Accomplishments from 2019

Legal and advocacyOur Clean Water Act lawsuit against Portland General Electric (PGE) and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (CTWSRO) was appealed by DRA to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. We will continue this important legal battle until appropriate and necessary improvements in water quality below the Pelton-Round Butte Hydroelectric Complex are made.DRA believes that the reintroduction of salmon and steelhead above the dams would have a greater chance of success if the fish were trucked around not only the dams (as they presently are) but around Lake Billy Chinook as well. This would allow for changes to the mix and timing of water releases that might substantially restore water quality in the lower Deschutes River. DRA will continue advocating for this change to the fish reintroduction efforts. Read more here.

In September, we hosted our first annual BBQ in Maupin as a way to say thank you to the community for its strong support. It was a fun-filled afternoon with live music, beer and food. We can’t wait to do it again next year!DRA supporters continued backing our Maupin community through river clean ups and by continued care for our adopted stretch of highway at a gateway to Maupin.We experienced some transitions as we said goodbye to some staff and welcomed others. We wished Jonah Stanford well in his new endeavors. We also welcomed our new Executive Director, Sarah Cloud, to the DRA team. We are excited for new opportunities, continued advocacy and research, and whatever else the future holds.