November 23, 2022 3:00 a.m.

The Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby is now providing a live-stream video of different sizes and colors of fish migrating upstream as they pass a window below the surface of the water that is home to thousands of fish every year.

The camera is located at the Winchester Dam Fish Ladder on the North Umpqua River.

A release said thanks to the many donors that provided funding support for the 2022 Derby auction “Frenzy” project, a remote waterproof camera system is now linked to a new website that captures a unique opportunity to spend time gaining better knowledge of fishery resources.

Organizers said the UFED had this idea on its bucket list of potential projects for several years and continued to hear from many sponsors that this was a high priority for outreach and educational activities not only in Douglas County, but also statewide and beyond its border. With the help of local technology partners including Douglas Fast Net, All Wired Up and Ryan Finlay and Moses Finlay from Tracker, the first phase of the project is complete.

The release said future plans are to develop a software program that will record individual fish and update the counts on a regular basis. UFED is planning to reach out to educational institutions and local community organizations that are helping people gain a better understanding of the fish populations and watersheds.

UFED is a local nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing financial support for fish enhancement projects and educational activities in the Umpqua River basin. Call 672-0757 for more information

See the live-stream of the fish cam at www.umpquafish.com.