Ruralite, Midstate Electric Cooperative, September 2024 by utilitypioneers

Ruralite

MIDSTATE ELECTRIC

SEPTEMBER 2024

Working to Prevent Wildfires

Midstate Electric Cooperative creates brush crew, replaces aging poles and wire Page 4

PHOTO

Ruralite

September 2024 • Volume 72, No. 9

CEO Michael Shepard

SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike Teegarden, CCC

DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Noble Sprayberry

SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC

ASSISTANT EDITORS Chasity Anderson, CCC; Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Valeri Pearon, Nina Todea

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER

Elizabeth Beatty

SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR

Alyssa McDougle

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Shining a Light on Rural Life

While I live in the suburbs now, I grew up on a country farm until I was about 12 years old. I understand what life away from common services and conveniences is like.

I had few neighbors as a child and even fewer with children my age. I spent a lot of my youth roaming our 50 acres with my dog, catching salamanders, feeding sheep and riding my bike. I became adept at entertaining myself.

Two stories this month highlight different aspects of rural living and the effort required to overcome obstacles.

Our Spotlight feature on Page 12 looks at how two rural high school athletes successfully raised their profiles to attract interest from college programs. Success wasn’t easy or instant. It took dedication and hard work to accomplish—something rural athletes know a lot about.

The Up Close feature on Page 10 takes us to

a small, remote Alaskan village, where harsh elements make having a solid home a matter of survival.

One organization designed a new energyefficient home that is expandable and adjusts as the foundation shifts due to temperature changes. So far, six of these homes have been built. The villagers who live in them save significant money on their heating bills thanks to the efficiencies of the new construction. They also are more comfortable and have room to process and store the fish and game they harvest to feed their families.

More homes are planned as funding becomes available.

Calendar Photo Contest

I want to thank the many readers who entered our calendar photo contest this year. As always, choosing the winners is a challenge. Congratulations to the winners. Visit ruralite.com/2025-calendar-winners to see the winning photos.

Mike Teegarden Editorial Director

For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.

In 6 In the Kitchen 16

Hunt 22

Better Homes for a Better Life

New energy-efficient design changing lives in small community Up Close, Page 10

Running Toward the Future

Rural athletes overcome hurdles to win scholarships Spotlight, Page 12

You Go 30 Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32

Working to Prevent Wildfires

Midstate Electric Cooperative creates brush crew, replaces aging poles and wire

By Craig Reed

Midstate Electric Cooperative continues to focus on fire mitigation work to help prevent and control wildfires.

Early this year, the co-op formed a two-person brush crew that does fire prevention work almost every day. Dana Blake and Ryan Konop have been mowing and trimming grass, weeds and brush in the MEC power lines’ rights of way since March. Their work is expected to be year-round, although the weather could interfere with their schedule.

The co-op continues to contract out tree-trimming work.

Ongoing fire prevention projects include installing electronic reclosures and replacing aging wooden power poles and lines with ductile iron poles and insulated tree wire.

MEC has installed electronic reclosures at all of the co-op’s substations and placed 40 on lines, with plans to add more throughout the system. A reclosure can automatically shut down a line or part of one if there’s a fault or power issue.

Electric utilities use insulated tree wire because if it is broken or exposed through the insulation, it won’t spark and possibly start a fire when touched by a fallen tree or branch.

In May, Midstate Electric was awarded a $4.9 million U.S. Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense grant that must be used over the next five years to buy fire prevention equipment and pay for fire prevention labor.

MEC Operations Manager Brian Sharr says the grant will help the co-op cycle through its rights of way with mowing and trimming work every five years rather than every 10 years, as has been the schedule in the past.

By creating its own brush crew, Midstate reduced its reliance on outside contractors. Dana moved from working in the co-op’s

Brush crew members Ryan Konop, left, and Dana Blake clear about 3 miles a day.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIDSTATE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

warehouse to the brush crew. Ryan was hired as a new employee.

The two share the work of operating a masticator mowing machine and a weed eater. The weed eater operator takes the lead, mowing around poles and other obstacles and checking for rocks, fencing, garbage or any other debris that might damage the masticator.

Dana and Ryan have been working in the Christmas Valley/ Fort Rock area since March, clearing 50-foot rights of way under transmission lines and 20- to 30-foot rights of way under distribution lines. They average about 3 miles a day.

Brian says the value of the mowing work was evident last year when four fires started in mowed areas but were quickly extinguished. He says the largest of those fires was just 1 acre.

Elsewhere in the Midstate system, MEC Foreman Tyler Graff and crew have installed ductile iron poles and insulated tree wire on the Paulina line. Next, they will work on 3 miles in the Ponderosa Pines area toward the Elk Lake area west of Mount Bachelor.

The plan for this line from Ponderosa Pines to Elk Lake area is to annually replace 2 to 3 miles of line with ductile iron poles and tree wire.

“The tree wire is expensive—more expensive than the old style of bare wire,” Engineering Manager Tom Weller says. “But it’s less expensive than going underground, and it’s much less expensive than a wildfire and replacing homes.”

Brian says electronic reclosures allow sensitive issues on a line

to be located from the co-op’s office and can automatically shut down a line.

“The reclosures are strategically placed to keep communities protected as much as we can,” he says. “They allow us to localize power outages to a few meters rather than too many meters. Our goal is to keep power to as many of our members as possible.” n

ABOVE: A masticator mowing machine clears right-of-way brush.

RIGHT: Ductile iron power poles are fire-resistant.

BACKUP POWER

Is a battery-powered system right for your home during an

By Scott Flood

We depend on reliable electricity more than ever before—even the briefest service interruption can be incredibly frustrating. It’s no wonder many homeowners are taking a closer look at the latest battery-powered systems as backups during an outage.

Battery technology has advanced significantly in recent years, with batteries able to hold more electricity even as they shrink in size and cost. The same innovations that boosted the performance of electric vehicles are being engineered into today’s battery-powered backup systems.

As their name implies, battery backup systems such as Tesla’s Powerwall are essentially high-capacity batteries that store electricity you can use to power your home in the event of an outage. Some are constantly charged by the power grid, and others rely on solar panels for recharging.

Traditional standby generators use small internal combustion engines fueled by natural gas, propane or diesel. They can be connected to your home’s electrical panel and kick on automatically whenever the flow of electricity stops. Assuming you keep them refueled, most can operate for days at a time.

Some standby generators can be noisy, and nearly all produce smelly exhaust containing deadly carbon monoxide gas, so they can’t be operated indoors. Large standby generators are typically installed outdoors on a concrete pad, which may detract from your home’s curb appeal.

