Fish Illustrations by Joseph Tomelleri
Watch, Learn, and Test Your Knowledge: Pollution, Fish, and Cleanup at Bonneville Dam
By Kate Murphy, Senior Community Organizer, & Juan Monje, Community Organizer
Did you know that one of the Columbia River’s most popular fishing areas near Bonneville Dam is also home to a toxic Superfund site? Decades of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ activities resulted in contamination at Bradford Island, part of the Bonneville Dam complex, and the resident fish—the fish that live there year round—are under a DO NOT EAT fish advisory.
We’ve created a new interactive learning experience, the “Bonneville Fish Game,” and a new three-part video series to help people understand the toxic pollution at Bonneville Dam, how it affects fish and communities, and why cleanup matters.
You’ll learn:
- How decades of industrial activities by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contaminated Bradford Island and nearby waters
- What toxic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are and how they move through the food chain
- Why resident fish near Bonneville Dam are under a “Do Not Eat” advisory; while salmon, steelhead, and shad remain healthy choices
- How Tribal Nations, community advocates, and agencies are working toward cleanup
Whether you’re a student, a longtime Columbia River advocate, an angler, an educator, or simply curious about what’s happening beneath the surface of the river, this series is a great way to deepen your understanding of one of the Columbia’s most important environmental challenges.
After each short video, you can test your knowledge through interactive games and quizzes designed for teens.
Cleanup of the Army Corps’ toxic legacy at Bonneville Dam won’t happen overnight. But progress is happening and informed communities are essential to creating change. We hope you’ll take the challenge, share it with friends and family, and help spread the word about the need for a cleaner, healthier Columbia River. Thank you for standing with us.
This product is funded through a Public Participation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. The content was reviewed for grant consistency but is not necessarily endorsed by the agency.
Every person has the right to eat Columbia River fish and shellfish without fear of toxic pollutants.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Columbia Riverkeeper Launches Interactive Video Series and Games to Teach Youth about Bonneville Dam Fish Advisory
New educational resources help students understand the Bradford Island Superfund Site, resident fish consumption advisories near Bonneville Dam, and the need for cleanup
June 18, 2026 (Hood River, Oregon) — Columbia Riverkeeper today launched a new interactive educational series called the “Bonneville Fish Game” designed to help youth learn about toxic pollution at Bonneville Dam and the Bradford Island Superfund Site. The free resource combines three short educational videos with interactive games and quizzes that make complex environmental and public health issues accessible to students, families, anglers, and community members.
The series explores how decades of industrial waste disposal and contamination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Bradford Island led to one of the most polluted stretches of the Columbia River. Participants learn what a Superfund site is, how toxic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) move through the food chain, and why health agencies have issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for resident fish caught near Bonneville Dam.
“People deserve to understand what’s happening in the river and why cleanup matters,” said Kate Murphy, Senior Community Organizer, Columbia Riverkeeper. “This series helps connect the history of the Army Corps’ contamination at Bonneville Dam to the real impacts on fish, public health, Tribal communities, and everyone who relies on the Columbia River.”
“We look forward to sharing this resource with youth throughout the region. Stay tuned for our Spanish language versions this fall,” said Juan Monte, Community Organizer, Columbia Riverkeeper. “Reaching students is an important part of our work. This year we presented information about Bonneville Dam cleanup to over 600 people across the Columbia River Basin. We look forward to reaching many more online.”
The three-part series covers:
- The history of the Army Corps’ pollution at Bradford Island and the designation of the Bonneville Dam area as a Superfund site.
- The types of toxic contaminants found at the site, including PCBs, heavy metals, pesticides, and other industrial pollutants, and their impacts on human health.
- The difference between resident and migratory fish, current fish consumption advisories, and how community members can support cleanup efforts.
Interactive quizzes and games reinforce key concepts and allow participants to test their knowledge while learning about environmental science, fish ecology, and public health.
The educational materials also highlight the importance of Tribal fishing rights and the cultural significance of the Columbia River to Indigenous peoples who have lived, fished, and gathered along the river since time immemorial.
The launch comes as communities continue to advocate for a comprehensive cleanup of the Bradford Island Superfund Site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added the site to the National Priorities List in 2022 following years of advocacy from Tribal Nations, state agencies, and community organizations.
“Everyone should be able to safely fish, swim, and enjoy the Columbia River,” said Murphy. “Education is an important step toward ensuring that future generations inherit a river free from toxic pollution.”
The video series and interactive games are available at: https://www.columbiariverkeeper.org/fish-game
About Columbia Riverkeeper
Columbia Riverkeeper is a nonprofit organization with over 25,000 members and supporters that works to protect the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean. Learn more.
This product is funded through a Public Participation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. The content was reviewed for grant consistency but is not necessarily endorsed by the agency.