The Fishhawk Lake Reserve and Community in northwest Oregon is contesting a $439,200 penalty from Oregon for allegedly killing over 30,000 fish after draining the reservoir in 2019. The lake, considered state waters, is held back by an earthen dam built along Fishhawk Creek in the 1960s for a private community. A drainpipe through the dam feeds into the creek and eventually the Nehalem River. The homeowners association argues that the state mandated a repair of the drainpipe and was kept informed of the entire process, The Astorian reported. A state investigation blamed the draining for sucking fish through the drainpipe and increased turbidity downstream, dumping sediment and depleting the dissolved oxygen in the water. State biologists estimated of the 30,391 fish that were killed, more than 20,539 were endangered coho salmon.
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