nitrogen, potassium, chloride as chemical constituents, and dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity as physical attributes. Several of these parameters are interlinked relative to natural water bodies. The group will catalog sources of the targeted parameters, and others, to ensure no source is overlooked, under-counted, or left unaddressed when implementation to reduce loads takes place in the future.

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Opal Springs Passage     

The first Steelhead passed through the newly constructed Opal Springs Fish ladder just 12 hours after completion. The steelhead (named Finlay), traveled from Lake Billy Chinook up into the Crooked River unaided by man. Making Finlay the first steelhead to enter the Crooked River unaided by man for the first time in 34 years! Image caught by the ladder camera system. Currently over 30 steelhead have passed up river! 12/23/2020

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