[ geese calling ] TONIGHT ON OREGON FIELD GUIDE: DIAMOND LAKE WAS ALMOST RUINED BY A NON-NATIVE FISH.

WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE EXPENSIVE AND CONTROVERSIAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS WORKING.

AND SEE HOW TRIBES ALONG THE CONTAMINATED COLUMBIA RIVER ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO RESTORE A HEALTHY SALMON POPULATION.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

THEN WE'LL JOIN TEENAGERS SPENDING THEIR SUMMER VACATION DOING BACKBREAKING WORK IN OREGON'S FORESTS.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF OREGON FIELD GUIDE.

I'M YOUR HOST, STEVE AMEN.

THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, WE'VE BEEN TAKING AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF INVASIVE SPECIES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT EVEN ONE NON-NATIVE FISH CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

TAKE DIAMOND LAKE, FOR INSTANCE.

THE INVADER THERE MULTIPLIED, ALMOST DESTROYING THE RAINBOW TROUT POPULATION.

THE EXPERTS CAME UP WITH WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A SOLUTION, BUT IT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

SO TONIGHT, VINCE PATTON TAKES US BACK TO SEE IF IT'S WORKING.

THE STATE'S LARGEST, MOST DRASTIC, AND EXPENSIVE ATTACK EVER WAGED ON AN INVASIVE SPECIES HAPPENED HERE IN THE CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES.

NOW IT IS TIME TO FIND OUT IF THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON.

IS DIAMOND LAKE HEALTHY AGAIN?

SO WE WANT THE FLOAT ON THE TOP BAR.

STATE BIOLOGISTS SPREAD NETS THROUGH THE WATER FOR THE ANNUAL FISH SURVEY.

THERE WE GO.

THIS FISH SURVEY MARKS AN ANNIVERSARY NO ONE WANTS TO CELEBRATE.

IT WAS HALLOWEEN 1992.

WHAT THE BIOLOGISTS DISCOVERED IN THEIR NETS WOULD HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON THE LAKE FOR YEARS TO COME.

IT WAS BASICALLY A HALLOWEEN THAT I WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET.

IT WAS THE SCARIEST THING I EVER SAW.

I REALLY WASN'T SCARED OF THE FISH, I WAS SCARED OF WHAT IT STOOD FOR.

DAVE LOOMIS WAS OUT TO MEASURE DIAMOND LAKE'S RAINBOW TROUT FOR THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.

AND THAT'S WHEN HE FOUND THE NEW FISH, A TUI CHUB.

ONE.

BUT THAT ONE TUI CHUB REPRESENTED OBVIOUSLY SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE CHUB THAT WERE OUT IN THE LAKE, BUT I KNEW FOR SURE THAT DIAMOND LAKE WAS IN TROUBLE.

THE TUI CHUB IS A SMALL MINNOW JUST A FEW INCHES LONG.

LOOMIS IMMEDIATELY BELIEVED THE LAKE'S RAINBOW TROUT DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE.

IT'S NATIVE TO THE KLAMATH BASIN, JUST OVER THE HILL.

SO WHEN IT FINDS A LAKE LIKE DIAMOND LAKE, IT DOES VERY, VERY WELL.

IT'S GOING TO OUT-COMPETE THE TROUT THAT ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE AND GROW ALONGSIDE IT.

WITHIN A FEW YEARS, THE CHUB HAD EATEN ALMOST ALL OF THE FOOD IN THE LAKE.

DIAMOND LAKE SHIFTED VERY QUICKLY FROM A TROUT FISHERY TO A CHUB POPULATION THAT IS NOT A FISHERY.

BY 2001, TENS OF MILLIONS OF CHUB HAD THROWN DIAMOND LAKE OUT OF BALANCE.

THE TUI CHUB HAD BASICALLY GRAZED ALL THE ZOOPLANKTON OUT OF THE LAKE, AND THAT ALLOWED THE ALGAE TO EXPLODE AND BLOOM INTO THESE TOXIC BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS.

THE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS POSED A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT.

THE LAKE HAD TO BE CLOSED TO SWIMMING.

ANGLERS WERE GIVING UP, TOO.

WE WENT FROM AVERAGING OVER 500 TO 600 BOATS A DAY DOWN TO LESS THAN A DOZEN.

IT WAS THAT KIND OF AN IMPACT.

