For More Information Contact:

Marty Douglass
Eugene Water & Electric Board
541-341-1879

EWEB Undertakes Fish Rescue Effort

Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is rescuing fish in the utility's Walterville Power Canal and transporting them back to the McKenzie River. The rescue effort has been underway for about a week. So far nearly 15,000 fish have been caught and relocated to the river.

EWEB will soon be draining the Walterville Power Canal in order to begin construction of a new fish screen and other fish protection equipment in the Canal. The fish protection measures were mandated by the federal government when the utility was issued a new operating license for its Walterville and Leaburg hydroelectric facilities. Construction of the facilities will last through the summer months.

Fish species that are being captured and relocated include Rainbow Trout, Spring Chinook, Whitefish, Summer Steelhead Trout and Bull Trout. Cutthroat Trout that are captured will be placed in a holding area at the nearby ODFW Trout Hatchery for the summer. They will be released back into the canal once construction is complete and the canal has been refilled. The reason for this special treatment is that Cutthroat in the canal may be local, spawning in canal tributaries.

During the rescue fish are carefully removed from the low-water canal with large nets and dipnets. They are then placed in buckets and transported to a cool, aerated water tank that sits on the back of a trailer up on the canal bank road. From there they are transported and released at the closest McKenzie River access point, using existing boat ramp facilities.

The fish rescue effort is likely to be completed late this week.

Editor's Note: This might make a good visual story. If you are interested call me and I can identify the current location where work is underway, and can arrange to meet you on-site.