Restoration for the tui chub
A Diamond Lake restoration project is planned to eliminate the invasive species tui chub (Diamond Lake Restoration Project, Umpqua National Forest, Douglas County, OR. (2003, April 25)). Its proposed actions include lowering the water level to add chemicals to the river, trapping and harvesting the fish, and restocking the lake with fish species that are good for the environment (Diamond Lake Restoration Project, Umpqua National Forest, Douglas County, OR. (2003, April 25)). A research paper was published on the efforts to remove tui chub, which started by trapping and harvesting the fish before the chemical rotenone was added to finish off the populations (Eradication of an invasive cyprinid (Gila bicolor) to achieve water quality goals in Diamond Lake, Oregon (USA). (2011, July 22)). One hundred tons of tui chub were removed, with 78,000 trout stocked in its place (Diamond Lake ecosystem recovering. (2020, January 31)). Results from the research showed noticeably improved water quality, including improved pH and temperature, which met the water quality standards (Diamond Lake ecosystem recovering. (2020, January 31)); (Eradication of an invasive cyprinid (Gila bicolor) to achieve water quality goals in Diamond Lake, Oregon (USA). (2011, July 22)). Cyanobacteria blooms were also reduced due to their removal since they relied on zooplankton for their food.

River appreciation
The Umpqua watershed is a scenic tourist attraction that locals celebrate as part of its River Appreciation days to bring awareness to its declining water quality. A wildfire at Archie Creek impacted the Umpqua watershed by destroying parts of the old growth forest, 100,000 acres of land, and a fish hatchery (Restoration and Reflection in the Umpqua Watershed. (2022, August 1)). The fire resulted from Labor Day fireworks. The US Forest Service, alongside the River Network and community volunteers were able to restore the burnt areas by planting trees, removing invasive species, and maintaining trails (Restoration and Reflection in the Umpqua Watershed. (2022, August 1)). A lawsuit was filed against PacifiCorp for negligence, with 200 families being affected by the wildfires (PacifiCorp wildfire lawsuit: New filings provide look at possible causes of Labor Day fires. (2021, October 30)). While fish populations were affected shortly after the fire, researchers at OSU observed an increase in trout populations years after the fire, even with water temperatures being warmer than before (Some Oregon trout withstand rising water temperatures, study finds. (2022, December 27)).

Algal blooms
Cyanobacteria is common within still parts of water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and streams. It prefers to grow in windless conditions during the warmer months of the year and can cause numerous health issues for humans and animals when ingested (Algae has Diamond Lake at a standstill. (2003, July 18)). During the summer of 2016, a health advisory was sent to warn residents of cyanobacteria blooms in the South Umpqua River (Officials issue health advisory for South Umpqua River. (2016, July 27)). Dogs are especially vulnerable to these blooms, and a few have died from its toxins after warnings of algal blooms were given (Two more dogs die from blue-green algae in South Umpqua River. (2011, August 17); (Toxic algae warning remains in effect. (2011, August 16); (Oregon Public Health Division issues advisory for Diamond Lake. (2011, July 29)). These algal blooms are difficult to maintain and have occurred in many parts of Douglas County, including a massive bloom in Diamond Lake (Water Quality Effects of Blue-Green Algal Blooms in Diamond Lake, Oregon. (2004, January)). Diamond Lake was put on the Oregon 303(d) list for impaired water bodies, part of which the cyanobacteria was responsible for (Water Quality Effects of Blue-Green Algal Blooms in Diamond Lake, Oregon. (2004, January)). Researchers observed that the algal blooms resulted from cultural eutrophication, which includes sewage dumping, fertilizer runoff, and additional inputs of Phosphorus from the shoreline’s development (Water Quality Effects of Blue-Green Algal Blooms in Diamond Lake, Oregon. (2004, January)). 

Aging pipelines
Pipeline breaks can result from old pipes, an overwhelming amount of pressure, and clogging from debris. In 2014, the city of Reedsport had its main water line rupture, leaving thousands with an advisory for water shortage (Ore. coastal city repairing major water line break. (2014, November 28)). In 2022, three separate incidents of pipelines leaking or breaking occurred. Two pipeline breaks occurred in the city of Reedsport. The first occurred on Elm Avenue on private property, resulting in the whole neighborhood in a water outage until its repair (Water line break in Reedsport causes intermittent outages. (2022, June 14)). Another pipeline break followed by a power outage occurred just a few weeks later in Reedsport, this time in another residential area in Winchester Bay (Water line break in Winchester Bay at Sunset Drive. (2022, June 29)). Whether these instances are coincidental or not is undisclosed by the articles. Most recently, a water pipeline broke at Yoncalla City, resulting in hundreds of residents resorting to bottled water (Yoncalla residents without water after water line burst, restoration in progress. (2022, September 30)). Leaving a 60-foot crater in its place, the pipeline took a few days to fix, after which locals were highly recommended to boil the water until October 7, when the water met all standards for safe human consumption (Yoncalla residents without water after water line burst, restoration in progress. (2022, September 30)); (Yoncalla water no longer needs to be boiled for consumption, city administrator says. (2922, October 7)).

