Oregon Volunteers Rescue Stranded Fish in Deschutes River

When irrigation flows drop in Central Oregon each fall, hundreds of fish become trapped in a shrinking side channel near Lava Island with nowhere to go.

That's when Marisa Hossick and the Deschutes River Conservancy send out the call. Within hours, all 80 volunteer slots fill up as community members sign up to literally save fish with their own hands.

The Lava Island Fish Rescue has happened every year for over a decade. When water managers lower the Deschutes River to store water for next year's crops, flows drop more than 90 percent. A side channel near Lava Island gets cut off from the main river, stranding fish as oxygen levels fall and pools shrink.

Professional crews from Mount Hood Environmental lead teams of volunteers through waist-deep water wearing electroshock backpacks. The mild current briefly stuns the fish so rescuers can safely scoop them into aerated buckets. Volunteers then carry the buckets to the main river and release the fish back to safety.

The rescue takes three days to complete. Teams start at the bottom of the channel where water disappears first, then work upstream. The deepest pool sits right below Lava Falls, where fish gather but can't escape as water levels drop.

The Deschutes River Conservancy didn't plan to become fish rescuers. The nonprofit has worked since 1996 to restore water flow in the Deschutes Basin, where 86 percent of water gets diverted for irrigation. About 1,000 miles of canals crisscross the volcanic landscape, and some leak up to half their water before reaching farms.

With snowpack declining and less water falling from the sky, the conservancy partners with irrigation districts to modernize the system. More efficient canals mean more water stays in streams where fish need it.

The Ripple Effect

What started as an emergency response has become something bigger. Hundreds of people now wait on standby lists, hoping for a last-minute chance to help. When Hossick sent out a call last Friday, every slot disappeared within minutes.

The rescue gives ordinary people a direct connection to conservation work. Volunteers leave with wet boots, tired arms, and firsthand understanding of how water decisions affect wildlife. Many return year after year.

The work also supports the basin's habitat conservation plan, which aims to protect threatened species like the Oregon spotted frog while ensuring reliable water for agriculture.

This year's rescue happens next week, though exact timing depends on when water managers adjust the flows. People can still join the waitlist for last-minute openings when conditions change.

Central Oregon's fish are swimming free because neighbors showed up to help.