| , , , f' * { - - * * < | V,1H S I 0. i. B R A R Y sc R PP's Nst IT UT" ºn of oc E A No G R A PHY | F C R N la UN v E R S 1 TY OF Cº. LA Jo L LA, CA Li F O RN 'A 111376 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Harold L. Ickes, Secretary FISH AND WILDLIFE SºFWICE Ira N. Gabrielson, Director Special Scientific Report No. 14 A SURVI.Y OF THE SANDY RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES, 1940, WITH REFERENCE TO FISH MANAGEMENT By JOSEPH A. CRAIG and A. J. SUOMELA Washington 1940 lilill L] 1376 This is the fourteenth in a series of mimeographed Special Scientific Reports, published in limited quantities for the official use of Federal offices and cooperating agencies. The reports present the results of in- vestigations of specific problems and are intended as guides for adminis- trative and legislative action. In many instances tho data will be in- corporated in complete sciontific publications that will be printod and released at a future date. Previous roports in this series are as follows: 1. 2. 5. 10. ll. 12. 13. Pollution of Coeur d'Alene Rivor and adjacent wators by mine Wastes, by M. M. Ellis. Water purity standards for frosh wator fishos, by M. M. Ellis. Stream pollution studies in the State of Mississippi, by M. M. Ellis. Report on Pensacola Dam Irpoundment of tho Grand River with special reference to fishery problems in the con- plct cd reservoir, by M. M. Ellis. Observations on the life history, occurrence, and distri- bution of the redfish parasite, Sphyrion lumpi, by Willian C. Herrington, H. M. Bearse and Frank E. Firth. The White marlin fishery of Ocean City, Maryland, by Swepson Earle. Pulp-mill pollution of the Rainy River near International Falls, Minn., by B. A. Westfall and M. M. Ellis. A study of the Mississippi River from Chain of Rocks, St. Louis, Mo., to Cairo, Ill., with special reference to the proposed introduction of ground garbage into the River by the City of St. Louis, by M. M. Ellis. Pollution studies of effluent s from the Dickinson Salt Works, Malden, W. Va., by M. M. Ellis. An investigation of fish-salvage problems in relation to Shasta Dam, by H. A. Hanson, O. R. Smith, and P. R. Needham. Pollution survey of the Cumberland River in the vicinity of Nashville, Tenn., August 1936, by M. M. Ellis and B. A. Westfalls Mine-waste pollution of Bear Butte Creek, Black Hills, South Dakota, by M. M. Ellis. Industrial and organic pollution of the Buffalo River, Buffalo, New York, by B. A. Westfall. |ll 376 system was not covered by this survey in detail in the routine manne I's The Sardy River rises on the western slope of Šount Hood and flows approximately 45 miles in a northwesterly direction to empty into the Columbia River about 18 miles east of Portland, Oreg. It has three major tributarios, the zigzag, Salmon, and Bull Run Rivers. The Zigzag and Salmon Rivers rise in glaciers near hºt. Hood while the Bull Run River has its source in high mountain lakes. Together with several minor tributorics those rivers form a system that at one time was an important salmon producer. 4- Any plan for the rehabilitation of this river system as a salmon st rod. becomes at onco involved in the consideration of the effect of the several dams and divorsions that have been constructed in the Sandy River and its tributarios. The so structures form a rather complicated System of hazards to fish life, so it is well to mention them at once in respect to location and purpose, and present a more detailed account of them later in the re- port. The Portland general Electric Company has a dam across the main Sandy River at arrot, 27 miles above the confluence of the Sandy Rivor with the Colºmº ia River. This dar diverts water from the Sandy River into a flume and tºrnel which criptics into the Little Sandy River immediately above another dam, also owned by the Portland Gencral Electric Company. The flow of t.c Little Sandy River, and the water brought in by the Marmot diversion, is then divorted into another flumo which carries it into a roscrwoir fro: \:hich it dischnrges through a powcr housc into the Bull Run Rivor about lº . r * aº 3. * l". Eiles above the forks of the Bull Run and main Sandy Rivers. In additiº: to this power project of the Portland General Electric Compnny, the City cf Portland has used the Bull Run Rivor as a source of municipal water supply for many years. They maintain a diversion dam across the Pull Rur about 3 miles above the point where that stream unites with the Little Sandy River. A pine line carries the water from the di- version dam to the City of Portland. Five ºiles upstream a storage dam is located. A rore jetailed description of these structures now follows. Reference to thc map which accompanies this report (fig. 1) will assist in clarifying; tile explanations. *ARACT CAM Marmot