Thoughts on Flow Meeting from June 11

   Before I get into my thoughts,  Let me share some positives as it relates to fishermen.    We were able to get stable water temps by the moving of the selective withdrawl gates.    This had an immediate and noticable  impact on the fishing for the better.  Secondly,  the timing of the fluctuations were changed so that there would be a longer period of consistent fishing during the day time.  As of today,  there should be consistent fish from  7:00 am to 5:30 pm  if you are floating or wade fishing Little Hole.  The times would be  two hours earlier around the Dam. 
      As I observed and participated in what I would call a passionate meeting regarding the flows on our beloved river,  I noticed that my views of  the people involved,  evolved.    I greatly appreciated all the time and effort to make this meeting happen.  I gained some confidence in the Bureau of Reclamation,  while losing any confidence I had in the power company (western area power administration).   While the Bureau has a difficult task of trying to balance the many entities using this unique resource, I got the feeling they where trying to do their best to try to satisfy everyone.    I think part of my animosity towards WAPA was the fact that their representative rubbed me the wrong way.  Constantly over generalizing, being disrespectful towards others, and sort of telling the truth doesn't gain my trust.   He also made it very clear that WAPA's customers were more important than the guides customers or forest service customers.   This was particulary worrisome as he continued to refer to fishermen as the "trout people".   In my view he had objectized the fishermen to the point that he didn't view them as human beings with thoughts and feelings in order to justify his economic choices.   In the end it was clear that WAPA would willing to make some timing adjustments on the flows as long as they didn't have to give up any money in the end.  WAPA made it very clear their financial well being is more important than the local economy surrounding the dam.    I hope we can continue to find common ground in the future.