The more we learn about the Bonneville complex the more we want to learn. We extended our stay in Cascade Locks, Oregon so we could come see the visitors center on the Washington side and tour the new powerhouse. Yesterday’s tour guide was an engineer who emphasized details about power generation. Today’s guide was an environmental scientist who had more to say about the interplay of the various species in the river ecosystem. She was knowledgeable about the power generation process but much more excited about scientists’ increased understanding of the role of the Pacific Lamprey and the recent installation of new ladders for the lamprey as well as possible explanations for last year’s decreased salmon counts not to mention concern for the salmon with the presence of sea lions near the fish ladders.
And we were fascinated with the fish counter. As the various species of fish travel through this narrow space in the fish ladder, a human sits and counts every fish that passes noting the species, the length, and whether it’s wild or from the hatchery then subtracts the ones that are carried downstream. We have to admire the people who can do this job!
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