Dam is located on the Sandy River, 27 miles upstroam from its confluence with the Columbia Rivor. This dam., owned and maintained by the Portland Goneral Electric Company, is the only power diversion dam on the main river. It is constructed of concrete, with plank facing on the spillway and is provided with a timber—crib downstream apron. The dam has a crest longth cf approximately 400 fect, and is 30 foot high; this height being thc distance from the wat or lovel below tho dam to the crost of the spillway. At the time of the survcy, on March 19, 1940, thoro was a spill of water 3 to 8 inches decp pouring over the dam. Six-inch flash boards were set in place on the full length of the crest. § 5away SANDY A/VER U. S. BUREAU OF FT/S/HETA/EI 5 COLU/78/A P/VETA: //VVE.57T/GA 7T/O/V JCALE f 2 inch = /m/e Dºº DA/1 = A/R/DGAſ • AA/LAOA/O --- D//E/RS/O/V ## 7TO/V/V A stimated vºw/ve for sa/won spawn/nº of are as aver//avé/s in each mºſe -- A/one – Poor- * A vir- * * Good *** Exce/ſent (' wº A% - K% C 22. \ G 2a2% - , a 3° –Z <> C. 22 º ſ º E- ſvt. } 72 evt Cr ~~~ R W J avº" per' 2. /* The City of Portland ºunicipal Water popartment operntes a diversion dam on the Bull Pºir. Ri: or 6 miles above its union with the Sandy Rivor (fig. 5). This dam has a crest length cf 165 feet and a height of 40 feet, with a spill of water 6 inches deep over the crest at the time of the survey. Three concreto headsates, each 6 feet wide, control the flow of Viator into the city water supply diversion flume (fig. 6). These headgates are pro- tected by a. irº-grill trash racz having n bar spacing of 3 inches. In ad- dition, revolving link-colt trash screens with a mesh of 1/2 inch are in- stalled in the intake. A by-pass 36 feet long, located 42 feet above the intake gates, returns excess water back into the Pull Run River. A monthly record of tº-e water diverted into the city water supply flume is shown in * * * table l. Table l. Mcnthly diversion in city water supply flume and overflow nt the Bull Run diversion dam, l938. * f -- ~~ + Cubic feet per scCond ...ſ., Ylº, ſi * ... UNIT 69 Overflow January 62.4 l, 4 ll. O Fet ruary 63.5 531. O ...'arcº: 60.4 l, 102.0 April 64. 6 l, 40l.0 ła." 71.4 603. O June 89, 2 ll4.9 July 98.3 32.4 August 85.7 30.4 September 7O. Il 38. 3 October 65, 6 45.8 November 63.2 l,00l. O December 63.9 l, 171.0 Figure 2. Fish ladder and south end of Marmot Dam on Sandy River. Figure 3. Diversion dam of Portland General Electric Power Company on Little Sandy River 111376 Old residents of the community report that before the diversion dam was built there was a large run of chinook and silver salmon and steelhead trout in the Bull Run River. When the dam was built it was not provided with a fish ladder and all fish since that time have been blocked off from the upper parts of this stream. . Five miles above the diversion dam the Portland Municipal Water De- partment maintains a high storage dam which is also an impassable barrier to migratory fish, BIG SANDY CHANNEL DAM There are two outlets of the Sandy River into the Columbia, the right or upstream outlet known as the Big Sandy Channel, and the left or down- stream outlet known as the Little Sandy Channel. Formerly, the Big Sandy Channel carried the water of the Sandy River, although there were times es— pecially during periods of high water when both channels carried the run- off. Loads of fine sand and silt have been deposited by the Sandy River at its mouth. Thoso sodimonts are brought down river from the glaciers and, because of tho slight gradient of the river of only 3 fect to the mile near its mouth, a largo delta has becn formed by their deposition. During pe- riods of low water this stream area is composed of cxtremely shallow sand bars which obstruct the passage of salmon, trout, and smelt (Thaleichthys pacificus) from the Columbia River into the Sandy River. This condition has been the cause of considerable agitation for a number of years by local sportsmen for improvement of the entrance into the Sandy River for migratory fishes. g In 1938, a wooden dam was built across the Big Sandy Channel (fig. 7) at its upstream end to divert the river into the Little Sandy Channel. The dam is approximately 720 feet long and lo feet high and is reinforced with rock. By the diversion of the Sandy River through the Little Sandy Channel, which has an unobstructed outlet to the Columbia, a passageway has been afforded for migratory fishes at all seasons of the year. ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION In order to present a complete picture of the situation regarding migratory fish on the Sandy River, exclusive of the construction of dams, it appears advisable to refer to past activities which have influenced the welfare of these fish populations. A great deal of this information has to do with previous attempts at artificial propagation and a brief resume of these facts now follows. - - The first attempt at artificial propagation on this stream of which we have any record was undertaken in 1896 when the U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisherics constructed a small hatchery near the confluence of Boulder Creek and thc Salmon River. During that season 2,600,000 chinook salmon eggs were socured from 492 females. This hatchery was operated in 1897 and 1898 with the rosults shown in table 2, which indicates the eggs taken and their disposition during all hatchory operations on the Sandy River system. 8 OOO “OOG ‘T • •�■ ■ …»• ••••• •000“ OOO “2 OOJ“ OOG→ •Op6%6T --• •∞， ∞-• ••••• •«），O32 º G6G “2• •• •O23 º 66GºaOpGē6T saule-ſoeto | ºg Ápues| 000“ g)OOOº 6.1••••3T6 ‘% 23 ‘īl --�■ ■•-op | ſā.6L • •¤）--> •�■ ••••• •，-00ē ‘9ī ‘īl OJQ ‘Ōſſ | 009 ‘ē93•op%26T Opop | OOO ºf $3 | COL"#99|| --CC6' 36 O ‘Iſ ----000'，9 || 006° 19hOp | 226Th Secre-ſº！? LOOğ000 º 1% º’ſ-- [ GOÛº 19 º ' t || 600‘ ſ.š.， º T• • •• •000 º 1%9'UOpTē6T 3 II ȚA 9: u OſtopClºſ' lºſ | Olt, ‘‘Oſ*-- «…»|Jú ‘6fff;• •JOŠ ‘ófitiº， ，OpHI6T -| ou ſu exist: LXI pure a II ſavuſtoa | rā ºpuesį 26ī ‘03) “2 | pſ |'+$ 13…fººzººſ |§. 10' 61 i ‘º�■ ■0CI '996 ||9 16'ētē ‘#| ‘H A pues|{T6I G.I Țt? J pºr，} 9u ſu ex{St3Tyſ. ‘ 3 [ [ įA : » li u CGOpÖ03 º 190'e-- | 2，3 '+$（''） {cºgººttº,！， →• •Ugű ‘9ēſtºaOp2I6T Oļ)OpCī1' 329-- I CIL'…2% || … ‘Lºſ*ae ae• •OIL ‘63%OpOI6T © [ [ {ſ^3 u u Oſ.Op92% ‘ī Uģ— ļºſ， º tºſ || 9%; º lºl | Jugºsł• •9Ý9 ‘’U39Op6O6T • •ſae… ，• •！， «…»•* •|vuº“， l‘īļ J. №'ºtti | JCC'ſ #: |000 ºg 13 op906T • •• • •• «■«-» - -， «»|JC: ‘ ‚‘, ‘J|| 0：0' 00% | Ū0% ‘99Ù ‘t|000' 0%ē ‘tOp906T •* •• • •••••••+， -，•••• •| Jº '） *:C º $ | Ojº º lºſ ' [ ] OOē ‘G LL | Ö00 ºg hlº IOp†ī06T |{ puº[4，10ā put sigur，ſvetoop | OOG ‘ QhJOE '% || 000 ‘‘fiJQČ ‘lº !ſaeae，CCO º 22002 ºg tilOp | 363I • !OpOp009 ‘990‘ ſ.-- | JC9'9 10° į || JC9“、IC ‘I∞ •«■* •009 ‘9īē ‘TOp162T ！»Saureºſotto | * H uouites] 000‘0’ſ ‘3|| -- | JUO’Otiſ '2 || 0：0'009 ‘ēļ --• •OOO “009 ‘ē | H uouII es| 962ī OJ,UZ OJIJIi eſ, OJ,įv dlíx{O Uu ŲųO|[t}} OJ,Tī5ĀTĘpē9ųyöõūȚī£5exe4 333|| Ieo ） *- I 39 4S|}-T e º 4SJ. O S330 go Joj stre. I J,|uaxe q. 5333 go Jaquin Nuoţq e3 OTT º suo ſ qe q S uæ abaqeq S339 J O Jº Jºsua.„I q.· pue º tua? SKS 13 A Țg Aſpues atņ u į uò>{34 s333 Jo Jaqur！!! 91$. LIL * 2 3T qeĪ, CÙ Figure 4. Flume intake of Portland General Electric Power Company at Little Sandy Dam Figure 5. Diversion dam for Portland municipal water supply on Bull Run River Figure 6. Flume intake for Portland municipal water supply at Bull Run diversion dam Figure 7. Diversion dam in Big Sandy Channel Lll 376 This station was turned ovor to the Oregon Fish Commission on June 15, 1898 and operated by that agency at irregular intervals as shown in table 3 until l921. The hatchery was then operated by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries up to and including 1924. The Oregon Fish Commission then operatod hatcheries in 1925 and 1939. Until 1913 egg taking and hatchery operations were carried on at the Salmon River location. However, during that year construction work on Marriot Dan made it difficult for fish to reach that stream and terporary facilities for taking and hatching eggs were set up below the dam. This procedure was followed in 1914. During 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919 and 1920 the Oregon Fish Commission reported expondituros on fish cultural work on the Sandy River but no records of the ogg takes or liborations are available. The information in table 2 was compiled from the following sources: United States Commission of Fish & Fisheries, Commissioners' Reports, 1896-1897. Annual Reports of the Department of Fisheries of the State of Oregon, 1907. Annual Reports of the Master Fish Warden of the State of Oregon, 1909– 1910, 1913, 1914. Biennial Report of the Department of Fisheries of the State of Oregon, 1913. Biennial Report of the Fish Commission, State of Oregon, 1919–1920, l925-1926. United States Burcau of Fisherics, Report of the Commissioner, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925. During the yoars l896, 1897 and 1921–1924 the hatchery was opcrated by the former United States Bureau of Fisheries and during the years 1898, l904 to 1906, 1910, 1912—1914, 1925 and 1939 by the State of Oregon. The l,637,000 chinook salmon eggs taken in 1921 were shipped as eyed eggs to Clackamas. There is no record of the species represented in the total of l, 823,918 eggs collected in 1924. In 1921 eggs were taken below Marmot Dam and the hatchery was operated by the United States Bureau of Fisheries. A hatchery building was then built by that agency on the Sandy River. In 1925, it was decided to close the station because of the unfavorable conditions caused by the diversion of much of the stream flow at Marmot Dam. For the noxt ll yoars the records available indicate that there was no hatchery activity on the Sandy River. In 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936 an un- known number of salmon fry were taken from the Oregon Fish Commission hatch- ery at Bonneville and planted in the Sandy, Bull Run and Salmon Rivers. 