DIAMOND LAKE RESORT MANAGER STEVE KOCH WATCHED BUSINESS WITHER AWAY.

THIRTY PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS.

THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATED A $3.5 MILLION FISHERY DROPPED TO JUST $250,000 A YEAR.

WE WERE HURT DRASTICALLY.

THE VERY FIRST SOLUTION THAT ODFW'S DAVE LOOMIS CONSIDERED WAS ALSO THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL: POISON.

YES, IT'S VERY DRACONIAN, IT'S A VERY MAJOR THING TO DO, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THE IDEA WAS TO SPREAD A CHEMICAL ACROSS THE ENTIRE LAKE AND KILL OFF ALL THE FISH.

THE CHEMICAL TREATMENT WAS ONE THAT WE WERE CONFIDENT COULD GET 100% ERADICATION OF THE CHUB.

IT WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TIME DIAMOND LAKE WAS INTENTIONALLY POISONED.

IN 1954, TUI CHUB RAN AMUCK.

TROUT STARVED.

SPECULATION IS THAT BOTH INVASIONS, THEN AND NOW, CAME FROM THE SAME SOURCE.

Film narrator: SOME ANGLER, IN A MOMENT OF CARELESSNESS, PROBABLY EMPTIED THE REMAINDER OF HIS LIVE BAIT INTO THE WATER.

LITTLE DID HE REALIZE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS THOUGHTLESS ACT.

BACK IN THE '50s, THEY PARTIALLY DRAINED DIAMOND LAKE AND THEN APPLIED A CHEMICAL CALLED ROTENONE.

THE WATER DARKENED AS THE CHEMICAL WAS DISTRIBUTED.

IT WORKED.

EVERY LAST FISH WAS DESTROYED.

THE CHUB WERE GONE.

THEY RESTOCKED WITH TROUT, AND FISHING RETURNED.

THE STATE CONSIDERED THE CHEMICAL TREATMENT A SUCCESS.

LET'S ALL HOPE THAT THE NEED NEVER AGAIN ARISES.

BUT IT DID NOT LAST.

FORTY YEARS LATER, THE CHUB HAD ONCE MORE OVERRUN DIAMOND LAKE.

ROTENONE, AGAIN, WAS THE LEADING OPTION.

Loomis: IN THE CASE OF DIAMOND LAKE, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD A SOLUTION.

AND AGAIN, THE SOLUTION WAS TO WIPE EVERYTHING OUT AND THEN START OVER.

BUT CONSERVATION GROUPS OBJECTED, SO A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY WAS DONE.

OFFICIALS TRIED NETTING FISH TO SEE HOW MANY THEY COULD CAPTURE, BUT NETTING WOULD NOT GET RID OF THE CHUB ENTIRELY.

THERE WAS A FEELING THAT WE HAD TO ELIMINATE THE CHUB FROM THE LAKE IN ORDER TO RETURN THE WATER QUALITY AND THE FISHING.

ODFW REGIONAL MANAGER STEVE DENNEY SAYS IT WASN'T FEASIBLE TO REMOVE ALL THE CHUB BECAUSE THERE WERE NOW 98 MILLION OF THEM.

THE CHOICE WOULD BE CHEMICALS.

IN THE FALL OF 2005, THE FOREST SERVICE STARTED BY REOPENING GATES INSTALLED FOR THE 1954 TREATMENT.

THIS WOULD PARTIALLY DRAIN THE LAKE TO LOWER THE WATER LEVEL BY EIGHT FEET.

ONE YEAR LATER, LABOR DAY 2006, THE ENTIRE LAKE WAS CLOSED FOR THREE DAYS SO WORK CREWS COULD SPREAD THE PESTICIDE.

FIVE HUNDRED FORTY DRUMS OF POWDERED ROTENONE AND 9,000 GALLONS OF LIQUID CHEMICAL WERE LOADED ONTO CUSTOM-BUILT BOATS.

REMEMBER, KEEP THESE THINGS ABSOLUTELY DRY, ALL RIGHT?

YOUR INTAKE PIPES ABSOLUTELY DRY.

A SMALL ARMY PROCEEDED TO CRISSCROSS ALL 3,000 ACRES OF DIAMOND LAKE.

IN DEEP WATERS, THEY INJECTED THE POWDER.

IN SHALLOW WATERS, THEY SPRAYED STREAMS OF THE PESTICIDE ACROSS THE WATER'S SURFACE.

