There are two inconsistent statements in the “In My View” column of Doug Breese on Nov. 27, 2011. Mr. Breese states that, “Today the Crooked River is host to one of the finest redband trout fisheries in the state.” That would be great if it were true, but at the same time he reminds us that the Bowman Dam agreement only provided a minimum release of 10 cubic feet per second for fisheries.

Whoopee, have you ever seen what the Crooked River looks like with 10 cubic feet per second? It certainly doesn’t look like one of the finest fisheries in the state. In fact if that flow rate is maintained, fish are stranded and die, and their food source, aquatic invertebrates, is eliminated in droves.

Mr. Breese states that he is a firm believer in “a deal is a deal,” but in fact the agreement to build the dam was made without the consent of one of the parties, i.e., the fish. It is up to us to defend them.

Rep. Greg Walden’s proposed legislation does nothing to resolve this inequitable system. During times of shortage, irrigators would get first fill rights while only a trickle would be left in the river. That’s why I oppose HR 2060. The legislation needs to equitably decrease amounts to all users during times of shortage.

We can make the Crooked one of the finest redband fisheries in the state, but not with the legislation as currently proposed.

Herb Blank

Bend