Most home battery backups are smaller than comparable generators. Because they

outage?

don’t use combustion to generate electricity, there’s no danger of carbon monoxide exposure. That makes them safer and more environmentally friendly than generators. Most can be installed in a small space indoors. Battery backups are also significantly quieter. When a power outage occurs, battery backups start instantly, unlike generators that may take a few moments to spool up and reach operating speed. Battery backups also don’t need regular maintenance, such as oil changes or spark plug replacement, and there’s no need to store fuel.

Of course, battery-powered generators do present some disadvantages. The amount of power they deliver is limited by the capacity of their batteries. When they’re out of electricity, they may need hours of recharging before being used again, so they’re not as well-suited for lengthy outages. Energyhungry appliances, such as air conditioners and water heaters, may drain the batteries’ capacity more quickly, so you may want to disconnect them during an outage.

Fortunately, some battery backups are modular, allowing you to add capacity as needed. If you only need a few devices powered during an outage, consider a portable battery-powered system. These small, quiet backups can be used indoors to power smaller appliances, such as your laptop, TV or microwave.

Generally, batteries require long charging times. If an initial outage is quickly followed by another, they may not be able to respond. There are fast-charging systems on the market, but they carry substantially higher price tags.

Even for a basic battery backup system, the upfront cost of a battery backup is more than a standby generator—in some cases, twice as much for comparable performance.

Like those in your mobile phones, batteries in these systems can degrade over time. In five to 10 years, they may need to be swapped out with new batteries, adding to the overall cost. Recharging battery backups with solar panels appeals to many homeowners, but the performance depends on the amount and angle of sunlight on your roof.

So, is a battery-powered backup system right for your home? The answer is different for every homeowner, but whether you’re considering a battery system or a traditional standby generator, start by calculating the amount of power you need to keep your home’s systems and conveniences operating efficiently. Once you know that,

you can determine which models are up to the task and calculate how long the device you’re considering can power your home.

If you have a family member whose health depends on devices such as a CPAP machine or supplemental oxygen, be sure to factor that into your decision.

Whether you choose a battery backup or a traditional standby generator, make sure it’s designed to protect your home and all your electronics from power surges and other issues that may damage your TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. That way, you won’t have to worry about remaining without them long after an outage has ended. n

Battery backup systems, such as Tesla’s Powerwall, are high-capacity batteries that store a set amount of electricity that powers your home during an outage. PHOTO COURTESY OF TESLA

Take Steps to

When the electricity goes out, your initial thought might be to run to the local hardware or big box store and buy a generator. However, using a generator should not be taken lightly, since it can be dangerous and even lifethreatening if used incorrectly. There are several steps you should take before ever starting one up.

First, do your homework

Before purchasing a generator, the first step is to research the best option for your home and budget. The second, and more important step, is to educate yourself on how to use one safely.

Homeowners can choose from two types of generators: standby and portable. Standby generators are installed directly into the home’s electrical system and are typically powered by natural gas or propane. These generators start automatically when the power goes out.

Operate a Generator Safely

What is a TRANSFER SWITCH?

A transfer switch is an essential mechanism that safely shuts off power to the electrical grid before backup power is used. The switch’s job is to safely transfer power from its primary source to a backup source, enabling users to maintain power during an outage.

Properly installed transfer switches are essential because they prevent dangerous backfeed into the power grid, which endangers utility workers and others.

Generators can be deadly

A portable generator is usually gas powered and is, well, portable. You can power appliances by plugging them into it. Your generator should have more output than the wattage of the electronics plugged into it. This way, the generator can create the extra electricity it takes for the initial power surge. Make sure there is nothing plugged into the generator when turning it on.

Important safety tips

When you refuel a portable generator, make sure the engine is cool. Keep children and pets away from the generator, as it could burn them.

Generators pose electrical risks, especially when operated during inclement weather. Use a generator only when necessary during wet conditions. Protect the generator by operating it under an open, canopy-like structure and on a dry surface where water cannot form puddles or drain under it.

Carbon monoxide fumes emitted by the gasoline engine on the generator can be deadly. Always operate your portable generator outdoors at least 20 feet from your home.

Misusing a portable generator or using a standby generator that is not installed correctly (and does not meet the electrical code) can cause backfeed, which puts lineworkers in danger. Backfeed happens when a generator feeds electricity back through a home’s electrical system and meter into the power lines.

To prevent this dangerous scenario, standby generators should have a transfer switch installed by a licensed professional. Do not plug a portable generator directly into a home outlet or electrical system.

Midstate Electric offers assistance to members who would like to purchase a GenerLink transfer switch product to safely connect their generator to their home’s electrical panel.

We are offering GenerLink at a special price - just the cost of the equipment plus 10%, and free installation.

An additional perk of ordering through Midstate is that we will wave disconnect and reconnect fees if members purchase and schedule through us. Estimated delivery time is 2-4 weeks. Don’t miss out on this incredible offer.

For more details or to schedule with Midstate, call 541-5367226.

Better Homes for

New energy-efficient design changing lives in small community

By Molly Rettig

Alex Beans grew up on the Lower Yukon River, a network of southwest Alaska streams, ponds and coastal wetlands so vast it’s larger than Pennsylvania. His house, however, was small and crowded.

“We had 10-plus people in the house most of the time,” Alex says. “I slept on the couch for most of my childhood with my mom.”

In Mountain Village, Alaska—a Yup’ik community of roughly 700 people—more than a third of the families live with similar crowding. The same is true across more than 200 rural Alaska communities.

But size isn’t the only problem. Mainly built by federal agencies in the 1970s, these homes were not designed for the Arctic conditions—temperatures that reach 60 below and wind that can blow off roofs. The homes are cold, moldy and costly to heat.

Richard John Queenie lives in a house about the size of a single car. The foundation is so old and saggy that the walls are pulling away from the floor.

“The logs are disintegrating, just rotting away under there,” he says.

With no indoor plumbing and little insulation, Richard keeps two space heaters running nonstop in the winter.

“I go through more than 20 gallons of stove oil every two weeks, and another $322 for the electric heater over there,” he says.

That’s around $700 a month just for heat. While Richard has a good job working as a carpenter for the tribe, he can’t afford to build a new home—even the 24-by-26-foot house he’s thought of building himself.

It gets worse. Because of climate change, the region

is warming three times faster than the rest of the planet. The permafrost underlying Mountain Village is thawing and slumping in some places, freezing and heaving in others. Older homes elevated on posts—a strategy to avoid disrupting the permafrost—are tilting and shaking.

These housing issues, combined with the recent crash of the salmon fishery on the Yukon River, have prompted many to leave the region. That’s why Alex and the Asa’carsarmiut Tribe are building new efficient homes to withstand the harsh climate.

Through a partnership with the National Renewable Energy

for a Better Life

Laboratory’s Alaska Campus, in 2022 the tribe built five homes in Mountain Village. The homes get residents off floors and couches while keeping them on their traditional lands.

Another home is being built in 2024. Future homes may be added as funding becomes available.