AND IN WETLANDS AND FEEDER STREAMS, CREWS WALKED AND SPRAYED BY HAND.

IT WAS 200 PEOPLE THAT WERE VERY WELL ORGANIZED, AND IT WENT VERY, VERY WELL.

ROTENONE KILLS ANY ANIMALS WITH GILLS, BUT IT WAS CONSIDERED SAFE TO ALL OTHER ANIMALS.

IT TOOK YEARS TO NOT ONLY GET APPROVAL FOR THE TREATMENT BUT TO FIND THE MONEY FOR IT.

IT COST $5 MILLION, PAID FOR FROM TAX DOLLARS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS.

THE ROTENONE KILLED QUICKLY.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHUB BEGAN PILING UP ON SHORE.

THE DEAD TUI CHUB SO OUTNUMBERED TROUT, OFFICIALS SAW IT AS VINDICATION THAT THEIR DRASTIC RECOURSE HAD BEEN NECESSARY.

YOU LOOK AT THIS LAKE NOW COMPARED TO WHAT IT'S BEEN FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS WITH THE POOR WATER QUALITY, AND THEN YOU LOOK OUT HERE AND SEE CLEAN WATER AND PEOPLE FISHING AND THE LAKE COMING BACK.

AS FAR AS WATER QUALITY, IT'S REALLY, REALLY SATISFYING.

THE LAKE DOES LOOK HEALTHY, BUT THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS, WHAT WILL MEASUREMENTS SHOW AS THEY TEST THE WATER, THE INSECTS, AND THE FISH?

THE NETS ARE READY TO COME OUT.

OKAY, WHERE ARE THOSE BIG BOYS?

WILL THEY FIND CHUB OR TROUT?

BIOLOGIST LAURA JACKSON HAS ALWAYS FOUND CHUB IN HER SURVEYS.

YEAH, SCORE!

IT'S A FIRST IN 15 YEARS.

NO CHUB.

Jackson: TO ME, THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING TO HAVE A TRAP NET SET THAT HAS NO CHUB.

ODFW STOCKED 100,000 FINGERLING TROUT EARLY IN THE SUMMER.

NOW IT'S FALL.

THE STATE WANTS TO KNOW IF THEY'VE GROWN.

OKAY, 523.

ONCE ON SHORE, HER TEAM MEASURES THE FISH TO SEE HOW MUCH LARGER THEY ARE.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, MAN, YOU'D HAVE ALMOST A WHOLE BUCKET FULL OF CHUB AND YOU MIGHT HAVE A FEW LITTLE FINGERLINGS, AND THEY WERE SMALL, THEY WERE SKINNY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY KIND OF GROWTH RATE.

SO THIS IS A VERY, VERY BIG CHANGE.

YOU THINK ABOUT THESE FISH WERE PUT IN, IN JUNE, AT ONLY ABOUT 4 INCHES, AND NOW THEY'RE 12 INCHES, SO JUST INCREDIBLE GROWTH.

WITH SUCH HEALTHY FISH AND CLEAR WATER, YOU MIGHT THINK EVERYONE WOULD NOW BE SATISFIED, BUT CONSERVATIONISTS REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT DIAMOND LAKE.

ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE ROTENONE TREATMENT, DIAMOND LAKE WAS NOT TO BE RESTOCKED WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TROUT UNTIL WATER QUALITY WAS ANALYZED.

ROSEBURG LAWYER DIANA WALES IS FRUSTRATED THAT ODFW RESTOCKED AFTER MEASUREMENTS WERE TAKEN BUT BEFORE THOSE NUMBERS WERE ANALYZED.

IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD IN TERMS OF MEASURING THE WATER QUALITY AND THE HEALTH OF THE LAKE.

I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL MODEL.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHY I AM SO DISAPPOINTED THAT IT ISN'T BEING FULLY IMPLEMENTED, BECAUSE IT IS AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT PLAN.

WHAT IT DID CALL FOR IS MEASURING THE BENTHIC ORGANISMS AND THE ZOOPLANKTON BEFORE WE PUT IN THE FIRST FISH, AND WE DID THAT, WE DIDN'T STOCK THE LAKE TILL JUNE.

THERE'S ANOTHER BIG WORRY: HOW TO KEEP CHUB OUT OF THE LAKE IN THE FUTURE.

