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Local fishing guides say higher temperatures in the lower Deschutes River are affecting the ecosystem – and the local economy.

John Hazel is a Maupin-based guide who regularly leads trips on the lower Deschutes. Hazel believes the solution to the current problems is for PGE to remove PGE’s Selective Water Withdrawal facility at the Pelton Round Butte Dam. Credit: John & Amy Hazel

A sign along the lower Deschutes near Warm Springs, detailing how water temperatures affect fish populations. Credit: Nicole Vulcan

According to the Deschutes River Alliance, PGE’s Selective Water Withdrawal facility in Lake Billy Chinook is the cause of elevated temperatures and other issues in the lower Deschutes River. Credit: Greg McMillan, Deschutes River Alliance

An angler in the lower Deschutes — long a playground for fishing enthusiasts. Credit: Deschutes Angler

Amy Hazel, a local river guide, is concerned about the economic impacts of the changes in the lower Deschutes River. Credit: John & Amy Hazel

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In Search of a Cooler River: Deschutes River Alliance Files Suit Against PGE

by Nicole Vulcan, The Source - Bend, Oregon
August 23, 2016

<h1>In Search of a Cooler River: Deschutes River Alliance Files Suit Against PGE</h1>
<p class="byline">by Nicole Vulcan, The Source - Bend, Oregon <br />August 23, 2016</p>
<p>Local fishing guides say higher temperatures in the lower Deschutes River are affecting the ecosystem – and the local economy.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/john_pic-scaled.webp"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/john_pic-scaled.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-9899" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">John Hazel is a Maupin-based guide who regularly leads trips on the lower Deschutes. Hazel believes the solution to the current problems is for PGE to remove PGE's Selective Water Withdrawal facility at the Pelton Round Butte Dam.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/img_0574-scaled.webp"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/img_0574-scaled.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-9900" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A sign along the lower Deschutes near Warm Springs, detailing how water temperatures affect fish populations.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/news_round-butte-dam-010-scaled.webp"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/news_round-butte-dam-010-scaled.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-9901" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">According to the Deschutes River Alliance, PGE's Selective Water Withdrawal facility in Lake Billy Chinook is the cause of elevated temperatures and other issues in the lower Deschutes River.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/news_steel_tg.webp"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/news_steel_tg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-9903" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An angler in the lower Deschutes -- long a playground for fishing enthusiasts.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/amy1.webp"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/amy1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-9906" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Amy Hazel, a local river guide, is concerned about the economic impacts of the changes in the lower Deschutes River.</figcaption></figure>
<p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.bendsource.com/news/in-search-of-a-cooler-river-deschutes-river-alliance-files-suit-against-pge-2751051/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.bendsource.com&quot;&gt;The Source - Bend, Oregon&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/cropped-Untitled-design-4.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p>
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