The Yup’ik people have occupied the region for thousands of years and are experts of the land. They worked with NREL researchers to ensure new housing incorporated traditional wisdom with the latest science and technology.

Because the homes were funded to help people transition out of homelessness and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the original goal was to keep the homes small and build as many as possible. Community members wanted them to be energy efficient.

“The homes are very well-insulated,”

Alex says. “There’s just a small heater to heat the home, and on the extended versions, we have a woodstove. If we have the woodstove going, there should be almost no cost going to heating fuel.”

Residents also wanted room in the new homes to process and store subsistence foods. So, while the homes are small, NREL designers included extra-large foundations and decks, which also make it easier to add on to the living space over time.

“One of the key things we’ve learned from people who live in tiny houses is they’re great for a certain time and then you want them to be bigger,” NREL architect Aaron Cooke says. “We designed not a house but a house that could be expanded in three different ways. If you move into a small version of the home, which is about 380 square feet, you have the freedom to expand, whether it be an entryway, an arctic entryway or another bedroom.”

Local people not only helped design the homes, but they built them, too.

“Everything that was put into the homes created jobs out here and allowed our people to have actual job

experience and learn more about the new science we can put into homes that will benefit people in a cold climate,” Alex says.

The designs are a blueprint for future building, and the workforce training gives local people tools to address their housing shortage.

Aaron says two characteristics make foundation design difficult: The ground is frozen, but it is also thawing at an unpredictable rate.

“We had to design a foundation that could handle frozen soils and can also adjust as these soils change,” Aaron says.

Steel beams under the floors rest on adjustable jacks, which sit on treated wood footers. In January, Alex crawled under a home with a level, measured the beams and then used a steel bar to adjust the jacks and level the house.

Afterward, he ducked his head inside to see Agnes Brown, 78, who had recently moved into the house. Though it was below zero outside and dropping, Agnes was in a T-shirt.

“It’s nice and warm, and the fuel is so much lower than my old house, “she says. “I’m so grateful, very grateful.” n

Alex ice fishes with his children. The village residents live a subsistence lifestyle.

Alex Beans adjusts the foundation of a new home using a jack.

Agnes Brown lived in this 1970s house before her new home was built.

Running Toward

Rural athletes overcome hurdles to win scholarships

By David Herder

Dannika Goss has always wanted to play collegiate volleyball. Life put many challenges along her way to that goal. She honed her vision, reactions and other skills to fulfill her athletic potential. She also put in thousands of miles of drive time, traveling more than an hour from her rural home along the Oregon Coast in Tillamook to practice and play with her club volleyball team in Salem. She spent her high school years attending camps and tournaments where she was one of hundreds of athletes evaluated by college coaches.

Each year, thousands of studentathletes across the country pursue college scholarships. Ultimately, only 1 of every 50 is likely to reach that level, according to a 2021 study by Next College Student Athlete. That bar can be even tougher to clear for athletes like Dannika, who live in rural areas where getting the attention of major programs can be more difficult.

For rural athletes like Dannika, winning a spot on a college roster takes more than just the talent and commitment to be a high-level athlete—it also takes a second job as a communicator and organizer, working just to be seen.

Club commitments

Dannika, a member of the Tillamook High School class of 2024, started playing volleyball in kindergarten. In fourth grade, she was excited because the players were now old enough to use a full-sized volleyball, and she joined the local club team, Tillamook Volleyball Club.

Club sports can be important to athletes’ development. School teams play in the fall, winter or spring, but club teams keep athletes in shape and improving throughout the year. Beyond gym and coaching access, clubs can also

switched to play with North Pacific Juniors, a club based in Salem, Oregon. That NPJ coaching staff included Haley Domeck, who is now the head coach at Linfield University, a Division III school in McMinnville, Oregon. While Haley coached the age group above Dannika’s at NPJ, she watched Dannika improve.

“She is one of the nicest human beings I have ever met in my entire life,” Haley says. “Coming from Tillamook to Salem was no small commitment on her end or her family’s end.”

Haley, who played volleyball at Hawaii Pacific University and graduated in 2015, says playing club sports is a great way to improve and get noticed.

“It’s not about what club you play for, it’s more so about getting touches on the volleyball,” she says.

These touches don’t necessarily have to come from club sports, but it’s important for athletes’ growth to be in the gym working on conditioning or finding other ways to play and improve.

When playing at the club level, an

I was just doing multiple things as much as I possibly could to get my name out there, because I am from a very small town here in Tillamook.

— Dannika Goss, college volleyball player

Toward the Future

advantage beyond practice is traveling to large tournaments. In her role as Linfield coach, Haley often attends these tournaments to scout talent. While sports like track or swimming can recruit athletes based on their times, and some more dynamic sports like baseball can recruit pitchers based on measurables like pitch speed and ball rotation, volleyball is more difficult to measure and requires the eye test.

“One of my rules as a coach is I have to see somebody play live in order to make them an offer,” Haley says, “because there’s things that you pick up on in person that you don’t see on film.”

Club tournaments can be large. There can be 200 courts running with four teams

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MARK GILLILAND

Max Hannum, left, will play football at Montana State this fall. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX HANNUM

per court and 12 athletes per team. With thousands of athletes competing at once, these tournaments help coaches maximize the number of players they can see.

“It’s quite a recruiting beast,” Haley says.

Not every sport has clubs helping athletes improve during the high school offseason, but most sports have camps and showcases that help recruits get seen by coaches. Max Hannum, a football player in the class of 2024 from Thompson Falls, Montana, took part in camps operated by college teams from around the state. Typically, he’d travel two to four hours each way.

knowledge and more drills he could use throughout the year to improve. The camps also let him get to know the coaches, and the coaches got to know him.

Persistence pays off

Max wasn’t only meeting coaches in person at the camps—he often reached out electronically, too. The internet helps make

sent him game film to review through a website called Hudl. Operating somewhat like a sports version of YouTube, Hudl is a website and app where teams and athletes post game film and highlights. While reviewing his team’s film, Max would highlight his best plays and edit his own highlight reel. He’d then share the highlights on Twitter or send them directly to coaches.

I felt like all the work I put in finally paid off.

Getting your name out there is the biggest thing.

— Max Hannum, football player from Thompson Falls, Montana

“I had to travel a lot for those camps,” he says. “Going to the camps is really the only extra football you can do around here.”

Max says these camps made a huge impact on his football career. Working with coaches, he took his techniques as a tight end and linebacker to a higher level. He says collegiate coaches had extra

the world smaller, and sharing highlight tapes allows rural athletes like Max and Dannika to be seen by coaches who don’t have the time to travel to see them play. This skill of sharing one’s story has helped many athletes find homes on college rosters.

“Getting your name out there is the biggest thing,” Max says.