FOLKS BRING BOATS IN FROM ALL OVER, WHICH COULD CARRY THE INVASIVE CHUB BACK IN FROM NEARBY LAKES.

THE AGENCIES HAVE POSTED WARNING SIGNS AT EVERY BOAT RAMP, EVERY DOCK, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ALSO REQUIRED AT LEAST TWO BOAT-WASHING STATIONS BE SET UP.

A YEAR AFTER TREATMENT, ONLY A TEMPORARY AND LITTLE-USED WASHER SITS AT THE NEARBY GAS STATION.

IT'S MONEY, IT'S LOCATION.

THEY'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE FOREST SERVICE ON LOCATION, YOU KNOW, WHAT TO DO WITH THE WATER THAT COMES OUT OF THE BOAT WASH STATIONS.

ALL THAT STUFF HAS NOT BEEN WORKED OUT YET.

THERE ARE NO PLANS TO MAKE WASHING OR INSPECTIONS MANDATORY BEFORE BOATS ENTER THE LAKE.

Wales: THEY ARE RESISTANT TO DOING THAT.

THEY'RE AFRAID IT WILL OFFEND ANGLERS OR IT WILL TURN ANGLERS OFF.

AND I WOULD THINK THAT RESPONSIBLE ANGLERS WOULD WANT THAT KIND OF THING HAPPENING.

THE CONSERVATIONISTS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO FEAR THAT DIAMOND LAKE REMAINS IN JEOPARDY OF ANOTHER INVASION.

IN FACT, MOST INVOLVED SAY IF BOATERS, ANGLERS, EVERY USER OF THIS LAKE DOES NOT PAY ATTENTION, THE CHUBS' RETURN MAY BE INEVITABLE.

WE THINK IT WILL HELP, BUT OVERALL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO PROBABLY BE RUNNING BY LUCK.

THE REALITY IS THAT AT SOME POINT SOMETHING PROBABLY IS GOING TO PERHAPS GET INTRODUCED INTO THE LAKE, AND THROUGH OUR MONITORING, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET ON IT EARLY.

I'M SCARED.

I'M AS SCARED AS I AM -- AS I WAS ON HALLOWEEN 1992.

DIAMOND LAKE IS THE STORY THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE ON THE TIP OF THEIR TONGUE TO SAY THIS IS WHAT IS A RESULT OF AN UNWANTED INVASIVE SPECIES INTO A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT.

AND BECAUSE INVASIVE SPECIES ARE SUCH A HUGE CONCERN, OPB IS LAUNCHING A MASSIVE PUBLIC ACTION CAMPAIGN NEXT MONTH WITH THE PREMIERE OF THE OREGON FIELD GUIDE SPECIAL THE SILENT INVASION.

IT AIRS ON EARTH DAY, APRIL 22, AT 8:00 PM.

AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES NOW BY GOING TO THE SILENT INVASION WEB SITE AT... CHEMICAL AND HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF FISH IN THE COLUMBIA BASIN IS A SCIENTIFIC FACT, AND A STUDY BY THE OREGON ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL SHOWS A NUMBER OF OREGONIANS ALSO HAVE CONTAMINATED TISSUES IN THEIR BODIES.

JIM NEWMAN SHOWS US SOME OF THE MOST SEVERELY AFFECTED ARE PEOPLE THAT EAT THE MOST FISH FROM THE COLUMBIA BASIN.

THE COLUMBIA DRAINS AN AREA THE SIZE OF FRANCE.

SALMON COME ALL THE WAY INLAND FROM THE OCEAN.

INDIAN TRIBES ALONG THE BANKS DEPEND ON THAT.

Man: WELL, I THINK ON ONE HAND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS OR SO.

THESE DAYS THE COLUMBIA DOES DOUBLE DUTY.

IT DOESN'T JUST FLOW -- IT LIGHTS CITIES, OFFERS ACCESS FOR SHIPPING -- IT MAKES LIFE EASIER.

BUT NOW IT IS SO POLLUTED, THE FISH ARE DANGEROUS TO EAT.

BECAUSE I EAT SALMON AND I KNOW THAT THE WATER QUALITY IN THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE LEVEL OF TOXINS THAT ARE COMING OUT FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES ARE INCREASING, I KNEW THAT I HAD SOME LEVEL... DON SAMPSON IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION.

