Selective Water Withdrawal Tower at Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Complex

operational but ineffective

The project involves a selective water withdrawal tower installed in a reservoir on the Deschutes River near Madras to restore fish passage around the Pelton Round Butte hydroelectric complex. The tower aims to provide healthier conditions for fish by modifying the temperature of the lower Deschutes River to resemble pre-dam conditions and improve water quality in the reservoirs and river. It creates a current to attract juvenile fish for collection and relocation downstream and mixes cooler, cleaner water from the reservoir bottom with warmer surface water.