During football season, Max’s coaches

“My approach was just to send my highlight films everywhere, trying to get in contact with as many coaches as I could,” he says.

While that shotgun approach could have lead to more rejections from coaches, that didn’t bother Max.

“It motivated me at the same time just to get better,” he says.

Dannika Goss, here with her family, will pursue a nursing degree while playing volleyball at Linfield University.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNIKA GOSS

Even as a coach whose email inbox can get stuffed with messages from recruits, Haley agrees that athletes should reach out to coaches they’d like to play for. If an athlete doesn’t hear back, they should be persistent.

“It’s not fun hearing no, but at least you know where you stand,” she says. “If you are, for lack of a better term, annoying, or if you’re persistent, we’re going to respond to you at some point. There’s lots of things going on.”

Fulfilling the dream

Dannika tried many methods to get recruited. She attended showcases at colleges and the one hosted by her club team. She also used an app called SportsRecruits, which connects recruits and coaches and lets athletes post videos and highlights for coaches to scout.

“I was just doing multiple things as much as I possibly could to get my name out there, because I am from a very small town here in Tillamook,” Dannika says.

Max’s moonlighting as a video editor helped keep him in contact with coaches. After narrowing the list down to fit with his academic pursuits—he intends to study construction management, with an eye on the energy industry—the staff he was in the heaviest conversation with was at Montana Technological University in Butte, Montana. This fall, when he was attending the school’s football camp, the Montana Tech coaches offered him a scholarship.

“I felt like all the work I put in finally paid off,” Max says. “I’ve always wanted to be a collegiate football player. That’s always been my dream. I grew up with a bunch of friends that had this same goal, and not a lot of them reached it.”

For Dannika, being recruited by multiple schools was fun but also stressful.

“I didn’t want to let any of the coaches down or anything, because I wasn’t fully committing yet,” she says.

Dannika signed on to play for Haley at Linfield University. Strong academics were a major factor. Dannika wants to be a pediatric nurse, and Linfield has a strong nursing program. A high point of her campus visit was talking with an anatomy and physiology professor and touring the school’s cadaver lab.

After a long effort trying to get noticed by schools, she will pursue her dreams both on and off the volleyball court. “I’m super excited to go there in the fall,” she says. n

Scoring a Scholarship

By Sara Patterson

1. Know your skill level—find camps, clinics and clubs—and NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements found on their websites.

2. Compile an athletic resume with:

• Skills video

• Athletic stats

• Academic transcripts, ACT/SAT scores

• Extracurricular activities

3. Start emailing coaches.

• Include your athletic resume, especially your skills video.

• Subject line should include: name, current grade level, position and key stat. “Jane Doe, high school sophomore, pitcher, 90 mph fastball.”

• Individually craft each email, clearly stating why you’re interested in that program.

4. Make campus visits and line up meetings with coaches. Keep sending updated stats.

5. Lock down your offer and negotiate your amount. If a program can’t budget for a huge athletic scholarship, don’t discount merit-based, academic or other types.

To help get noticed, Max sent his highlight tapes to any coach he was interested in playing for. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX HANNUM

Savor the Sea WITH TASTY SHRIMP DISHES

Shrimp Scampi

Vegetable oil

1 tablespoon plus 11/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

1 pound linguine

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

1/2 lemon, zest grated

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine. Cook to al dente.

Meanwhile, in another large, heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over mediumlow heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Add the shrimp, 11/2 teaspoons of salt and pepper.

Saute, stirring often, until the shrimp turn pink, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce. Toss well and serve.

Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway

ADOBE STOCK

PHOTO BY CWP, LLC/STOCKSY

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp

4 slices bacon, diced into 1/2-inch pieces

2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced, light and dark green parts divided

1 stalk celery, finely diced

Grits

4 cups whole milk

¾ teaspoon salt

1 cup quick-cooking grits

1 small red bell pepper, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken broth

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon hot sauce

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 7 minutes. Add the shrimp to the skillet, and sprinkle with the Cajun seasoning and salt. Increase the heat to mediumhigh. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are mostly pink but not quite cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and bacon mixture to a bowl, and set aside. Place the skillet back on the heat. Do not wash it.

Melt the butter in the skillet. Add the light green scallions, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, and mix until incorporated. Whisk in the chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Set it aside while you make the grits. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, bring the milk and salt to a boil. Whisking constantly, slowly pour the grits into the bubbling milk. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer, whisking often, until the grits become thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. Stir continuously to prevent sputtering.

Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the cheese. Taste. Adjust the salt, if necessary. Remove the pan from the heat. Cover with a lid to keep warm until ready to serve. Place the skillet with the vegetable/sauce mixture back on the stove. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Return the shrimp and bacon, along with any juices that collected in the bowl, to the skillet. Mix well. Cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle dark green scallions over the shrimp.

Honey Garlic Shrimp

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger

1 pound medium uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 teaspoons olive oil

Green onion, chopped

In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, garlic and ginger to make a marinade/sauce.

Place shrimp in a large sealable container or zipped-top bag. Pour half of the marinade on top. Shake or stir, then marinate the shrimp in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or up to 12 hours. Cover and refrigerate the remaining sauce.

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place shrimp in the skillet. Discard used marinade.

Cook shrimp on one side until pink, about 45 seconds, then flip shrimp over. Pour in remaining marinade/sauce and cook it all until shrimp is cooked through, about 1-2 more minutes.

Serve shrimp with cooked marinade sauce. Garnish with green onions.

Thai Shrimp Curry With Jasmine Rice

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced

1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts

2 cloves garlic, minced

21/2 tablespoons Thai green curry paste

14-ounce can coconut milk

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tablespoons lime juice

Lime wedges for serving 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 3 minutes.

Add the scallions, garlic and green curry paste. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.

Add the coconut milk, water, fish sauce and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil. Add the shrimp. Cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are pink and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in the lime juice, and sprinkle with the cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Serve with jasmine rice.

READER EXCHANGE

Books/Magazines

I am looking for a copy of the April 1978 Oregon Times magazine. I can find other issues but not this one. Thank you in advance.

Marlene McCormack P.O. Box 1472 Sisters, OR 97759

Please send Catherine Cookson books. I don’t have any more by her, and she is my favorite author.

Marsha Holeik

16637 William Foss Road La Pine, OR 97739

Crafts/Hobbies

Looking for jewelry—broken or otherwise, beads (no seed beads or children’s plastic) and macrame supplies to keep busy crafting to sell for my medical copays. I may not be able to send thank yous in the mail but will email if you include your information. Thank you for your consideration.

L. Thomas P.O. Box 421 Ocean Shores, WA 98569

Does anyone want new or used T-shirt hem remnants? They vary in size, color and wear. You pay for postage.