IN A RECENT OREGON ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL STUDY, SAMPSON'S BODY SHOWED ABNORMALLY HIGH MERCURY AND TOXIC CHEMICAL LEVELS.

MERCURY CAN IMPAIR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN FETUSES.

MERCURY MAY PRODUCE SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS IN ADULTS.

YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO BE SOME LEVEL OF FISH THAT I'M CONSUMING.

TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE EATING TEN TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF FISH, IN PARTICULAR, SALMON, AND SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE AWARE OF TOXINS IN THE ENVIRONMENT, IN THE WATER, IN SALMON.

WE HAVE TO ADVISE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS.

WE ALSO HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

HERE'S A SHUTTERED ALUMINUM PLANT ON THE WASHINGTON SIDE OF THE COLUMBIA.

THE SHORELINE IS INFUSED WITH CANCER-CAUSING PCBs: WASTE PRODUCTS OF PAINT SOLVENTS, LUBRICATING FLUIDS, INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMERS.

FISH IN THE VICINITY TESTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CONTAINED CONCENTRATED LEVELS OF THE CHEMICALS.

THE EPA WARNED CONSUMERS TO EAT LESS COLUMBIA RIVER FISH OR RISK DAMAGE TO THEIR HEALTH.

Man: THE FISH AND NATIVE PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, TO THE RIVER.

IT'S A SPECIES THAT THE CREATOR GAVE TO US AS HUMANS TO HARVEST, AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE HONOR IT.

CLIFFORD SHIPPENTOWER, FISHERMAN, SELLS SOME OF HIS CATCH TO RESTAURANTS AND FISH RETAILERS.

HIS CUSTOMERS IN PORTLAND CAN REDUCE EXPOSURE TO NEUROTOXINS AND CARCINOGENS BY EATING FEWER FISH.

AS AN INDIAN, CLIFFORD SHARES IN A CULTURE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD.

TO AVOID THE FISH WOULD BE TO ABANDON A WAY OF LIFE, TO FORSAKE A SPIRITUAL ACT EQUIVALENT TO HOLY COMMUNION.

EVERY SUNDAY, IN OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEF, WE CONSUME SALMON, AND IT'S DONE DURING THE WEEKDAYS, DURING THESE CEREMONIES.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SAY, "OKAY, LET'S FORGET ALL ABOUT THAT STUFF.

"LET'S FORGET ABOUT OUR RELIGION.

"WE DON'T NEED TO EAT FISH.

LET'S FORGET ABOUT OUR SOCIAL AND FAMILY TIES."

WE CAN'T IGNORE THAT.

IT HAS TO BE DONE.

IT'S PART OF OUR LIFESTYLE.

UMATILLA AND OTHER COLUMBIA RIVER TRIBES HAVE COME TO SEE THEMSELVES AS STEWARDS COMMITTED TO HEALING THE RIVER.

Shippentower: IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO GO OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN SUCH A THING.

THE TASK MAY BE ENORMOUS.

A FEW MILES SOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER, THERE IS A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT.

THE OREGON ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL SAYS THE PLANT REMAINS THE SECOND BIGGEST SOURCE OF MERCURY POLLUTION IN THE STATE.

IN FACT, THE ENTIRE COLUMBIA BASIN HAS BECOME A CATCHMENT CONCENTRATING TOXIC CHEMICALS AND HEAVY METALS.

MERCURY FALLS FROM THE AIR.

PESTICIDES LEACH FROM THE GROUND AND WASH DOWNSTREAM.

THE TOXIC WASTE IS SERVED UP WHEN SOMEONE EATS FISH FROM THE BASIN.

THIS IS FISH THAT WE CAUGHT -- THIS SUMMER?

THIS SPRING.

SPRING.

SPRING CHINOOK.

DID YOU CATCH THE FISH?

YES.

DID YOU CATCH IT?

YES NO, I THINK YOUR UNCLE ROBERT CAUGHT THIS ONE.

HEY!

DINNERTIME AT THE HOME OF K.C.

PICARD AND DIONNE BRONSON.

SIX-AND-A-HALF-YEAR-OLD QUANAH IS ALREADY A VETERAN FISHERMAN.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT OUR FAMILY SURVIVES ON.

MM-HMM.

HUH, CECE?

MM-HMM.