1O lll 376 At the prescºt time tho State Fish Commission of Oregon oporates a now hatchery on the site of the former station at armot Dam which has been in _º operation for t.e past two years. n 1939, 1,500,000 spring chinook and 500,000 silver salºon eggs were taken. These were reared at the hatchery for release in trio Sardy River. The rack site is locat cd approximatoly orc half ºilc above the dar, and spawners are held and the eggs taken at that point. This spri:s a trap was placod in the fish ladder at Marmot Dam to capture thic stcol.h.cad trout run. The seasonal diversion of the entire river flow; frc: the lz º.iles of channel below the latchery remains a threat to its successful c ticin. In addition, the present water supply for the hatchery is t there is ::: ) - sand cºnſid:l tº t.c S to low or to ...i ... wa or . The intal:e is cn the power company's ditch and ſcripcz.czing thic heavy suspension of glacial silt and andy River. A:... additional wat or supply is nocded also t crtcrºperatures provºlont through the sum:er months. By refere ce tº table 2 it ca: be seen that lºog and 1910 provided small takes " .. e.g., s This was celio'ſ ed lue to a flood in 1904 which blocked the cri.; it::..l. c.a: tº.e Sardy River, with sand and debris where it en- tercd the C lix: eia Fiºrer, fºrci!.C. t...o formatic: of another channel in an l : 7 C * *. o : * : iſ r. Partially successful attempts were made to reopen the old cha::.33 in 1911. The increased run of 1912 was believed due to these opcrations. Piri'. . . .e early years of artificial propagation on the Sandy River many Cº.; 3 º'crº transferred frc: that river to other stations. That policy of removii.; a lºr:e part of the offspring of the Sandy River chinook salmon and steel...º.º. trºit to other streams raist have contributod materially to the declinic c - to ring ºf...toriºg to Snndy Rivor. c -- ºr * * * *-d sº * In addition to the sºlino:.oid fisces, the Sandy River has in the past support cd a s.r.l. r. ºf com:.erical iºcrtar.cc. In past years this run has been depleted to the point where its occurrence is unpredictable. After 3 or 4 years during which no smelt were reported a large run entered the Sandy Piº cr early in March 1940 and continued to run for ll days. Smelt are reported to confiro their soawning activitics to the lower 5 miles of the river. This section is charactorized, especially ncar the mouth, by ricócratc riffles and an abundance of glacial silt and sand. CHARACTER OF STREAM The infortation relating to stream conditions which was obtained in the course of this survey has begin summarized by plus and mimus symbols, as shown in fig. l and table 3. Those symbols indicato the probable value of those stroar. Scotions as fish spawning and producing arcas. The lower 2 miles of the Sandy Rivor flows through form and pasture lands bordering the Columbia River. Tho gradiont is slight and tho bottom ll L11376 nearly 100 percent sand and silt. The gradient gradually increases for the next 14 miles and this section contains the most extensive spawning areas in the river. These areas are used chiefly by the fall run of chinook and silvers. High bluffs and hills restrict the river to a narrow valley densely Wooded with fir, maple, cedar, and alder. The rolling hill crests and pla– teaus are extensively farmed. Above the Bull Run River confluence the gradient is moderate to steep. Spawning areas in the 12-mile section to Marmot Dam are restricted by Sand, boulders, and bedrock to small scattered "pockets". The surrounding hills are higher and moro hoavily timbered. Bodrock box canyons are common. Betwoon larmot Dam and the Zigzag River confluence, a distance of 13 miles, the valley is from one fourth to one half mile wide, stream banks are lower, and there are no caryo.s. The gradient is from 40 to 60 feet per mile. Hero the river bottom is preponderantly large rubble and boulders with an admixture of silt and sand. Wide flood washes are frequent and Spawning arcas are small and scattered. Upper Sandy and Zigzag Rivers.--Above the Zigzag confluence both the Sandy and Zigzag rivers rapidly increase in gradient as the slopes of Mt. Hood become more precipitous. Boulders, 1arge rubble, and sand again predominate but there are small areas of good spawning gravel. Salmon River.