Elaine Fuchigami

8252 NW Oxbow Drive

Corvallis, OR 97330-2835 lareifu@gmail.com

Milestones

My mom’s very good friend and next-door neighbor turns 86 years old in September. As a present to Trudi, my mom and I wish to have Ruralite readers surprise her with many cards to celebrate her special day. Trudi has been a helpful friend to my mom. They have known each other for 20 years and talk on the phone almost every day. Please help us give Trudi a deserving birthday present by sending your cards to Trudi Engen, P.O. Box 239, Pilot Rock, OR 97868. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Ron Kopp Condon, Oregon

My lovely mother turns 90 years old in early September. She has been a lifelong volunteer and still volunteers at the Fossil Museum two days a week through the summer. It would be great to surprise her with lots of birthday wishes! Please send wishes to Darlene Alexander, P.O. Box 141, Fossil, OR 97830.

Randi Fitch

Trout Lake, Washington

If you stopped by the Vida Cafe from 1979-94 my mom probably waited on you, cooked your meal or baked your piece of pie from scratch. Gracie “Leo” Brown enjoyed visiting with all the customers and would love to get a birthday card from you when she turns 90 years old at the end of September. Leo Bean moved to Finn Rock from Arkansas when she was 8 years old and attended McKenzie schools. After she married logger Sonny Brown, they moved to Vida to raise their family. Of course, she enjoys getting mail. Please send her birthday greeting to Gracie “Leo” Brown, Rawlin at River Bend, 3491 Game Farm Road, Unit 213, Springfield, OR 97477.

Wanda McClure

McKenzie Bridge, Oregon

Odds

I have been unable to find blades for my Fiskars 12" aluminum cut rail paper trimmer. I like it because I am blind in my right eye, and it’s easier to see lines. Please reach out if you can help. Thank you.

Jean Stewart

2657 Greyfox Drive

Sutherlin, OR 97479

Thanks

A few months ago, I asked for wooden thread spools for a friend who carves faces into them. The response was overwhelming. Ruralite readers sent more than 200 and they are still coming. He has all he can use for the rest of his life. Please, cease and desist. I can’t believe how many wooden spools are still in existence. Thank you for the response. You are the absolute best.

Barbara Cadwell

The Dalles, Oregon

Thank you to all the generous people who sent their beautiful fabric remnants for my granddaughter and I to use for our sewing projects. We were truly overwhelmed and will be able to continue with our sewing projects for many days to come.

Diane Sauer Sunriver, Oregon

Submitting Requests Is Free

Send your request—with no attachments—to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange. Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates. Submissions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and as space allows. We cannot honor every request.

Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information.

We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad. Marketplace pricing applies.

When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone.

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Request must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.

The

Although tremendous strides have been made in

those cost reductions have not been passed on to

See the effects of extreme temperatures in

Death Valley

What Is It?

Straddling the border of California and Nevada, Death Valley is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. Unique geological features create the hot, dry climate, but life finds a way to thrive in the valley.

Why so Dry?

Rain shadows help prevent moisture from reaching Death Valley. When wet clouds over the Pacific Ocean travel east toward the valley, they must first pass over four mountain ranges. The clouds rise, making the moisture cool and condense, causing rain to fall. This successively happens, and an average of just 2 inches of rainfall a year lands on the valley.

Why so Hot?

Death Valley has low elevation— almost 300 feet below sea level— and is bowled in by mountains on all sides. When the desert floor heats up, the warm air rises but is trapped by the mountains and moves back to the valley floor. Despite this, winters in the valley can reach freezing temperatures, as the desert doesn’t retain heat as well as other biomes.

What to Do?

Death Valley can be great for a fall or winter road trip, when you won’t need to max out the air conditioner. Badwater Road is one of the most popular paths, takes about 90 minutes to drive and showcases the lowest point in the valley, as well as other viewpoints. Another popular spot is Zabriskie Point, a vista from which visitors can look over the badlands.

More Information

Death Valley is experiencing one of the hottest summers on record—it reached 127 F this July. Fall, winter and spring trips are much more popular. To start planning your trip, call 760-786-3200 or go online and visit www.nps.gov/deva.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY MENGCHAO

In the Autumn of My Life

By Dave LaBelle

I remember photographing an elderly man leaning on a hoe while working in his garden. Watching him through a telephoto lens, I was curious what he was thinking. I may have asked him, but I don’t remember. Later, as I looked at the photograph, I wondered what his life had been like.

What were his dreams or regrets?

Then a year or so later, I was assigned to photograph a philosopher who was in town to speak. He was staying at a luxurious inn. Arriving early, as is my habit, I noticed a man walking slowly down a tree-lined driveway, his hands behind his back. Unnoticed, I stopped and

made a few photographs before approaching him.

I asked him about his morning stroll.

“I take long walks alone,” he answered. “I ask intelligent questions and get intelligent answers.” Then he added, “But my best thoughts usually come to me when I am on the toilet and have nothing else to do.”

Fifty-five years later, I see myself in the posture of both aging men. Either image could be a self-portrait of sorts, of me contemplating life now.

I have often seen glimpses of myself in others, for good and bad. In a quiet, subtle way, I think I have photographed others to express what I was experiencing. In telling their story, I was telling my own.

Someone once wrote and said they had watched my daily newspaper photos for years and felt they knew me. I hadn’t thought much about that before, but reasoned there was some truth in their observation. No doubt those who follow this column or read my blog can say with some accuracy, they know me. The subjects I choose, the personal things I share— they are doors into my life and heart. I feel the same about some authors or sports announcers.

There was a period in my young life when I felt alone and hopeless. I photographed

Reader Challenge

Make a picture that expresses where you are in your life’s journey. Maybe it is something that reveals what you believe or how you see yourself? Or perhaps, like me, it’s something or someone you aspire to be like. This is a tough assignment but one worth trying.

Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.

many sad and lonely people, transients and those who had lost loved ones. I think I was crying in my camera, silently asking for help through my photographs.

I believe most of us ask ourselves why we are here on this earth and what plan or purpose we serve. Now, at 73, I have come to realize one of the talents my creator has blessed me with is the gift to give others a voice while serving as a mirror to show others themselves, especially their beauty and value. n

Renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.

NIKON F2, 300mm lens Tri-X film at ASA 400, f/4.5 at 1/250

This quiet moment captured on film reflects the thoughtful feelings of the photographer. PHOTO BY DAVE LABELLE

Praise for DiamondAura®

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How to Win at Love

A classic tennis bracelet serves up over 10 carats of sparkle for a guaranteed win

It was the jewelry piece that made the world stop and take notice. In the middle of a long volley during the big American tennis tournament, the chic blonde athlete had to stop play because her delicate diamond bracelet had broken and she had to nd it. e tennis star recovered her beloved bracelet, but the world would never be the same.

