Hountalns and Minam Divisions of the Yniitman National Forest. The 

 main stream is about 114 miles long. 



The Powder River originally vms an excellent salmon stream, 

 and many old settlers tell of the large runs that appeared in the 

 early days. In the central portion of its course the stream extends 

 through the fertile Baker Valley. This region, along the Old Oregon 

 Trail, was settled at an early date. The growth and extension of 

 agriculture by means of irrigation, together with the more recent 

 extensive mining developments in the upper section of the stream 

 have resulted in the extermination of the salmon rvms in the greater 

 part of the Powder River system. There were no fish protective de- 

 vices on any of the irrigation dams and diversions that were examined. 

 The main stream and particularly its tributaries have some potential 

 value for salmon. However, the runs might be reestablished only at 

 enoi*mous expense for both stream improvements and artificial propaga- 

 tion* 



Powder River extends through a narrow, rocky canyon for a 

 distance of about 6 miles above the mouth. The stream had an average 

 width of about 60 feet in this section and was discharging about 250 

 o.f.s. The major portion of the flow was due to the discharge from 

 Bagle Creek, a major tributary. The water temperature near the mouth 

 was 79,0 F» The prevailing high water temperatures during the summer 

 months probably render the nvunerous otjierwise excellent resting pools 

 in the canyon of little value to salmon. The stream gradient is 

 moderate, with numerous shallow riffles, which all are heavily silted. 

 There is also a large amount of broken bedrock in the stream bed. Less 

 than 10 percent of the bottom was classified as suitable spawning area© 



The river grad\ially emerges from the lower canyon into the flat 

 Bagle Valley, which extends 11 miles upstream. The flow above the 

 confluence of Eagle Creek was about 50 c.f.s., and the vrater temperatiire 

 was 78.0 F. The gradient is very slight in this section, and riffle 

 areas are few in number and poor in quality. Pools also are poor and 

 without cover. The stream bed is composed chiefly of mud and silt, 

 and is of no value as spawning area for salmon. 



Above Eagle Valley the stream extends for about 12 miles through 

 another narrow, rocky canyon. The gradient is more moderate through 

 this section, and the bottom is not so heavily silted. There are num- 

 erous shallow riffles, and about 20 percent of the stream bed might be 

 classified as suitable spawning area, except for several adverse factors 

 vrtiich make the section appear unsuitable for salmon. Among these are the 

 high water temperatures, and the low volume of flow that occurs in late 

 summer over the relatively wide stream channel. Both of these adverse 

 factors are due to the extensive irrigation diversions. 



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