--The Salmon River is approximately 32 miles long and enters the Scundy 5 miles below tho Zigzag confluence. While it heads in a glacier on Mt. Hood a greater part of the river flow is derived from springs. Consequently this tributary is less affect od by silt and sand than the Zigzag or Sandy Rivers. Good spawning areas are common in at least the lower 7 miles of the river and in some places are extensive. This tributary is reported to have supported the largest steelhead trout, spring chinook, and silver salmon runs in the Sandy River system. Bull Run River.--For many years the watershed of the Bull Run River has been set aside as a water supply for the City of Portland. An intake dam is located 6 miles above the confluence with the Sandy River and the Salmon migration is confined to the river section below this structure. sº As this section of river is rough and the bottom is composed largely of bed- rock and boulders, spawning areas are restricted to small, scattered "pock- ets". A few silver salmon and stoolhead trout are observed every year bo- low the dam. The surrounding hills are high and are densely forested. Little Sandy River.—The Little Sandy River enters the Bull Run River approximately 3 miles above the confluence of the Bull Run River with the main Sandy River. It occupies a steep, densely wooded box canyon, and from the mouth to an impassable diversion dam 1; miles above there are few patches of potential spawning rubble. It is only during brief freshet pe" riods that water flows through the channel of this tributary. All normal flows are diverted to the Bull Run power house, together with the 500 to 600 c. f. s. diverted from the Sandy River at Marmot Dam. The Little Sandy River was flowing less than 5 c.f. s. at its confluence with the Bull Run River on March 20, 1940, and all of this water was derived from flume leakage. l2 Lll 376 Table 5. Talculation of estimated value for salmon spawning in each mile of the Sandy River to Marmct Dam and sarole areas above, l940 * is Soſo a re wards Peircertaire Square ºards Probable Location Distance - , * + - & * ~ * soaw:lin: rubble tº º - | r * * Walue PO int. * * *| Gearest ico) || l mile £2, 820 tºº º —/– 2 miles 17C, CCC 1C.. O l?, 3CO iº 3 iſ 1:1, 5ic 32, 3 Č2, OOO + 4 ſt 165,442 53.5 38,500 ++ 5 ſt 153,43. 23.9 47, 4CO &º 6 tº 13, 3-40 54.2 §4, 3CO ++ 7 II (i.) (l) (l) 8 t! 13 . , 132. 55. 3 72, SOO --- 9 ſt 137, 2 C 54.3 74,500 +--- 10 it 17 . , T ~ 4C. § 72,300 •+- ll ºf J.5 . . . . . 53. O 6l, 600 -j- 12 iſ ... j, L X 51 .. 6 74, 8CO ++ 13 tº lºg, cº- .º.º. 5 63,900 ++ 4 ti l, C, TV C £3. 3 99,500 +-- 15, lº, Tºº. 31, 6 35, 200 + 153 C5, Cº. 38. 3 17, BOO º Conflu once Full Run River 17 iſ 22, ... L^ T2:... 6 15,700 º l6 ºf £ C, ... Tº Q6. T 25,50C sº 19 ti : li , 53. ... C. 7 .;5,500 -j- 2O iſ i2l, Cº. ‘’ſ . § 36, CC: Hºmº T : ºr,”, tºº ~ * * * ºf ºf 26 if 22 it 5¢, ºf Tº .3 (,5CC * 23 iſ (i. (i) (l) 24 iſ (l (l) (l) 25 (l (l) (l) (l (l) (l) ''. 5, 7 7, 27 ti 6. , 330 ... 3 ,700 —/- !! jo • 5 ! OC —/- Marmot Dan * # , º %3 !! 7... , 7 C -/- 28% iſ 32, CCC l,000 yards 3.3, CTſ, 4. : O l º 3. 3 Ot O &º / tºº Near Wild. Cat Creek 6, OOO dº Near Slecpy Hollc 3OO tºº Near confluenco Clcar Crock 700 m 22, 52C 2OO iſ 3, Jºſ. : {} O Ç : lſ Impassable for survey. 13 Table 3. Continued Ill G76 Porcontage Square yards Distance | Square yards ~ v.r.º.º. 4 Probable Location of bottom awning rubble Spºłº, rubble Waluc Point spawning (Nearest loo) all.l U Bull Run Rivor -*. l mile 72,800 23.4 17, OOO *º 2 miles 42,800 4.4 l, 900 —/- 3 ti 45,750 7.7 3,500 dº 4 tº 42, 200 0.4 2OO —/- 5 !! 47,500 l. O 5OO -/- 6 !! 45,750 2.4 l, 100 tºº Portland Water Intako Zigzag Rivor 300 yards 6,700 58. 6 3,900 + Noar Mouth 4OO || 6,600 30. O 2,000 -/- Below Still Crool: Salmon River 600 yards 21, 100 33. 1 7, OOO + Noar Mouth 400 !! ll, 200 74.3 8,300 ++ Near Welches l4 ll] 576 ...I.N.O.R TRIBUTARIES Gordon Cree: is the largest of the minor tributaries and enters the Sandy River about 11 miles above its mouth. It is reported to be a fairly good trout stream. The gradient is steep and the marginal vesetation denso. It maintains a fair flow through the summer months when other tributaries of the lower Sandy River are nearly dry. The flow was estimated at between 60 to 80 c. : . c. on arch 18, 1940. Trapper and Trout Crecks ontor the Sandy River near Gordon Creck f ind at the time of tºo surrey were estimated at 10 to 12 c.f. s. and 15 to 20 c.f. s. rospectively. The so tributarics reach a very low water stage in the summer but ºn: pro-iāo some spawning arcas for the fall sea-run cutthroat or "haryo St" troºt . Cedar and Ead... or Crooks ºntor the Sandy River in the section below Marmot Dam ºich no rally coco::ce dr. during the summer months because of the Marmot Taz, di'ſ cr; ic:... C f o twº , l 12 c. f. s. cn arch 20, 1940. It maintains a small i tle or no importance as a salmon stream. r * ** timated floº, o f : x-c: flow through