From that moment on, the tennis bracelet has been on the lips and on the wrists of women in the know. Once called eternity bracelets, these bands of diamonds were known from then on as tennis bracelets, and remain the hot ticket item with jewelers.

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MARKETPLACE

Agriculture

4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1224

Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft.). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 43 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712.

2024 grass hay. 50 to 60 small square bales. Very good quality. 24760 Hwy. 101 South, Cloverdale. Call 503-812-2313 or 503-812-6539.

Antiques and Collectibles

Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, 503-310-3321 or tjabaughman@yahoo.com. 0924

Antique country store items. 1910-60. Tins, light-up signs, clocks, Coca-Cola, drugstore, soda fountain, barber items, beer sign and much more. Cash. Gregory, 208-301-4246. 0924

WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 1024

Collection of ID license plates from 1920-40. 23 plates, 14 dates. Can text photo, $400 for all. 509-254-1947.

Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Koufax, etc. If interested in buying 1957-73 vintage baseball cards, let’s talk. Jim, 530-283-2826 or 530-394-8668.

Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 1024

Automotive

Rare 1960 Chevy pickup 4x4. Shortbed. Not running now. Text or call 661-713-3377. Leave message. $7K. 0824

Storage space for any RV, vehicle, boat and trailer. 24/7 security and access. Any size, $100 a month. Text Mark for call back, 714-949-6913. 0924

Books, Magazines, Videos

Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. 0924AR

Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad

Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An extended ad of up to 35 words is $50 a month. Contact information is included in the word count. Phone numbers and emails count as one word.

Longer ads may be placed. Contact 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop for pricing information.

Ads are for customers of member co-ops, public utility districts and municipals only. Subscribers and nonmembers may inquire about pricing at 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop.

Ads must be direct and in first person, and are subject to approval and editing.

Closing deadlines (in our office): November issue—Sept. 30, 2024.

If submitting ad by mail, send appropriate payment with your name, address, email, phone number and the name of the electric utility that provides your magazine to: Marketplace, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. Make check or money order payable to Ruralite.

We accept credit card payments for ads submitted by email. Send ad to info@pioneer.coop.

Call 503-357-2105 to pay by credit card.

Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.

Business Opportunities

A great business opportunity in Boardman, OR. A small cafe you can use your imagination in. Frontage view of freeway, quick in and out access. A coffee shop on property for extra income. $1.1M. For more information, call Karen at 541-571-0636. 1024

Quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR, for sale. Inventory and interior store recently updated and refreshed. See ad on Bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $259K. 0924

Community Events

“Start the Story at the End,” Sept. 6-Oct.26 and “Journeys & Convergence,” Sept. 6-28. Art Center East, La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0924

Equipment/Tools

DR multi trimmer, $350. Kubota rototiller. Only 25 hours use. $1,150. 11 push-pull control cables $40-$90 each. FOB Eugene, OR. Ted, 458-910-3727. 1024

Farm Equipment

1965 Ford 3000 Tractor with auger/utility crane, rotary cutter, brush hog and box spreader. Runs. Original operator’s manuals. $4K, OBO. Cottage Grove, OR. 541-942-6837. 0924

Free Items

Free materials—church, government uniting, suppressing “religious liberty,” enforcing National Sunday Law. Be informed. Need mailing address only. TBS, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. tbsmads@yahoo.com; 888-211-1715. 0924AR

Help Wanted

The Cape Blanco Heritage Society needs volunteers at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center and Hughes House for 2024 and 2025. Background checks are required. Free RV hookups are available to volunteers. heritage32@frontier.com; 541-332-0521. 1024

Hobbies, Gifts, Games

Selling United States postage stamp collection. Mint plate blocks and sheets dating back to the 1940s. Photo available. Bob, 541-786-6195 or brown.donna50@gmail.com.

Media

Watch Channel 25 (Southern NV)—on the go— for free on your TV, phone, tablet, computer or ROKU. Visit www.kpvm.tv and stream live today. 775-727-9400. 0924

Your ad could be here in November. See instructions above for details.

Miscellaneous

Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com, 541-815-8906; www.highdesertmemorials.com. 1124

Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast freezing at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. To order: twofisherstuna.com or call 206-799-1082. 1124

Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025, ext. 21. 1224

Pets, Supplies

AKC-registered Irish wolfhounds. Crane, OR. Morning Star Acres, www.morningstaracre.com. Barb, 541-589-2923.

Husky, male. 4 years old. Very gentle. Great with kids. Burntwood, OR. 541-875-4172.

AKC-registered Airedales. Fort Sage Kennels, Patricia Sharp, P.O. Box 246, Doyle, CA 96109. 530-827-2271. 0924

Plants, Garden Supplies

Cactus for sale. Cold/winter hardy. Good for landscaping. Sunnyside/Mabton, WA, area. Local pickup only. 509-391-5546; marybarthlow@gmail.com. 0924

Real Estate

15 off-grid acres at 8,400 ft. near Fort Garland, CO. Great view of CO’s fourth-highest peak. On Person’s Road in Sangre de Cristo Ranches. Piñon trees, year-round access. $52.9K. 541-729-0374. 0924

Buying or selling in Brookings, OR? Call Pat Piper at Century 21 Agate Realty first. Experience. Empathy. Education. Exceptional. 541-251-2152; patpiperbroker@gmail.com. 1024

Christmas Valley, OR. 40 acres with perimeter fence. 36x36 metal building, two carports, 370-ft. deep water well, storage container on chase. Only taking serious offers. 541-536-5776. 0924

Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: Sisters, OR. 40 acres. Price reduced. $1.55M. John Gill, 541-480-9161; johngill@ landandwildlife.com. Land and Wildlife brokerage. 0924

5-acre lots, $30K down and 5% interest. Recreational, beautiful view outside Cherry Creek, NV. Owner finance. Ray Bick, 775-591-0420. 0924

Beautiful custom home on 15 acres w/ stunning panoramic mountain and valley views. Garage, barn. $615K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363, ddwr@ortelco.net. 0924

9956 Beach Drive, Birkenfeld, OR. Looking for a perfect getaway spot, or ever dreamed of living in the woods? Come see this adorable home at Fishhawk Lake. Tucked in the trees, you can relax by the firepit, swing in the hammock or wander to the lake for kayaking. Very open floor plan with primary bedroom and bathroom on the main level. Loft is a nonconforming second bedroom or maybe use as an office. Good storage, including the exterior shed. A quick jaunt to the community rec center, pickleball courts and more. So much to love and see here. Listed at $275K / ML#24220670 Listed by Lea Chitwood, Re/Max Power Pros. 503-730-4554/leachitwood@remax.net.

Irrigon, OR. 3-bd, 2-ba manufactured home on permanent foundation. Huge shop and garage stick-built, unattached. One full city block property. $400K/OBO. 541-922-9675. 0924

2-bd, 2-ba older home in Ely, NV, close to downtown businesses and events, all city utilities, many upgrades, detached garage on ¼-acre lot. 702-493-7581.

