Hot Water

Salmon Dying from Hot Water in Columbia River

Dammed rivers and climate change create lethal conditions for key species
Condit Dam
Video
Ten years after the removal of Condit dam,

Today, the White Salmon River is almost unrecognizable! Salmon and other species are returning, river users can enjoy the entire river, and the river is coming back to life.

Salmon leaping over Lyle Falls, photo by Peter Marbach
Video:
We Demand Life, Not Extinction

Snake River dam removal is gaining momentum. As this new video explains, we have a chance to stop extinction and restore abundant salmon runs.

Sockeye salmon with lesions, image by Conrad Gowell, Little White Salmon River, July 2021
About the Issue
Frequently Asked Questions

What are the fish dying at the mouth of the Little White Salmon River?

Cathy Sampson-Kruse, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation and a Columbia Riverkeeper board member, 2.jpg
Watch
Salmon Vigil at Little White Salmon River

Yakama Nation, Environmental Groups Hold Vigil to Highlight Salmon Die-Offs, Need for Lower Four Snake River Dam Removal

sockeye_usfws-800.jpg
Media
Press Release

“Sockeye are dying right now because the Columbia and Snake rivers are too hot..." -Brett VandenHeuvel, Executive Director 

Miles Johnson
From Our Team
Isn’t this video enough?

"We cannot look the other way." -Miles Johnson, Senior Attorney

We Demand Life, Not Extinction

Call your Senators and tell them to take action and remove Snake River dams—before it’s too late. Learn more

Conditions

Video captured at the Little White Salmon River in the Columbia River Gorge on July 16, 2021 (footage by Conrad Gowell):

About the Issue

Narrated by Don Sampson of Northwest Tribal Salmon Alliance: “The sockeye here are dying. They are suffocating. You can see they are in lethally hot water. We’re in a salmon crisis and it’s time for Congress to act.”  (Video produced by Modoc Stories.)

Salmon Vigil

On July 30, 2021, Yakama Nation leaders and over 40 people gathered along the Columbia’s scenic Little White Salmon River for a Salmon Vigil, an event to raise awareness about the ongoing death of sockeye salmon impacted by hot water. Speakers demanded Pacific Northwest leaders like Senators Cantwell, Murray, Wyden, and Merkley support Lower Snake River dam removal and other action to cool rivers.  Read more (Footage by Alex Milan Tracy.) 

 

Take Action

Tell your Governor and Senators that time is running out; they must secure funding for Lower Snake River dam removal now.

For Media Requests, contact Liz Terhaar, Communications Director:  (503-784-5324), liz@columbiariverkeeper.org.
Resources include sources, photography, footage.