Sampson: THE TRIBE'S CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES DICTATE THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THIS WAY OF LIFE, WE HAVE TO PROTECT SALMON, AND WE HAVE TO RESTORE THE RIVERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

PART OF THAT IS SOCIAL LIFE DAY TO DAY.

A YOUNG MAN HAS HIS FIRST SALMON CEREMONY.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE SALMON TO CATCH -- AND SALMON THAT ARE HEALTHY -- HOW CAN YOU GIVE THAT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY?

SO WITHOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY BREAKS DOWN TRIBAL CULTURE IN VERY PRACTICAL WAYS.

WOULD YOU EVER STOP EATING FISH?

NO.

YES.

YES.

NO.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ADVISE EATING FEWER FISH FROM THE COLUMBIA BASIN.

MANY TRIBAL PEOPLE SEE THE SOLUTION AS WORKING WITH OTHERS TO RID THE RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES OF CONTAMINATION.

WELL, THE CONFLUENCE OF THE UMATILLA RIVER AND MEACHAM CREEK, IT'S A PLACE WHERE SALMON WILL HOLD UP WHEN THEY COME UPSTREAM AND THEN DECIDING KIND OF WHICH WAY THEY'RE GOING TO GO, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN ABUNDANCE OF WHITEFISH HERE AT THE CONFLUENCE, TROUT IN BOTH STREAMS.

THE UMATILLA USED TO RUN DRY AS WATER WAS DIVERTED ONTO FARM FIELDS.

SALMON DISAPPEARED FROM THE RIVER.

BUT THE TRIBE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS WITH AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.

UMATILLA DIRECTOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES ERIC QUAEMPTS SAYS SALMON RUNS IN THE TWO COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES ARE HEALTHY NOW.

IT'S A LARGE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT'S A VERY SATISFYING ONE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE THE MANAGEMENT OF AN AREA WHERE I GREW UP.

IT TAKES TIME, AND SOME OF THESE CHANGES WILL TAKE YEARS, BUT I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN IMPROVE CONDITIONS.

Sampson: THERE WAS IN THE BEGINNING OF TIME A COVENANT, A COMMITMENT BETWEEN OUR PEOPLE AND THE SALMON PEOPLE, THAT AS LONG AS THEY PROVIDED THE NOURISHMENT AND THE FOOD FOR US AND RETURNED YEAR AFTER YEAR TO GIVE US LIFE, THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS PROTECT IT.

AND THEIR HEALTH IS AS IMPORTANT AS OUR HEALTH.

SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT THAT MOST FOLKS DON'T LOOK AT, AND IT'S ONE THAT THE TRIBE HOLDS VERY CLOSELY.

TOXICITY IN THE ENVIRONMENT SEEMS TO BE GROWING, BECOMING HARDER TO AVOID.

SOUNDING THE ALARM, APPLYING POLITICAL PRESSURE MAY BE WAYS TO GET GOVERNMENTS TO SPEND SUFFICIENT MONEY RESTORING THE RIVER.

IF INDIANS SPEARHEAD A SUCCESSFUL CLEANUP, ALL SOCIETY MAY BE THE BENEFICIARY.

TECHNOLOGY MAY ONE DAY HELP CLEAN UP THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN.

IN FACT, ONE SCIENTIST WITH THE OREGON ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL SPECULATES THAT A POLLUTION-EATING BACTERIA MAY BECOME A REALITY.

THROW TEN TEENAGERS TOGETHER, MOST OF THEM FROM THE CITY, TO LIVE AND WORK OUTDOORS FOR SIX STRAIGHT WEEKS.

IT MAY SOUND LIKE A PITCH FOR REALITY TV, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY AN OREGON TRADITION THAT DATES BACK TO 1984.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE JUST HOW GRUELING IT IS WITH VINCE PATTON, WHO CAMPED OUT WITH MEMBERS OF THE NORTHWEST YOUTH CORPS.

[ grunting with exertion ] Woman: NO, THIS ISN'T SUMMER CAMP, FOR SURE.

IT'S DEFINITELY A WORKING SITUATION.

AND SOME KIDS WILL COME IN AND THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FREE TIME, YOU KNOW, HANGING OUT BY THE CAMPFIRE, ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS ALL THE TIME, AND IT'S NOT.

THERE YOU GO, YOU GOT IT.

KEEP IT ROLLING.

GET UNDERNEATH IT.

YOU GUYS LOOK TIRED.