First home with 3 decks and second home with 2 decks, carport with 40-ft container, 2 sheds, tack building, mature shade and fruit trees on fenced 2.5 acres. White and Silver Peak mountains. $425K. 775-966-9009.

Recreational Rentals

Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. 541-382-3050; bendcountrycabins@gmail.com.

Recreational Vehicles

Seeking an able-bodied, cheerful, retired individual or couple to help register guests and do fix-its around our small community motel and campground in exchange for apartment accommodations. Building community and ministry through hospitality here at Vantage Riverstone, Vantage, WA. Additional involvement opportunities via RV tenancy at affordable monthly rates. 509-8562800; Vantagedesk@gmail.com. RV rentals, as well as housing available.

Services

Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. Check out our website at dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. LaPine, OR. 0824

Timeshare victims? Call TimeShareBeGone, 800-214-4460. We will get your timeshare legally canceled. A+ BBB, five-star reviews, 16 years experience. 100% money-back guarantee.

We all want delicious, fresh, nourishing food to feed our families. We’ve got pastured pork, corn/soy/GMO-free. Delivery to your door or drop sites. Order at www.rural-roots-ranch.com or text Christy at 541-589-4674. 1224

Situations Wanted

Want to Buy

Wanted: 1967-72 Buick Skylark, GS, Stage 1, GSX. Cars, parts or leads. Or any ’60s or ’70s vehicles. billybibbett@hotmail.com. 1124

Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009 or 971-666-0659. 0824

Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 44 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1024

Wanted: Old 501 Levi’s jeans, jackets w/capital “E” on the red tag. Also, Carhartts with red heart. Good prices. Text photos to 208-255-8030.

Private party looking for muscle car, V8, 2-door, manual transmission preferred. As original as possible, good condition. Willing to pay up for nice car. 1961-62 Chev (348/409), 1964-65 GTO, 1966-67 Nova, 1965-66 Chevelle, 1968-70 Charger/ Cuda. 1962-67 Corvette, 1969 Camaro. Call or text, 503-799-3835.

Eatonville United Methodist Church A Spiritual Base Camp On The Way To Paradise.

Mashell Avenue North P.O. Box 205 Eatonville, WA 98328 360-832-4021

Home: 360-832-4562 Pastor Bernard Preston Ritchea Cell: 361-330-9666

Facebook: Eatonville United Methodist Church of Washington OPEN HEARTS OPEN MINDS OPEN DOORS OPEN TABLE WORSHIP SERVICE BEGINS AT 10:30 a.m.

THE FISH FACTOR

Salmon and other fish influence every decision for lower Snake River dams

Story and photo by Rural Montana Editor Ryan Hall

Protecting adult salmon has been a consideration at the lower Snake River dams since they were built, with a fish ladder included in the construction of each one. Later, juvenile fish protection and mitigation factors were added, helping ensure young and adult salmon can complete their migration and spawning routes.

Not only do thousands of fish use the ladders daily during peak runs, but juvenile fish are bypassed around dams, and spillage and turbine use are optimized to protect young and adult fish. Researchers study thousands of fish each season at the dams.

“We don’t make a decision without considering fish,” said Brian Vorheis, operations project manager for Ice Harbor Lock and Dam.

Lower Granite Lock and Dam is the first dam juvenile fish encounter on the lower Snake River and the last for adult fish. Rob Lustig, the dam’s operations project manager, said upward of a dozen research projects take place there during fish runs.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Idaho Fish and Game, the Nez Perce Tribe, United States Geological Survey and many other agencies send researchers to the facilities at the dam. They measure, weigh and tag adult and juvenile fish to better understand the dams’ impacts on their numbers and how mitigation measures work.

“It is key for research and management,” said Elizabeth Holdren, Lower Granite Lock and Dam supervisory fish biologist.

Juvenile Fish

The dams were built with adult fish migration in mind, primarily steelhead trout and three salmon species: chinook, sockeye and coho. A focus on juveniles was added later, with dam modifications and new programs aimed at aiding their survival.

Paul Ocker, chief of operations and maintenance for the Walla Walla District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the emphasis has shifted to juvenile fish, especially considering recent NOAA biological opinions and the recent court settlement reached by the White House

with two states and four tribes.

That settlement, along with biological opinions calling for increased spill— diverting water away from the powerhouse and either through or over the dam— has resulted in operational changes. The changes from the settlement began with the spring salmon run.

Ocker said the court decisions and environmental groups want all fish to pass the dams without going through the powerhouse.

The powerhouse route has a survival rate of about 90%, with less than 10% of all fish using that route to pass the dams on the lower Snake River. Newer turbines, installed at Ice Harbor Dam, show survival rates of 96% to 98%.

Juvenile fish can avoid the powerhouse in several ways, such as being diverted by fish screens to a bypass channel. Most diverted fish are barged downriver to avoid any other dam downstream.

The Army Corps of Engineers barges millions of fish each year, beginning at Lower Granite Dam and dropping off the fish below Bonneville Dam. Throughout

A barge transports fish through all of the lower Snake River dams in a process that yields a 98% survival rate.

the journey, fresh water from the river is pumped through the holding tank so fish can still olfactory imprint to the river to find their way back as adults, Holdren said. The survival rate for barged fish is about 98%—the highest of all the routes.

Other methods of avoiding the powerhouse include going through a traditional spillway or a removable spillway weir.

Two main elements of the recent settlement agreement are that spillage is prioritized over power production during the salmon runs, and the maximum spillage is based on the total dissolved gas generated in the river because of the dams.

The first element is straightforward. The dams will run one turbine at minimum generation, typically requiring about 10,000 cubic feet per second of water, then spill the rest until they hit the minimum cap in the agreement. At that point, any remaining water can be used to create additional power.

Running water through the powerhouse does not increase the natural total dissolved gas in the river, but spilling does. The water becomes supersaturated due to pressure changes and other factors involved with a massive amount of water dropping a significant distance. Too much gas can cause gas bubble disease—like the bends in human divers—and is often fatal.

Ocker and the other Army Corps biologists have an opinion on what is safe for fish, “but as the Corps of Engineers, we are required to balance what the people need and what the environment needs,” he said.

The device that measures the TDG is between seven-tenths of a mile from the dam at Lower Granite and 3.6 miles downstream from Ice Harbor Dam. On-site biologists and operations officials at the two dams said they could not speculate what the TDG was at the point the spilled water hits the river, but said it is reasonable to expect it to be higher than it would be at the point it is measured.

Another concern with fish using spillways is the pressure change it

introduces. Most salmon prefer to be in the top 20 feet of the water column, but the traditional spillway gates are 53 to 57 feet below the surface. This forces fish to swim to those depths, at pressures of up to 25 pounds per square inch. Once they swim through the gate, they exit the dam down the spillway and to the river below.

