>> reporter: in 2006, bursesy and other farmers, fearing the courts could take even more water, agreedo settle the lawsuit and allow the river to be restored. it was a compromise, says ronald jacobsma, who represents 15,000 farmers. >> our concern was if we left it in the hands of a federal judge this could be far worse, the uncertainty, the risk became a bit too much for our folks. we couldn't afford to lose half our water supply. >> reporter: last spring, the first actual moves toward restoring the fish population began when more water was released from the dam and scientists experimentally put some salmon into the river for the first time to watch how they'd behave and where they'd go. those are small steps. most of the money spent thus far, seven years after the agreement, has been on plans and research which doesn't impress cannon michael who farms a variety of crops near the river. >> to date, not one shovel of dirt has been turned. there's been over $100 million of money spent. i know there has to be a lot of the studies but $100 million is a lot of money and to not show really