We work in solidarity with Tribes and river communities to advocate for salmon and the people, cultures, and creatures that rely on them
Preventing extinction of Columbia River salmon is necessary, but insufficient. It is not enough for salmon to persist in small numbers, in isolated places—living museums, so to speak. Our vision is a return to healthy, abundant, harvestable runs of salmon throughout the Columbia River and its many tributaries. The blueprint for achieving that vision is the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative, a new and ambitious collaboration between the Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Nez Perce Tribes and the States of Washington and Oregon.
Current Campaigns
Snake River Dam Removal
Lewis River Fish Passage
Cold Water for Salmon
Challenge Oregon Fish Passage Exemption
The Problem
The Columbia once produced more salmon than any river on Earth. Indigenous people sustainably harvested these salmon since time immemorial. Today, Columbia River salmon populations are a fraction of their historic size. Dams like Grand Coulee, Hells Canyon, and others eradicated salmon from large areas of the Columbia River basin even dams that allow fish migration can take a heavy toll on salmon by damaging habitat and making the water too hot. Despite the dams and other threats, Columbia River salmon still survive, although many populations are close to extinction.
Why It Matters
The Columbia still supports important subsistence, commercial, and recreational salmon fisheries. Columbia River salmon are also food for critically endangered Southern Resident orcas and other wildlife. To ensure that future generations can catch Columbia River salmon, we need to remove four harmful dams on the Lower Snake River, fight climate change, and restore habitat throughout the Columbia basin. To learn more about the blueprint for basin-wide salmon recovery, read about the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative, a new and groundbreaking vision shared by regional sovereigns.
Take Action