“They go from 25 PSI to atmospheric pressure instantly,” Lustig said.

That can have negative impacts on the fish, he said. Those fish can become disoriented and rise to the top of the water column, increasing the likelihood of predation by other fish or birds. Predatory birds, except for endangered raptors, are hazed from the immediate area of the dams by water cannons, gunshot sounds played over speakers and wires stretched across the river.

Fish that pass through the removable spillway weir do not experience much pressure change, but that gate is much more expensive and incapable of allowing higher flows of water through the dam in its normal configuration. The weir is designed to be removed during high flow flood events.

Adult Fish Impacts

New operational changes also impact adult fish returning upriver to spawn. According to Holdren, while the fish ladders have proven effective, the increased spillage and resulting current changes have slowed migration.

Holdren and Ocker said increased spills have caused eddies and disrupted the attraction flow designed to draw fish to the ladders. Each dam has a specific turbine start order so the entrance to the fish ladder features a similar flow to a naturally flowing river and attracts fish to it, regardless of the number of turbines producing power.

“We need attraction for adults,” Holdren said. “The whole powerhouse is operated for attraction.”

“If we spill too much, they can have trouble with finding the ladders,” Ocker said.

Impact of the Dams

Returning fish numbers have fluctuated since the first dam was built. The numbers are determined by a person sitting at a window looking into the fish ladder, counting fish and identifying species.

Chris Peery, fish biologist in the Technical Support Branch of the Army Corps of Engineers, acknowledged the dams have an impact on salmon population, but said it’s primarily on the juvenile side. He doesn’t believe that’s the only determining factor in overall population numbers.

“You can’t say there is no impact from the dams on fish,” Peery said. “The question then becomes, is juvenile survival rate the bottleneck in the salmon population?”

He noted that salmon populations in dammed rivers—and undammed rivers such as the Yukon River—are similar, and show similar ebbs and flows. Juvenile salmon mortality is typically high, regardless of the presence of dams.

“Most fish die in the ocean,” Peery said, noting salmon population numbers can be linked to ocean temperatures and other oceanic conditions.

Another concern is ocean fishing, which is basically unregulated more than 200 miles from shore.

“It’s a free-for-all out there,” Peery said. “Some nations fish 12 months a year, 24/7. For all the efforts on the river trying to produce more salmon, a lot of that is just going out to subsidize ocean fishing.”

He says a NOAA study showed taking out the dams would likely increase salmon adult return populations by about 14%. However, some environmental groups claim dam removal would create a 150% increase.

“I don’t see how you can get to 150% improvement from the data I’ve seen on juvenile survival and adult return survival,” Peery said. “I think there’s some wishful thinking on their part.” n

Used with permission of Rural Montana magazine.

BEFORE YOU GO

Share the Beauty in Your Backyard

City cat, meet country fawn.

When Kim Kauzlarich and her family moved from Portland to White Salmon, Washington, it was an adjustment for the whole family. But Ragnar the cat might have had to endure the biggest change given the wildlife visiting their backyard.

“Both deer and the cat seem to enjoy peacefully watching each other,” Kim says. “Fawns are especially curious about Ragnar and want to play, but being the busy guy that he is, he only has time for a quick meet and greet before moving on with his day.”

To submit your photo, email a JPEG file to photos@pioneer.coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line. Please share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo. n

Casseroles for Cooler Weather

Vegetable Casserole, Pork Tamale Casserole and breakfast casseroles are just a few of the 179 mouth-watering recipes available in Ruralite’s Casseroles booklet. Price is $8, shipping included.

To order by mail, submit with proper payment, cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to Ruralite Cookbooks, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133.

To pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover card or American Express, call 503-357-2105.

To order online, visit www. ruralite.com. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Ragnar meets his new neighbor in White Salmon. PHOTO BY KIM KAUZLARICH

P.O. Box 127

La Pine, OR 97739

www.midstateelectric.coop

info@midstateelectric.coop

541-536-2126 • 800-722-7219

Departments

Member Service ....... Option 3

Engineering ........... Option 4

Marketing Option 5

Operations Option 6

After-Hours Outages and Emergencies: 541-536-2165 or 800-752-5935

OFFICE HOURS

Monday through Thursday

7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Closed Fridays and holidays

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Dick Luebke, Sunriver

Vice President

Ron Cass, La Pine

Secretary/Treasurer

Tanna King, Chemult

Daniel Jansen, Christmas Valley

Garry Journey, Crescent

Steven R. Miles, Fall River

Alan Parks, Fort Rock

Gil Ernst, Gilchrist

Bud Kendall, La Pine

The board meets the fourth Monday of each month at the co-op office.

STAFF

General Manager

James “Jim” Anderson

Engineering Manager

Tom Weller

CFO/Accounting Manager

Jami Steinhauer

Information Services Manager

J.D. Powers

HR and Communications Manager

Sina Streeter

Marketing Manager

Britni Davidson

Operations Manager

Brian Sharr

Attorney

Raymond Kindley

OR-23

Don’t Miss Our Electric Vehicle Tailgate

Electric cooperatives play a critical role in the adoption of electric vehicles. Our mission is to provide reliable, affordable and safe power to our members. With EV use on the rise, we have an exciting opportunity to expand our role from energy providers to supporters of the transportation revolution. As members of Charge—a network of nearly 100 electric cooperatives championing electrification in rural America—we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement.

I am pleased to invite you to the third annual Midstate EV Tailgate Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at our office at 16755 Finley Butte Road, La Pine. This event is a celebration of National Drive Electric Week and provides a glimpse into the future of transportation and energy. Midstate’s electric vehicle programs and events are paid for by our Clean Fuel credits, further promoting sustainability and support for environmental initiatives.

We’re excited to bring our community together to showcase the latest in EV technology. The transportation landscape is evolving rapidly, and EVs are leading this change. This event offers you a chance to see and learn about these incredible advancements driving us toward a more sustainable future.

Here’s what you can look forward to at the event:

• EV showcase. Get an up-close look at a variety of electric vehicles from leading manufacturers. The Central Oregon Rivian Club and Tesla Bend will be on hand to showcase their models.

• Charging solutions and infrastructure. Learn how easy it is to charge an EV at home, at work or on the go using Midstate’s public charging stations.

• Fun and games. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and snacks while you mingle with fellow attendees. You also have the chance to win some exciting prizes and raffles.

Midstate Electric is committed to leading the charge in supporting electric vehicles. We are excited about the opportunities that EVs present—not just for our members, but for our entire community. By embracing EV technology, we are driving toward a future that is not only innovative and efficient but also sustainable and resilient.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 28, and bring your family and friends. We hope to see you there!

Jim Anderson CEO/General Manager

“Charge.”—Unknown