THIS IS DAY TWO.

TEN YOUTHS BEGIN TO GRASP JUST HOW HARD THE NEXT SIX WEEKS ARE GOING TO BE.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO DIG INTO IT, OKAY?

SO COME IN THIS WAY IF YOU CAN.

MELISSA BENNETT IS THE PROJECT LEADER FOR NORTHWEST YOUTH CORPS' ORANGE CREW.

TRAIL WORK WAS WHAT I LOVED THE MOST.

I LOVE THE WAY IT MAKES MY BODY FEEL.

I MEAN, YOU'RE WORKING YOUR HARDEST.

YOU'RE SWINGING TOOLS PROBABLY OVER EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

EVERYONE IS HERE VOLUNTARILY.

CORAL FROM EUGENE IS BACK FOR HER SECOND YEAR.

IT'S AWESOME WHEN YOU GET OUT OF YOUTH CORPS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS ENERGY JUST INSIDE OF YOU.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL.

CAN YOU TURN?

I'M GOOD.

CAL IS FROM CHICAGO.

IT'S ALSO HIS SECOND SUMMER WITH YOUTH CORPS.

I JUST HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CITY, CLEAR MY HEAD, YOU KNOW?

IT WAS A BAD CYCLE I GOT INTO, AND THERE WAS REALLY NO STOPPING IT UNTIL YOU GET OUT OF THE CITY.

[ birds chirping ] THE BIGGEST FISH OUT OF WATER IS BRANDON, FROM DETROIT.

HE'S NEVER SEEN A MOUNTAIN OR COLLECTED WATER FROM A STREAM IN HIS LIFE.

YOU'RE WORKING EIGHT-HOUR DAYS LIKE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, SO THAT'S LIKE A REGULAR JOB -- OF LABOR.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SITTING IN FRONT OF A CASH REGISTER ASKING, "WOULD YOU LIKE ANY FRIES WITH THAT?"

I'M TALKING ABOUT WORKING.

FOR HALF THE SUMMER, THESE TEN YOUNG PEOPLE WORK, EAT, AND SLEEP OUTDOORS IN OREGON WHILE PUSHING THEMSELVES TO THE VERY LIMIT.

ALL RIGHT, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THERE.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

Bennett: IT'S A VERY INTENSE PROGRAM.

YOU CAN'T COME IN FEELING LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO DO A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF WORK.

THEY WILL SPEND ALL OF WEEK NUMBER ONE REPAIRING WASHED-OUT TRAILS IN THE TILLAMOOK FOREST.

MOTIVATING AND EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING THE YOUTH I THINK IS WHAT KEEPS ME COMING BACK.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

Brandon: I'M DOING THIS FOR ME.

I'M YOUNG, I'M 18 YEARS OLD.

I'M AT A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WANT TO GO.

I KNOW I WANT TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL AND GO TO COLLEGE.

THAT'S ALL I KNOW.

IT'S KIND OF COINCIDENTAL TO BE OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE FOR TWO CITY GUYS, TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES.

IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS, THEY'RE STILL STRANGERS THROWN TOGETHER.

MELISSA MUST TEACH THEM TEAMWORK.

WE'RE NEVER GOING SUPER FAST.

THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU FLIP IT OVER YOU HOLD IT DOWN LIKE THIS.

YOU USE PRESSURE TO HOLD IT DOWN.

HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU THINK I'VE DONE THIS?

ENOUGH.

THAT DON'T MEAN -- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I'M JUST SAYING I WANT TO GO SLOW WITH IT, OKAY?

THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE, ALL RIGHT?

Bennett: MY VOICE WAS LOUD.

MY VOICE IS VERY PROMINENT.

BUT AS THE WEEKS GO ON, I DON'T HAVE TO BE THAT ROLE BECAUSE THEY GET THE PROCESS IN WHICH THINGS ARE RUN.

I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE THAT VOICE ANYMORE.

AND IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH THE TRANSFORMATION.

HOW'S IT GOING, BRANDON?

WE LEAVE YOUTH CORPS' ORANGE CREW TWO DAYS INTO ADAPTING TO THEIR NEW ROUTINES... AND WE RETURN FOUR WEEKS LATER.

I HATE THURSDAYS.

I'VE GOT NO MORE CLEAN CLOTHES.

THEY'RE TWO MILES DEEPER INTO THE TILLAMOOK FOREST.