Aging sewers
The Umpqua river had 50,000 gallons of raw sewage dumped after an old sewage pipe broke (50,000 gallons of sewage flood Umpqua River. (2012, October 11)). A new line to Reedsport is needed to continue transporting sewage to the treatment plant, which has broken more than once prior. Until then, the sewage is being pumped into an abandoned water line that goes underneath the Umpqua river (50,000 gallons of sewage flood Umpqua River. (2012, October 11)). Alex Manderson, a shell fish specialist for ODA, says that extra spillage is said not to be affecting the fish inside of the river, although oyster farmers should avoid harvesting for at least a few days (50,000 gallons of sewage flood Umpqua River. (2012, October 11)). 

Aging dams
Douglas County owns and operates two dams, the Berry Creek Dam and the Galesville Dam (Douglas County Dams and You, 2023). These dams create recreational reservoirs as well as domestic and industrial water sources and habitats for fish populations (Douglas County Dams and You, 2023). The Galesville Dam is also a hydroelectric dam, and it is licensed to produce and distribute electricity (Douglas County Dams and You, 2023). They are classified under Oregon regulations as high-hazard dams because of their potential to cause loss of life and serious damage to prominent infrastructure should they fail (Douglas County Dams and You, 2023).

There are many more privately owned dams on the Umpqua River. Notably, the Winchester Dam, which is located near Roseburg on the North Umpqua River, was built in 1890 and is now part of the National Register of Historic Places because of its age of 133 years (ODFW, 2023). It was originally built to provide water and electricity for Roseburg, but it has not done so since 1923.

Dams impact on fish species
The Umpqua River is home to a variety of fish species, such as spring and fall Chinook, summer and winter steelhead, cutthroat trout, Pacific Lamprey, and Coho salmon. Unfortunately, the dams negatively affect all of these species, especially the Winchester Dam. Built in 1890, Oregon’s oldest hydropower dam, located in Winchester, Oregon, has been unused since 1964 (Federal judge extends stay in case over Winchester Dam repairs. (2022, August 25)). The dam has a fish ladder that is supposed to help salmon cross to the other side. However, the ladder has been observed to be difficult to access by the fish (Fishing, environmental groups file suit in Eugene over Umpqua River dam. (2020, November 11). Additionally, the ladder's design causes many fish to fall off the ledge to a 15ft drop, which they do not survive. As a result, activists are calling for the dam's removal to preserve these fish species. After many attempts to upgrade the dam, the Winchester Water Control District is being sued by conservationists and fishing groups, including the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (Fishing, environmental groups file suit in Eugene over the Umpqua River dam. (2020, November 11)); (Conservationist groups sue over operation of Winchester Dam. (2020, November 12)); (Federal judge extends stay in case over Winchester Dam repairs. (2022, August 25)).

Dam impacts on drinking water
In 2018, the Winchester Water District responded to an emergency repair request from the Oregon Water Resource's Dam Safety Division by hiring their own company to fill a hole with green cement (Madden. A, 2022). This caused the water to become polluted and and killed many fish (Water Watch, 2023). It also affected 40,000 customers' drinking water (Fishing, environmental groups file suit in Eugene over the Umpqua River dam. (2020, November 11)). The Water District has rejected offers from the Oregon Water Watch to remove the dam at no cost to themselves, likely because that would impact their property values. They were fined $58,378 by the Department of Environmental Quality for "violating state water quality standards and causing pollution, killing fish and other aquatic species." But even so, they pushed back on that decision claiming that they should not be held responsible despite their failure to obtain proper permits to complete the repair (Madden. A, 2022).

Drought
Douglas County was declared one of the 36 counties in Oregon to be in drought in 2022 (A desperate water-supply situation. (2015, Fall)); (Governor declares drought in Douglas County; 15 of Oregon's 36 counties on the list (2022, May)). Low water flow levels result from reduced snow packs (Governor declares drought in Douglas County; 15 of Oregon's 36 counties on the list (2022, May)). This low flow jeopardizes agriculture, tourist sites, and fish living in the affected water bodies (A desperate water-supply situation. (2015, Fall)). Climate change is a major factor in drought-related issues, with many ecologists focusing on future flows and preventing the loss of snow packs in future years (Roseburg Water Symposium "Protecting the Headwaters in an Extreme Climate." (2019, September 5)). The drought conditions have increased the temperature of the water bodies affected and reduced water flow, which impacted many vulnerable species of fish (Oregon officials close wild Chinook salmon harvest in Umpqua River. (2020, January 13)).