Very low water in Beaver Creek not good for smelt

Another dry spell in Oregon has contributed to the dramatic loss of water from the main stem of Beaver Creek. There have been over 3 weeks of low to no water conditions in the main stem. This has a serious and detrimental impact on salmon smelt as well as resident fish and other species such as lamprey. Without a high enough water level, the fish simply cannot access cool enough conditions to survive. A good number of fish do move on to cooler water, but many get stranded in shallow pools that gain temperature and lose oxygen levels.

What is the cause for these low levels in the creek? Irrigation mainly. The cold spring-fed headwaters of the main stem of Beaver Creek, as well as the tributaries east of the split with the South fork, are located within several nurseries in the area. These nurseries have water rights that have allowed them to create ponds so that they can irrigate their nursery stock. Regrettably this often means that during the periods of the hottest weather no water is spilling over the dams.