About Santiam Valley Ranch

Brought to you by Santiam Valley Ranch, P. O. Box 1210, Turner, OR 97392
503-743-2931, Visitors By Appointment

Santiam Valley Ranch is located approximately 5 miles east of I-5, just south of Salem in the triangle of countryside between Turner, Jefferson and Stayton. Thirty-five acres of our 150-acre farm are devoted to fish rearing, wildlife and waterfowl. One hundred acres are leased for cultivation of sweet corn and beans. We also raise sheep for meat, wool and other direct sales of locker lamb. In addition, Santiam Valley Ranch sells rights for duck and goose hunting during winter months.

Nineteen ponds are managed for the production of warm-water fish. Of these, 4 ponds totaling 12.5 acres, are also managed for resting habitat and feed for migratory waterfowl. We have in-pond and tank systems for sorting and holding fish.

Each order is individually collected, counted and held for pick-up. Processing of your order does not occur until we have received an approved transportation permit for your fish from the Oregon/Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

The fish we collect for your order are wild fish. The little fishies have no idea what fish food is about. If you throw fish food into a pond, it basically serves as expensive fertilizer.

If we need to store the fish in holding tanks, we train them to eat prepared fish food or provide other organisms from the ponds. We order our fish food from from Silver Cup, Murray, UT, 800-521-9092. (http://www.silvercup.com/silvercup-home.html)

The pumpkinseed fish are the easiest fish to raise in tanks and readily eat fish feed. For larger bass, we feed them mosquito fish or smaller pumpkinseed or bluegill. Smaller bass are trained to eat floating steelhead feed. For crappie, we feed them mosquito fish. For bluegill, they tend to eat tubifex worms. Channel catfish and bullhead catfish can be easily trained to eat fish feed.

Santiam Valley Ranch is a licensed fish propagator in the State of Oregon (license #1113). Fish sold must meet inspection requirements and disease standards established by the State.

Santiam Valley Ranch has a unique history in the mid-Willamette Valley. It has offered quality duck and goose hunting for half a century. In the 1950-60's, buffalo were raised, hence many locals know the place as "the old buffalo farm". An extensive network of ponds and ditches were constructed in the 1920's and the farm was apparently used by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife for years as the State's warm-water fish hatchery prior to construction of the state's facility at St. Paul, Oregon.

Today, Santiam Valley Ranch is a family-owned farm. Husband and wife team, Kathy Bridges and Ken Dunder, operate the fish business on a seasonal, part-time basis. They receive help from time to time from four of our six sons -- Luke, Andy, Jake and Nils -- along with our farm "caretaker", Phil Wessel. Phil previously owned a farm in Palmer, Alaska, where he raised potatoes and vegetables and operated three farm stands.

Ken, a Portland State University graduate in chemistry, is owner of Hydrokinetic Systems, Inc., a Salem-based business that designs and builds industrial/agricultural water treatment systems. Recent examples in 2011 include purification of water for central steam plant at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA; removal of BOD from winery waste water system for Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, WA, and purification of incoming raw water for Kimberly Clark, Everett, WA.

Kathy received her Bachelor's in Zoology and her Master's in Resource Economics from Utah State University, Logan. She has worked more than 30 years directing non-profit organizations dealing with land-use (Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association, Newport), farmer's market (Lincoln County Farmer's Market, Newport), and children with disabilities (Mid-Valley Children's Guild, Salem, now operated by Easter Seals). In 1991, she received the Tribute to Outstanding Women from Governor Barbara Roberts for significant contributions and services. Kathy also served four years as manager for world-renowned artist, Lorenzo Ghiglieri (www.art-lorenzo.com).

Kathy remains active in non-profit organizations, and currently serves on the Advisory Board for Autism Society of Oregon, Portland (www.oregonautism.com), serves as Secretary/Treasurer for Oregon Aquaculture Association, Stayton (www.oregonaquaculture.org) and serves as Interim President and Secretary/Treasurer for Northwest Land Conservation Trust.

In addition to operating her farm, Kathy also serves as Executive Director and Trustee for The Bridges Foundation (www.thebridgesfoundation.info)

Photos in this web page cover the lives of our family, growing up here at Santiam Valley Ranch.

You can watch the life of Luke (left, working with US Forest Service in 2009), with photos of him holding large bass for nearly 15 years. He graduated from Oregon State University in Forest Management and currently works for U. S. Geological Survey, studying amphibians in remote wilderness areas throughout Oregon. In the fall, Luke works as a timber cruiser, and in the winter, he serves as a ski instructor for Hoodoo Mountain Resort, Sisters, OR. With Luke's help, most of the fish we gather today are done so with his help, and the help of his friends.