the sº::crand Minor triºutaries a cove Marc t Tar used to some extent by spawning salmon and steel; cad include Clear Creek on the Sandy River, Steel Creek on the Zigzag Riº or and the South Fork of the Salmon River. As these tribu- tarics arc gºort and ºnvc steep gradicºts, it is probable that fish arc not able to accer.3 ſar at cºve tº eir riculth c. * to Sandy River and tributaries provide adequate pools and marginal sizelt er tº: rough cut. ‘’C C. E. C.F. F. O'ſ In 1936 tº c -axiſſºu: flow c : the Sandy River below the Bull Run con- fluence was ſl,500 c. f. c. , zini::1: 302 c. f. c.; maximum above Marmot diversion lC),600 c. f. s , , * ... Tºo Faziriur flow of tho Salmon River abovo Boulder Croc. was 4, CTO c. : . s. , : ini:::::: 73 c. f. s. Maximum of the Bull Run River abovo tºc Portland 'Water in take was 7,450 c. f. s. with a minimum of 103 c. f. s. (controll ). In the Little Sandy River the maximum flow was 1, 20 c.f. s. , ::iniºuſ lo c. f. s. In all instances the minimum flow occurrod in Sor, t Cºtor. * --> -- ~ A * ~ r <> --- ~ º J. : - - - -ºil – ISCC SSIO-I The ge::cral situation present cd by the results of this survey can be stated rather cricfly and dofinitely. At the present time, the situation on the river system as a whole is not encouraging. The Bull Run River is obstructed 6 miles from its mouth by an impassable dam. The stream above this dam is used as a source of municipal water supply by the City of Portland and salmon probably would not be allowed to use the stream for spawning purposes under any conditions because of their habit of dying 15 111376 after spawning, which might be considered a source of pollution. The lower 6 miles of the Bull Run River, which is open to fish, contains vory little Spawning arca, so this stream must be considered to be of little if any actual or potential value to migratory fish. - An impassable dam about 2 miles up the Little Sandy River from its confluence With the Bull Run River usually diverts the entire flow of the Little Sandy River through the power plant of the Portland. General Electric Company. Therefore, it is of no use to migratory fish at the present time. The main Sandy River has a section, about lé miles in length, from its mouth to thic confluence of the Bull Run River, which is unobstructed, free of diversions and contains a considerable amount of good spawning area. This section is suitablo for fall-run chinook or silvor salmon. Probably Some steelhead trout also spawn in this section, although most of that Species apparently go on into the upper part of the stream. There is but little spawning gravel between the mouth of the Bull Run River and Marmot Dam, a distance of about ll miles. Also, during late summer and early fall there is often little if any water in this section of the river, due to the Marmot Dam diversion, which takes tho entire river flow at times when the river is oxtremely low. This wator roturns to the Sandy River through the Bull Run power house and the Bull Run River. This condition prevents the migration of fall-run chinook salmon from going past the mouth of the Bull Run River, since they are present at the time when low water may be ex- pected. Some silver salmon and steelhead trout may also appear at that time, although the main run of those species usually occurs when sufficient Water is prosent to get them to Marmot Dam. Above Marmot Dan there is about 18 miles of tho Sandy River which is not of much value as spawning area. The Zigzag and Salmon Rivers enter the main stream in this soction and both contain suitable spawning habitats for salmon. Tho Salmon River was apparontly at one time the chief producer of Steelheads and spring chinooks in the entire system. This section above Marmot Dam has its value for producing migratory fish greatly impaired by the diversion at that structure. The lack of Water between Marmot Dam and Bull Run River, which often occurs in late summer and early fall when this diversion takes the entire flow of the river, makes this upper part of the stream usually inaccessible to fall-run chinook Salmon. The diversion, which is unscreenod, also presents a Lajor hazard to downstream Imigrant salmon and steelhoads, since any such fish Cnt.Cring this diversion Lust pass through the turbines of the Bull Run power house, where they would probably be killod, before returning again to the stream. Since this diversion takes a considerable proportion of the river flow, even in the spring winen the major downstream migration is to be expected, it must cause a considerable loss of young fish hatched in the upper reaches. Under present conditions the logical program for the management of this stream for the purpose of salmon production, appears to be as follows: The section below the mouth of the Bull Run River should be