MAN, I'M SWEATING.

STILL CUTTING TRAIL.

[ grunting with exertion ] Cal: I WAKE UP AND I'M SORE, I'M REAL SORE.

IT'S TOUGH TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING.

BUT I FEEL IN BETTER SHAPE, I THINK.

BUT THE TEAM HAS CHANGED.

BRANDON'S GONE.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT JUMPS TO MY MIND.

I DEFINITELY MISS HIM.

BRANDON BROKE ONE TOO MANY RULES.

CAL LOST THE ONE COWORKER WITH WHOM HE HAD SOMETHING IN COMMON.

YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY DIDN'T COME OUT HERE EXPECTING TO MAKE ANY FRIENDS.

WHEN HE LEFT, MAN, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO LIE, I CRIED.

YEP.

AND IT'S BEEN LIKE TEN YEARS SINCE I'VE CRIED, SO THAT WAS TOUGH FOR ME.

COME ON, I GOT MORE DONE THAN YOU.

OH, PLEASE, I GOT ALL OF THIS DONE RIGHT HERE.

PLEASE, LOOK AT THIS.

ALL THAT IS GONE.

THEY KNOW EACH OTHER MUCH BETTER NOW.

THEY'VE ENTERED A BICKERING PHASE.

MELISSA SAYS THAT'S COMMON.

Bennett: ALL FAMILIES HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE SPICE AND HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE ISSUES, AND THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT WE GO THROUGH HERE.

Cal: I WOULD LOOK AT THEM AS A FAMILY, I GUESS.

WE GOT TO BE, YOU KNOW?

WHO ELSE DO YOU HAVE OUT HERE?

BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, EVERYONE SAYS THEY'RE JUST PLAIN POOPED.

Coral: WE'RE EXHAUSTED, WE KIND OF GET TIRED OF THE SAME WORK OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND YOUR JUST WHOLE BODY ACHES.

TWO WEEKS TO GO.

BY THE VERY LAST DAY IN CAMP, SIMMERING TENSIONS HAVE TURNED INTO GOOD-NATURED BUT STILL OPINIONATED DEBATES.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH SPAGHETTI?

WE'RE MAKING SPAGHETTI.

WE'RE NOT DOING SPAGHETTI!

YEAH, THEY'RE DOING THEIR BICKERING AND ARGUING, BUT THAT'S TOTALLY NORMAL.

THAT'S WHAT OUR LITTLE FAMILY DOES.

BUT THEY ALWAYS ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.

TASTES WONDERFUL.

SPAGHETTI AND GRILLED CHEESE IT IS, THEIR LAST DINNER ON THEIR LAST NIGHT AFTER SIX WEEKS OF ROUGHING IT.

THESE GUYS ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO HOLD PLACES IN MY HEART.

THEIR YOUTH CORPS EXPERIENCE ENDS WITH SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T HAD TILL NOW: A RARE NIGHT TO RELAX AND RELISH THE END OF JOBS WELL DONE.

Coral: I JUST THINK, LIKE, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WALK ON THE TRAILS THAT I'VE BUILT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE, "MAN, THIS IS A NICE TRAIL," AND I BUILT THAT.

THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT -- WHERE I WOULD BE IF I DIDN'T COME OUT HERE OR DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR MYSELF AND TAKE A BIGGER STEP TO GET AWAY AND JUST COMPLETELY 180 MYSELF IN A BETTER DIRECTION.

Coral: AND I KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHERE I GO, THERE'S A POTENTIAL I CAN TRUST PEOPLE AND I CAN GET THINGS DONE AND I KNOW THAT I CAN DO INCREDIBLE THINGS IN THE WORLD, AND I'M GOING TO ENJOY IT.

THE YOUTH CORPS DOES HAVE WORK AVAILABLE TO KIDS RANGING IN AGE FROM 14 TO 19 YEARS OLD.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, WE HAVE A LINK SET UP ON OUR WEB SITE.

AND THAT'S IT FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF OREGON FIELD GUIDE.

YOU CAN VIEW THIS WEEK'S STORIES AGAIN BY GOING ONLINE AT opb.org/fieldguide.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, YOU CAN ALSO DROP US A LINE AT... AND UNTIL NEXT WEEK, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

Captions by LNS Captioning Portland, Oregon www.LNScaptioning.com