I’m writing to applaud the Deschutes Valley Water District for its proactive efforts to pursue a fish bypass system for the Opal Springs Dam. I own property a few miles upstream from Opal Springs on the Lower Crooked River and I was surprised to learn that a fish ladder was never installed on the dam. After attending the recent project meeting, I was encouraged that the various agencies and groups involved are committed to finding a solution that would be a win-win for fish, anglers and nearby landowners.

With the reintroduction of steelhead and Chinook salmon to our local rivers, it just makes sense to ensure that those fish are able to make it upstream to spawn. Proposals to protect and restore the Middle Deschutes River and Lower Whychus Creek are also imperative in order to further safeguard the huge investments we’ve made towards getting native fish back into our rivers and streams.

Crooked River Ranch and other Central Oregon communities stand to reap big benefits from fish recovery efforts and conservation actions in general. Our region already offers world-class fishing and outdoor recreation; imagine how much more competitive we would be if we also boasted healthy runs of salmon, steelhead and other native fishes. Despite the conflict implied by the headline of The Bulletin’s Feb. 9 article (“Fish face another upstream hurdle”), the choice between economic development and conservation is a false one. We can have healthy wildlife and a robust economy; we just have to make the proper investments.

Robert Windlinx Jr.

Crooked River Ranch