The numerous dams and diversions obstruct the passage of fish 

 and utilize the flow of the Malheur river system for irrigation to 

 such an extent that this river system is no longer of any possible 

 value to salmon,, Where formerly large runs of chinook salmon and 

 steelhead trout utilized the extensive spawning areas there have 

 been so few of these fish for so many years that the capture or even 

 the appearance of a single one is a most unusual and rare occurrence. 



This report divides the Malheur drainage basin into five sec- 

 tions. Proceeding upstream these are (1) the Vale or Lower Malheur 

 Valley. (2) the canyon below the town of Harper, (3) the Harper Val- 

 ley, (U) the canyon below the town of Jantura, and {$) the Jantura 

 Valley and the headwaters section. 



(1) Vale or Lower Malheur Valley :- 



In the lowermost section the river extends for 30 miles through 

 the wide, flat, fertile Vale Valley. In this section the river varies 

 from 135 feet to h$ feet in width, the average width being about 90 

 feet. The gradient is slight throughout. The river bed is composed 

 of at least one half silt with smaller amounts of medium and small 

 rubble, all heavily silted. This entire valley section was considered 

 of no value for salmon spawning. Resting pools are numerous, but the 

 sparse marginal vegetation affords little stream cover, and the high 

 summer water temperature, 71o0°F. near the mouth at the time of ob- 

 servation, are not suitable for salmon. 



There are a number of irrigation diversions and two fair sized 

 tributaries in the lower Malheur valley. The Nevada dam and irrigation 

 canal is located \\ miles below Vale. The dam is 6 feet high and 90 

 feet long. It is passable to fish except at low water stages during 

 the irrigation season The irrigation canal carries about 200 c.f.s., 

 and like all other water diversions on the Malheur at the time of ob- 

 servation, is not provided with any fish protective devices. 



The Ricker Irrigation Canal, about 8 miles below the upper end 

 of the valley, withdraws about 50 c.f.s* 



The Gillerman and Frohman Irrigation Canal, about 5 miles below 

 the upper end of the valley, withdraws about $0 c.f.s. 



The McLaughlin Irrigation Canal, about 3/U mile below the upper 

 end of the valley, withdraws about 20 c.f.s. 



The entire lower Malheur valley is a highly cultivated, irrigated 

 region, receiving the benefits of the water stored in the Warmsprings 

 and Agency Valley reservoirs of the Vale Project (U.S. Bureau of Re- 

 clamation). Among its agricultural products are alfalfa and clover 

 for hay and pasture, several grains, including wheat, oats, and barley, 

 diversified truck gardens, sugar beets, and a small amount of soft 

 fruits, ^he valley is bounded by low, barren hills having a sparse 

 cover of sage. 