stocked with fall- run chinooks in order to build up tho run now present. It is suggested that l6 ll 1376 • the eggs producing tº esc fish be incubat lcast tho young o time in tonſporary ponds on the Lower Sandy River before liberation, in order to insuro more satisfactorily their return as adºlt c that stream. Also, the Oregon Fish Commission should be encoura-ged to raintain their hatc.er; at Marmot Dam, taking all adult fish which arrive at that point for spawning purposes. The offspring of these fish gº.cºli ce …eld until migration time and liberated below the dam, when adequate water is present in that pertion of the stream. This pro- & Ilº i. osses cocasioned by down stream migrants entering I. C. . ed in temporary troughs, or at cedure would. the unscree...cd A furt.cr. St. ablish a hatchery on the Bull Run River bolow thc Cit; cf ivorsion diam. This hatchery should be devoted chiefly to thic - f fall-run chinook salmon and the restocking of thc Lowcrºsa...lº Fivor. This gen, Over tho Lº, , ; or tself. Racks could be placci and maturo fish taken without irº ori cri:... with sal:on which might oth.orwise spawn naturally in thc Lower S. ...d.; , ...: f co:e into the Lower Bull Run now and stop at C ith C r t ..cuso trilraco or the diversion dam whoro they may dic boforo coº::i: , cr at the best spawn incfficiently, would be salvagod. D 3. * Also there nºnro:tly is no good ...at chary water supply on the Lower Sandy. on the Bell 3: …tor cºuld probably be secured from either the river it- self or tº.c Fortic:.d water supply iiv crsion. * * * * s * * * º * A thirò “it cºnti-re, wº.ich would mºko possible complete utilization of the Snr.d.; Riº or sº stºr, sixcept for the Bul l Run, wº.ich must oc considcred o o ..., rriot divorsion and mok w is: the Snndy River betwcch i- arranº ciner, º f : : - tºo rºint ºranco c : or cºlº flo Marmot Dºr; ºr . t. 2 ...ºtº. * : the Bill Run River nt nll times to permit the passage of ſis. : t: , p and down stroni. To entrance to the armot Dam fish ladder should. Also to iºro-ci. T., is plan woºll not be easy to accomplish. The scrocrinº; c. : ::c ºr...ot di: ºrgic: :oºl probably be a rather expensive undertaki: ; c.:... it is pºssible that the Portland Gonornl Electric Company could not provide water for fic. below ti.e : ar:ct Dam and still operate their Bull Run power house officiently. por reaches of the Sandy River and the Zigzag and Salmon W lable to ini gratory fish, the plan of operation of the Oregor. Fish n would have to be changed. Since they should not in- . tercept the ran at a rºot if good spawning and rearing conditions are avail— able above there, it would be necessary to discontinue operations at their present site. It is possible that they might be able to move their hatchery to the Salmon. River, where hatcheries have been operated before, and assist in the restocking of the upper streams with spring chinooks and steelhead t rout. 4. Sport fishing; in this river system consists primarily of angling for steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout and the dipnetting of smelt in the lower portion of the Sandy. Fishing for resident cutthroat and rainbow trout is also carried on throughout nearly the entire river system, except in the 17 ll 1376 Bull Run above the Portland diversion dam. All of that portion of the Watershed is closed to the public. Because of its close proximity to Portland, Oreg. , the Sandy River is of considerable importance for sport fishing and recreational purposes. Any activities directed toward the improvement of conditions for salmon would, of course, have the same beneficial cffect upon the steelhead trout runs, it being assumed that any hatcherics established would propagate steelheads as well as salmon. It should be noted that the unscreened Marmot diversion is not as de- structive to the game fish as it is to the salmon. Downstream migrant Salmon IIust go through the diversion, the reservoir, and the power house . in order to get back into the river and ultimately reach the ocean. How- ever, many of the trout apparently stop in the reservoir before going through the power plant, so that this reservoir is one of the favorite fishing spots of the entire river system. Even steelhead trout, both in- mature downstream migrants and spawned out adults, are caught by anglers in this roservoir before they ontor the power plant. The dai, constructed by the Oregon Game Coºlaission at the mouth of the Sandy River which diverts the flow through the Little Sandy Channel, thus providing Iſuch improved conditions for the entrance of salmon, migratory trout and Sinclf into the Sandy River from the Columbia River, should ac- complish good results. Before this improvement was made, it was difficult for the so figh to enter the Sandy River, particularly at low water