The Survey 



U« Umatilla River ,-- (May 2U-26, 19Uh; Nielson. Sept, 18-20, 19U55 

 Brewington, Davis, Hanavan, Parkhurst, Rucker, and Sillimario) iinters the 

 Columbia River approximately 300 miles above the mouth near the towi of 

 Umatilla, Oregon, The point of entry is about h miles below McNary Dam 

 on the Columbia River, The stream has a total length of about 119 miles 

 from the mouth to the confluence of its nofth and south forks and aver- 

 ages U0-7$ feet in mdth. Excellent suitable spamiing areas exist in 

 the upper half of the river and constitute in excess of $0 percent of the 

 total bottom area. In the^ lower portion there are a few sxiitable spawn- 

 ing areas, but in general the bottom in this section consists of bedrock. 

 At the time of our first survey (May, 19UU) the flow at Pendleton was 

 estimated at about 500 c,f,s. However, the entire flow is diverted by 

 fifteen diversions in the 50-*iile section below Pendleton, The channel 

 was dry below the lowermost diversion dam located about 3 miles above the 

 mouth of the stream. Summer water conditions may be critical as far 

 upstream as the Dillon Canal dam 20 miles above the mouth. These condi- 

 tions prevail throughout the entire irrigation season which ordinarily 

 begins during the first week in June but may be as early as the middle 

 of May, extending to late September or early October, Runs of spring 

 Chinook salmon and steelhead trout are thus blocked from entry into the 

 river, except for a few early steelhead that enter before the entire 

 stream flow is diverted, A few of these fish are taken each year by 

 anglers above Pendleton, 



There were seventeen water diversions and eleven principal dams 

 on the main Umatilla River; fifteen diversions below Pendleton and two 

 above. These are tabulated in upstream order at the conclusion of this 

 part of the reporto 



The Western Land and Irrigation Company Canal, 29.7 miles above 

 the mouth, was screened by the Oregon Game Commission in 19^48, 



The Echo Feed Canal, 30,9 miles above the mouth, was first 

 screened in 1938 as part of the Public Works Program under the super- 

 vision of the U.o.Fish and Wildlife Service. This screen was converted 

 to electric power in 19U7 and put into reg\ilar operation in April, 19U8. 



The Furnish Canal, 35,7 miles above the mouth, also was screened 

 by the Oregon Game Commission in 19U8. The future program of the Com- 

 mission calls for the screening of several other important diversions on 

 the lower Umatilla. 



There are eleven diversion dams on the river. The first perma- 

 nent dams were built sometime during the period 1903-1907, These are 

 the West Extension Canal and the Hermiston Light and Power Company dams 

 located U miles and 10 miles, respectively, above the mouth of the 

 stream. Both are of concrete construction and both have been provided 

 with fishways since the initial construction* The efficiency of these 

 fishways is amply demonstrated by the reports of local people that the 

 largest run of chinook salmon within the memory of white men occurred 

 in 191U, In that year, Indians and White people caught "thousands 

 upon thousands of salmon from spring to fall". It was also reported that 



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