By Dylan J. Darling / The Bulletin
Published: November 26. 2011 4:00AM PST

A decade and more than $100 million in the making, a major step in reviving Deschutes River salmon and steelhead could happen next year: Adult fish spawning in waters upstream of the Pelton Round Butte dam complex.

“We are hoping in 2012 that there will be salmon at Camp Sherman and steelhead up at Sisters and in Prineville,” said Don Ratliff, senior aquatic biologist with Portland General Electric.

The adult fish would be the first in more than 40 years to spawn in the Metolius, Deschutes and Crooked rivers upstream of the dams, as well as Whychus Creek. The 465-megawatt dam complex produces enough power for a city about the size of Salem.

Scientists and volunteers have been releasing young steelhead, a sea run rainbow trout, since 2007 and salmon since 2008 above the dams.

Starting in late 2009 an elaborate submerged tower, which cost Pacific Gas & Electric and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs $108 million, has created a current like a free-flowing river and restored the downstream movement of the fish.

How do you put a value on bringing a new activity like fly fishing into someone's life who has spent the better part of their formative years learning to survive in the remote areas of the world as a soldier?  What can you do to help these veterans who have bled with their brothers in service to our country in far away lands?  Central Oregon Project Healing Waters discovered the answer to both of these questions on Wednesday April 11th by bringing a group of veteran's out to Lake In The Dunes to meet our host Steve Scott at his wonderful lakes to bring the smile you can see on the face of our new friend to the left.

While I have been helping this organization from its beginning here in Central Oregon, I have often wondered what would happen when we finally got some of our vets out fishing on the fly.  Would they take to it? Would they get frustrated? Could we even make a difference in their lives?  I think every day about the smiles we generated that day, and all the work it took us to put it together dissolves into the mist.  You can't put a price on that look when they get their first hook up and land a fish.  I can only compare it to when you see a kid at his/her first birthday or christmas when they open their first present and the look of surprise and joy you can feel like a warm blanket surrounding you.