2006

during the Great Depression, the dam generates electricity and provides irrigation water for several irrigation districts in Oregon and neighboring Idaho. At the time of completion, it was the tallest dam of its type in the world (it was surpassed about two years later).

The dam impounds the river to create the Owyhee Reservoir, with storage capacity of nearly 1,200,000 acre feet of water. The more than 400-foot (120 m) tall concrete-arch gravity dam is owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and operated by the Owyhee Irrigation District. Haystack Rock Road is carried over the 833-foot (254 m) long crest of the dam.

Water stored at the reservoir is used to irrigate approximately 120,000 acres (490 km²) for use in farming.  Four different irrigation districts utilize the water from Owyhee Reservoir. There are three hydro-power generating facilities at the reservoir added between 1985 and 1993, with seven megawatt and five megawatt turbines at the dam and power sold to the Idaho Power Company. Owyhee has a unique spillway located part way up the dam that utilizes a 60-foot (18 m) in diameter tunnel to send excess water to the river below during Spring run-off.  The United States Bureau of Reclamation owns the facility, and the Owyhee Irrigation District operates the dam.

The most visually spectacular site is the “Glory Hole” spillway with its ring gate control mechanism.

We survived and will again!

The 60 ft. diameter crest of the spillway is located on a promontory in the east side of the reservoir, about 300 feet upstream of the dam.  The ring gate consists of a concrete base and an operable, floating, donut-shaped gate.  A control gallery and a float well are located in an adjoining concrete pier.  The steel ring gate is hollow, and therefore buoyant, so it can float when the chamber fills with water from the reservoir.  The Owyhee River below the Dam is very popular with fly fishers, with the fish average around 18 inches.  The lake also provides excellent waterfowl hunting, and the surrounding hills and canyons offer many opportunities for the pursuit of upland game birds.  A variety of wildlife may be observed in the reservoir area, including wild horses, bighorn sheep, golden eagles, pelican and cormorants.

• Did-ja-know how the Owyhee got it’s name?

In 1819, three Owyhees (Natives of the Hawaiian Islands) were detached from Donald MacKenzie’s Northwest Company’s expedition to trap on the river. When MacKenzie came back to meet them the next spring, he learned they had been killed by a band of Bannock Indians. The river and the country around it were named Owyhee for these men.

• And The fish we’re introduced when?

Browns were first introduced into the lower Owyhee subbasin in 1990

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And how does it help our communities?

• Irrigation of crops $135 million
• Livestock Industry $81 million
• Recreation 155,000 visits-$4.2 million
• Flood Damage Prevented $657,000

Seasons come & seasons go......

Based on our experience below you will find our opinions, about short term, long term as well as historical data about snow, weather, water and more!

Snow pack, elevation, weather, timing…they all contribute to determining the flow of the river.  In addition the Owyhee Irrigation District is the managing entity for the water flows on the Owyhee.  The Bureau of Reclamation manages the structure of the reservoir.  The Oregon Fish and Wildlife manage the fish.  The Oregon State Parks and Recreation manage the reservoirs parks and camping.  The Malhuer County Road District manage the roads.  And last but not least the Bureau of Land Management manages most all the land (other than a very small percentage of private land).  Oh yes, there is The Oregon State Police which have  jurisdiction of licensing,  game and traffic violations.  This river has more variables then any river I know.  Now add in the variables about the weather and when, how and what are we going to fish on the Owyhee!

It’s difficult to determine when the fishing will be at it’s best on the Owyhee.  We have put together some data for all who are considering fishing the Owyhee in the near future.  This is data provided by a number of sites that we’ve researched in order to offer you, the angler, a glimpse into the “Crystal Ball”.  We have also give a synopsis of our experience in the past with the water levels, and our “two cents” about when and how the Owyhee River will fish again.

Click this image to see historical snow pack in the Idaho Owyhee Mountains

For all of you who are wondering about the effects of high water on the Owyhee fishery here is our take based on past experiences.  High water on the Owyhee is not a new occurrence, traditionally the river has a spring flush every three to five years.

Short term:
The fish will be displaced into different holding water while the water is high, usually in the willows and slower moving portions of the river along the edges. Most of the fish will survive and be healthier for the extra exercise. There will however be some mortality amongst the older and unhealthy fish that would not have made it through one more season. Yes, some fish in the lower river may be flushed out into agricultural land, but the river and the fish will survive.