The photos take us back 15 years as we meet Andy (right, conducting sturgeon inventory for Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, 2010) seining fish as a high school teenager. He has since graduated from Oregon State University in Recreational Management and currently works for Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife as a Wetland Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Technician at E. E. Wilson Game Management Area, Monmouth, OR.

Jake (left, seated) also graduated from Oregon State University majoring in Speech Communications and currently works as a Senior Technician for Stream International, Beaverton, OR. Jake continues to share his incredible talent by designing and updating this web page, which gets about 4,000 hits per month!

An expert in landscaping and painting, Nils (left) pitches in by keeping the farm presentable to our customers. If the trees alongside the driveway have been trimmed, or if there is painting of barns in the works, Nils is the guy getting this organized.

Phil (right) mows the lawn constantly, tends to the greenhouse and outdoor garden, helps with lambing and livestock feeding, sprays those dreaded thistles that plaque us each year, and lends an ever-watching eye to keep the farm secure and attractive for all. Phil makes it possible to enjoy each and every day at Santiam Valley Ranch!

We get phone calls from pond and ornamental pond owners, and from aquaria and aquaponics enthusiasts from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California asking about fish, aquatic vegetation, water quality, pond construction requirements and much, much more. Although we are not experts in everything, Kathy does have a degree in zoology and Ken is a practicing chemist, so maybe we can help or at least direct you to someone who can help.

Because we advertise in the Capital Press, we receive phone calls from California and Idaho. Santiam Valley Ranch is not certified in those states. We have included information on how to access disease-free fish in those states in this web page.

We have established this web page to share information we gather about fish, aquatic pond environments, aquatic vegetation, resources, etc. Unfortunately, we discontinued our email due to thousands of spam messages. To learn more please contact us by phone: (503) 743-2931 or fax: (503) 743-2512.

Caption for photo: Caricature of Kathy,
from Lorenzo E. Ghiglieri,
painter and sculptor, www.art-lorenzo.com

Since we began selling fish in 1982, we have learned that people who are into fish are some of the nicest, most interesting people around. We have enjoyed getting to know so many fine people through the years--it has made our personal challenges and disasters not so noticeable as we move forward to try to meet your needs for information and fish. It has been our pleasure, indeed a great joy, to help those who share a common fascination with fish.

Fish that are to be released into waters of the State are regulated by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Fish and aquatic organisms intended for aquarium use fall under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

In order to monitor where fish are stocked and, in some cases, to restrict stocking of introduced species, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife requires that all fish transported within the State be accompanied by a "Fish Transportation Permit" ($12 permit fee). Failure to have a permit in your possession can result in confiscation of the fish and/or revocation of our fish propagation license!

It is critically important that Oregonians abide by restrictions established by ODF&W. Throughout the world, introduction of non-indigenous species has led to the destruction of native plants and animals and, in some cases, resulted in economic disasters for human enterprises. Introduced bullfrogs have managed to gobble-up or run-off most of Oregon's native amphibians. And pond turtles, plentiful just a few decades ago, have been reduced to a few isolated pockets due in part to destruction of habitat, voracious bullfrogs and, regrettably, introduced painted turtles. We encourage all our customers to accept the responsibility we share, as Oregonians, to protect our dwindling native species from unnecessary annihilation that oftentimes results from unintentional introduction of non-native or exotic species.

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife has developed information regarding stocking of fish in private ponds throughout Oregon. This information is based on watershed basins: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/private_ponds/map.asp. As a fish propagator, our role is to take your order and submit it to ODF&W. The Regional Biologist for your county will review your permit request. It is their decision to allow or disallow fish in certain areas throughout the State.

For prohibited species, click on "Other" and visit OAR (Oregon Administrative Rules) Division 56 (under "Wildlife"). Prohibited fish include: Bowfin, Piranha/Caribe, Walking Catfish, Oriental Weatherfish, Ide, Rudd, Gar, Snakehead, Round Goby, Ruffe, Zander/Pike-Perch, Pike/Pickerel. Non-controlled species (no permit required) includes aquaria fish and live food fish. For controlled species, an importation permit may be required.

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife has additional information regarding fish stocking in private ponds, including screening the pond and controlling excessive algae and other aquatic plants: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/private_ponds/index.asp

Contact in Oregon:        Guy Chilton, Fisheries Division
                                    Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
                                    3406 Cherry Ave., NE
                                    Salem, OR 97303
                                    503-947-6249
                                    Guy.S.Chilton@state.or.us

Residents of Washington must obtain a Fish Transportation Application/Permit from the Regional office in your area. Cost is $24. The permit relates to pond site parameters and approval of the source of fish.

