The 2016 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife annual electro shocking survey of fish populations in the upper Wild & Scenic section of the Crooked River revealed that, during the past year, the wild redband trout population suffered a catastrophic 86.4 percent reduction in numbers while the native mountain whitefish mortality was an alarming 45.3 percent.
Last year when the Crooked River watershed was included within a regional drought-declared area, Bureau of Reclamation river flow decisions drained the Prineville Reservoir to its fourth-lowest level ever.
The rapid early winter reduction in flow suddenly decreased the width of the river and resulted in a significant loss of bank habitat for the aquatic bugs fish need to eat to survive.