I second that last post - the direct effects on the salmon's habitat are obvious, it is the secondary effects from these ROR projects upstream that are numerous and complicated:
Sediment is quickly dropped at the top of the ROR when the majority of water is diverted - but when the clear water rejoins the river, its ability to pick up sediment has increased. These projects will cause accelerated erosion in the downstream areas - wait - isn't that where everyone builds their houses?
Coarse particulate organic matter (leaves, etc) is screened off at the top of the ROR, meaning the bugs that would be in the stream feeding are no longer there. Then downstream, there is not enough fine particulate matter, or bugs, to feed other bugs, which is what the salmon eat. This reduces the amount of food for all species in the system, which then reduces food for me
We should not assume to know so much that we can disturb such a complicated thing as an ecosystem. We are just ignorant pawns in a championship chess game....
Please just create conversations about the dangers of ROR projects and salmon farms with everyone you know - otherwise noone knows that we care.
Catch and release -- into my frying pan.