Santiam Valley Ranch is permitted to sell fish (with the exception of mosquito fish) in Regions 3 and 5. Channel catfish are permitted in Regions 1-6. Washington does not allow mosquito fish into the State of Washington for private pond stocking.

For further information about regional offices and for a copy of the permit application, please access them at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/fish_transport/

To purchase fish from Santiam Valley Ranch, please fax or send us a copy of your Fish Transportation Application/Permit. We use your completed permit to obtain an Oregon Transportation Permit. Both permits must accompany your fish while being shipped through Oregon and Washington.

Contact in Washington:      Joan Thomas, Washington Department of Fisheries
                                        Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
                                        115 General Administration Building
                                        Olympia, WA   97505
                                        360-902-2667
                                        Email: Joan.Thomas@dfw.wa.gov

An informational leaflet regarding importation of live aquatic plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles (Leaflet No. 36) is attached in a pdf file, click here

The California Department of Fish & Game requires that all fish transported within the State be accompanied by an "Importation Permit". The cost for a standard importation permit is $45.25; the cost for a long-term permit is $54.50. A copy of the permit is available in pdf format, click here

Contact in California:    Karen Mitchell, Environmental Scientist
                                    California Department of Fish & Game
                                    Fisheries Branch
                                    830 S. Street
                                    Sacramento, CA   95811
                                    916-445-0826
                                    Email: KMITCHELL@dfg.ca.gov

Aquaculture hatcheries are licensed by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Commercial fish facilities list is available at www.agri.idaho.gov/Categories/Animals/fishFarms/fishmailing.php The contact phone at Idaho State Department of Agriculture is 208-332-8540

Contact at Idaho Department of Fish & Game: The position at the state is vacant at this time. Please contact regional offices. Jeff Dillon serves as Fish Manager, 208-465-8465.

By the time you seek this web page, you most probably have already built your pond. Nonetheless, you may still have a few questions.

Screening the pond ensures that, during heavy rains, your fish won't just swim into the neighbor's pond or get overflowed onto the hay field in the back 40. Screening also reduces the probability of introduced species invading other streams, ditches, ponds, lakes, rivers, etc. where they may not be wanted.

For information on building and/or screening your pond, contact the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (look in the U.S. Government listings of your telephone book). NRCS formerly included the USDA Soil Conservation Service and USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Although their mission has changed somewhat with their change in name, they have a number of publications on pond construction and can provide limited technical expertise.

In some cases, building a pond may require a Fill & Removal Permit if it is built within an existing wetland (contact the Oregon Division of State Lands) or water right or reservoir right (contact Oregon Department of Water Resources). You will need to research these requirements, if any, as they pertain to your unique situation.

If you are still in the design stages of your pond, why not include an island or two? They make wonderful habitat for nesting waterfowl, and you may soon find that you are enjoying not only fish, but perhaps a pair of Canada geese and their fledglings! Islands can also provide protected habitat for pond turtles.

If you are building a pond using a liner, it is important to provide plants to utilize fertilizer from the fish, to provide pond structure, to create shade and reclusive areas. and provide safe areas for young fry and fingerling. One concept is to introduce floating islands. Another is to use potted plants, such as water lily. Plan for inclusion of potted plants in your design phases.

Generally speaking, pond owners will want to stock a predator species (bass, channel catfish) and forage species (bluegill, black crappie, pumpkinseed, bullhead (brown or yellow), mosquito fish).

If you decide to go with a predator/forage fish for stocking, maximum growth and production will occur 2-3 years after stocking. After that time, you will want to harvest your pond heavily by removing as much as 50% of the fish population annually. In a natural (unfertilized) pond, your annual fish yield should be approximately 15-35 pounds. Be sure to leave enough fish of spawning size to ensure continued reproduction in your pond. After stocking bass, they should not be fished until they have successfully reproduced (1-3 years after stocking).

Everyone has their own "secret recipe" for successful pond stocking. Basically, you should do what makes sense to you with one important element--try to stock fish of equal size, especially when adequate cover to protect "little ones" is lacking. In other words, if you have a pond with relatively little cover, and you have several big bass in the pond, you will want to stock several large bluegills, rather than stocking fingerling bluegills. If you want to stock bass and trout, again try to use stock of equal sizes.