seasons. Therefore, thic proposed expenditure of fodoral funds for the purpose of Eaking this structure and channel permanent appears to be warranted. The planting of fall-run chinooks in the lower Sandy should be attempted even under present conditions and if a hatchery could be placed on the lower Bull Run River, conditions affecting migratory fish in the Sandy River should be Iſuch improved. The suggestion of the lower Bull Run River as a hatchery site should, of course, be checked by the Division of Fish Culturo and others. It is folt that before any definite recommendations are made as to utilizing the entire upper reaches for migratory fish by screening the Marmot diversion and providing a greater flow below Marmot Dam at low water seasons, a careful study should be made of the feasibility of the plan with particular attention to the costs of such activities and the extent of in- terference with tho operations of the Portland General Electric Company. If the middle Columbia River is ever developed intensively for navigation . and power, so that it is not practical for salmon to reach the upper spawn- ing tributaries of the river, such a plan for intensive development of the Sandy would be much more attractive than it is now, because under Such Con- ditions it would be necessary to develop all large tributaries below Bon- neville Dam to tho fullest extent. - CO.JCLUSIONS l. The main Sandy River from its mouth to the confluence of the Bull Run River is suitable for fall-run chinook salmon, silver Salmon and steelhoad trout. 18 2. lll:376 This stream from the entrance of the Bull Run River to Marmot is cf little value for spawning or rearing because of the ext romoly small flow prescnt during late Summer and early fall. This condition is caused by the diversion at the Mar- mot Dam taking out almost the entire low water flow of the river, er above Marmot Dam is made hazardous to The Sandy Ri fish at the present time by the unscreened Marmot v migratory I is diversion, The Upper Sandy and Zigzag Rivers offer favorable spawning arcas for spring chinook salmon and steelhead trout; both species wore abundant in those streams during former years. Tho ºn scro cº-cd a rºot divorsic: :-kos it inadvisablo to por:it these species to go into this arca at this time. 'c • h, blocks tho Bull t º: * that point. 6 miles open to t good spaw:..ing arca nni the romainder of the 1 :over be cro: to sal: inco it is used as the t * 3 f Port c ºr fluence with the Bull Run River. It s ficº is taken tº t at that pºint during low water below Marrot Da: are not significant as spaw.i:; areas and do not offer any goci hatchery sites. T-e Sardº River system has significant populations of steel- head, sea-run cut tºrcat and resident trout and has distinct recreatic ral value. Its close proximity to Portland, Oreg., is a factº r which considerably increnses its valuc for ree- reatio:al purposes. º * - * r *****, A * CC.º.º.º.A. TIONS The Little Sandy Channel shºuld be kept open and the flow cf. t.-e Sa...dy River continue to be diverted into that channel in order to insure favorable conditions for the entrance of the Sandy River from the Columbia River. There- fore, What ever constructiºn work is necessary should be done to insºre the permanency of the divorsion dam at the mouth of t-e Sandy River and an adequato flow down the Little Sandy Charnel. * q l9 2 6. L].1376 The miſſiber of fall chinook salºon spawning in the Sandy River botwo on its mouth and its confluenco with the Bull Run Rivor should be increasod by planting the young of those fish in that soction of the stream. The so fish should be obtained from eggs hatched on the Sandy River syston and the young fish should bo reared thoro boforo liboration. This should be accomplished by either setting up temporary hatchery facilities or the establishment of a small permanent hatchery. The lower Bull Run River, below the Portland diversion dam, is apparently the best site for such a hatchery. If full development of the river should be undertaken, tho Marſhot diversion of the Portland Gonoral Electric Company must be scrocnod and sufficient flow raintained in the Sandy River botwo on that point and the confluonce of the Bull Run to provido for free passage of both rature adults and down- St rcaſſ ſigrants. This plan should be carefully examined as to practicability and probable cost before boing seriously considerod. The Oregon Fish Commission should be encouraged to continue operation of their hatchery at Marmot and liberate the young fish below the dam since this saves the loss of young fish in the Marnot diversion, which would occur if natural spawn- ing were allowed above Marriot Dan. Any plan of improvonent of the salmon runs by hatchery opera- tions should include propagation of steelhead trout and other Sport fishes.