The hatches may be messed up or sporadic for the duration of the high water and even perhaps all of this season.  There will be an influx of warm water species such as bass and crappie into the river from the reservoir above, but these fish will not survive for more than a season in the cold river water.

The weed beds probably will be washed out as well as the insects that live in them.  Populations of Callibaetis and Pale Morning Dun mayflies will suffer.
There will be all sorts of debris along the bank as well as dead crappies and bass hanging from the trees.

Long term:
The river bed itself will have been flushed free of silt in many places creating more areas of spawning gravel.  The insects will come back in good numbers especially those insects that are more suited to gravel bottoms such as Caddis and Stoneflies.  The Callibaetis and PMD’s will come back as the weed growth starts to re generate.

By the time the next spawning season rolls around the fish will have re-discovered their old haunts and will be back in the same old places falling for the same old tricks.  Those fish that survived the high water will be healthier for the experience.

And maybe the crowds will have thinned out some, with thoughts that the river has been devastated and does not fish well anymore.

On another note:
Legal guides are only allowed walk and wade fishing on the O below the dam. They may have an Oregon guides license, but they also need a commercial use permit issued by the BLM.  None of the use permits issued by the BLM have any stipulations regarding boat guiding on the river.  PLEASE if you see any guides using watercraft to conduct business on the Owyhee below the dam contact the Vale BLM office and report the violation.  541-473-3144  or email at   OR_Vale_Mail@blm.gov

Jerry P with an Owyhee Brown Trout

Please be careful if you choose to fish, not to disturb the redds.  You will find newly scraped gravel areas, this is where the fish lay their eggs.  After the 8th of October the water flows from the dam will decrease from 250 cfs to 16 cfs.  This makes the redds even more vulnerable to predators not only from man but also from wildlife.  It is our recommendation that you let the Owyhee lay fallow from pursuit of fish while this yearly phenomenon takes place.

via Robert Tomes with Ten & Two Magazine guided by Dreams on the Fly on Vimeo.

Although we don’t exactly know what happened, we do know that someone lost their life on our home river (the Owyhee) last night.  Rivers, streams, lakes, oceans and all bodies of water are unpredictable.  Use caution, all the time, every time.  Use the wading staff, link arms with someone while crossing a river, don’t drink alcohol while navigating water bodies.  Use the wading belts to at least slow down the water coming into waders.  If you do end up falling in the water, point your body down stream or at the very least diagonally down!

Keep cool on those hot dog days of summer…here are some tips:

1)  Hydrate with water, reduce caffeine consumption.  Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol, or large amounts of sugar—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.

2)  Frog toggs are a wonderful way to keep cool:  The Chilly Pad^® provides an innovative way to cool down while enduring outdoor heat and/or high levels of physical activity. Perfect for anyone engaged in sports or work, the Chilly Pad is made from a hyper-evaporative material that retains water while remaining dry to the touch. When wet, the towel begins to evaporate and cool, providing cool, soft comfort to the user. When it stops cooling (about 1-4 hours, depending on conditions), you simply re-wet the towel in hot or cold water and wring it out. Within minutes, it’s cool again. It’s also machine washable, and comes in its own storage container for years of reliable use. Handy size: 27″ x 17″

3)  Sit is out during the hottest part of the day or go find shade to cool off in.

4)  Sunscreen every place that’s exposed.  Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. It also causes pain and damages the skin. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) along with sunglasses.

5)  Avoid eating heavy or hot meals before venturing out in the heat, they add heat to your body.

Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion?

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Recognizing Heat Stroke

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

What to Do

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:

• Get the victim to a shady area.
• Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
• Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the victim fluids to drink.
• Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

Sometimes a victim’s muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. It is the body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.

Recognizing Heat Exhaustion

Warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting

The skin may be cool and moist. The victim’s pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if any of the following occurs:

• Symptoms are severe
• The victim has heart problems or high blood pressure

Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.

What to Do

Cooling measures that may be effective include the following:

• Cool, nonalcoholic beverages
• Rest
• Cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
• An air-conditioned environment
• Lightweight clothing

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles may be the cause of heat cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.

Recognizing Heat Cramps

Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms—usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs—that may occur in association with strenuous activity. If you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet, get medical attention for heat cramps.

What to Do

If medical attention is not necessary, take these steps:

• Stop all activity, and sit quietly in a cool place.
• Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
• Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside, because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour.

Let us know how we can help you plan your next fly fishing adventure.

208-861-2853