Many people want to stock warm-water species along with trout. Again, you may stock whatever fish you want into your ponds (within legal restrictions on species and biological requirements for the fish). The important factor when stocking warm-water fish and cold-water fish together is that conditions seldom occur where both species will have favorable water temperatures needed for successful spawning. For a bass/trout pond, the bass should reproduce and should continue to provide bass for many years. You will need to restock trout every so many years as they will likely not reproduce in a pond.

In reality, there are several stocking options, and you probably have some of your own ideas, too. Some of the most common stocking approaches are:

Although there are recommended stocking rates, even these vary among the experts. So there is no magical, sure-fired way to ensure the best for your pond. Instead, stock the number of fish you want when you want and be sure to monitor fish growth and reproduction so that you harvest your fish adequately. Reasonable removal of fish on an annual basis will negate overcrowding of fish and associated problems such as stunting and cannibalism.

There are a number of nurseries that sell wetland and aquatic plants for your pond. Wetland species, such as water iris, cattails, Sagitarria and others, can be planted around the fringe of your pond to give a more natural and appealing look. Trees (willows, cottonwood) can provide shade and cover during hot summer months. Too many trees, however, can result in too much shade, too much overgrowth and a dumping of organic matter into the pond each fall as the trees loose their leaves. A balance of sunny and shady spots, with deep (6-8') and shallow (18"-2') water levels, give fish opportunities for spawning, dormancy in winter months and escape options from predators.

We encourage use of native vegetation around ponds, and discourage use of invasive species, such as yellow iris, etc. There are many wetland nurseries that can assist in providing aquatic plants. Some live in the water (such as water lilies), some live on the banks of the pond (such as cattails and iris), and others live around the pond (such as willows). All of these plants absorb "fertilizer" from fish and other aquatic organisms in the pond, and provide oxygen, shade, and "pond structure" necessary for providing an aesthetic ecosystem. Logs and rocks contribute to a more native environment, while again providing diversity within the ecosystem. Potted water lilies can be placed in the shallow areas. The potting helps to ensure that they don't take over the pond. Native water lilies are more likely to survive colder winter temperatures. Floating islands can be used in lined ponds, again to provide pond structure, shade, and use of plants to absorb "fertilizer" in the pond.

Lets visit a bit about pond structure. It is natural for a pond to have tree trucks, limbs and rocks in the water. These provide cover for fish from that osprey, hovering above, in addition to providing shade. Smaller limbs provide an ideal place for aquatic plants and smaller fish to hover. They provide a good escape opportunity for smaller fish seeking a haven from the larger, pedator fish. Common predators at Santiam Valley Ranch include the Great blue heron, green heron, osprey, kingfisher, river otter, mink, raccoon and others. Providing options for escape may help in protecting your fishy friends.

DO NOT BUY PARROT FEATHER FOR YOUR POND (an invasive species from South America)! It will cover your entire pond. This species, and others, are prohibited in Oregon for placement in ponds, and for good reason. We unfortunately got parrot feather into one of our ponds, and it took almost 10 years, coupled with relentless energy, to get rid of that plant.

If your pond is truly warm-water (e.g., shallow and warm in the summer), if you have little introduction of new water, and if there is any source of nutrient loading, you will have more than enough aquatic plants. In fact, you will get sick of aquatic plants! Elodea, mylfoil, and algae are all indications of a normal, healthy warm-water pond. These plants can become so dense that fishing is impossible. On the other side, the dense nature of these weeds provides much cover for small fry and fingerling, and are a forest for phytoplankton and zooplankton upon which the fingerlings feed.

At Santiam Valley Ranch, we also deal with aquatic pond weeds. Here,
Kevin Dahl is pulling out weeds so we can move the sein net through the pond.

There are a number of ways to control aquatic vegetation--and surely more ways are being devised every day! Here are few ideas and you can use any combination as you want:

Oregon Aquaculture Association maintains information about resources for pond owners, under Links/Resources. In addition, Oregon Aquaculture Association conducted three "Pond School" and copies of handouts and materials are available. www.oregonaquaculture.org

Oregon's one and only, "the Pond Doctor", (AKA Jim Nelson, PhD) has published a book entitled, "The Pond Keepers Guide" (2011) which is available on Amazon.com

Our fish house at Santiam Valley Ranch.	Holding tanks in the fish house.
Outside storage tanks for fish.
Ken showing the ozone and ultra-violet systems. Additionally, we use a biofilter system for holding tanks.	Ken and Andy seining. Notice the depth of the pond is only around 24-inches.

Andy (left) with friend, Trevor Hayes, seining pond.	Luke holding a largemouth bass.
	Aquaculture intern, Tim Alig, demonstrates seining of warm-water fish.