Salmon Recovery / Public News Service

Salmon need unobstructed culverts so they can swim upstream to the places where they spawn. (George Cole/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Bill Includes Investments for NW Salmon Passage

SEATTLE -- The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress is a boon not just for people. It also could help wildlife such as endangered salmon …

Ensuring that stormwater is recycled quickly is key to preventing polluted water from reaching salmon. (PNPImages/Adobe Stock)

"Salmon in the City" Explores Urban-Design Approaches to Clean Water

SEATTLE -- How water flows in cities affects salmon swimming far away. An event this week is exploring how urban centers can better treat their water …

The Lower Granite Lake Dam on the Snake River is among the dams conservation groups want removed to help salmon. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Columbia, Snake Rivers Litigation Pause Puts Spotlight on NW Salmon

BOISE, Idaho - Action on behalf of Northwest salmon could be in the works after announcements from the Biden administration, leaders in Washington …

Anglers in the Columbia River Basin have been packing up earlier than normal this year. (ftfoxfoto/Adobe Stock)

Columbia River Basin Closures Put Fishing Jobs 'On Hold'

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Closed fisheries from imperiled fish runs in the Columbia River Basin are prompting calls for action before it's too late. …

Rep. Mike Simpson, R-ID, has proposed a $33.5 billion plan to save Chinook salmon and other endangered fish in the Columbia River Basin. (BLM/Flickr)

ID Salmon Industry Feels the Pain from Dismal Runs

BOISE, Idaho -- Closed fisheries from imperiled fish runs in the Columbia River Basin are prompting calls for action before it's too late. Steelhead …

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has proposed $1 billion in culvert removal and restoration for salmon in the budget-reconciliation bill. (Bill Perry/Adobe Stock)

Outfitters, Guides Close Doors as Salmon, Steelhead Numbers Drop

SEATTLE -- Closed fisheries from imperiled fish runs in the Columbia River Basin are prompting calls for action before it's too late. Steelhead …

Roughly 1,000 Atlantic salmon remain in the Gulf of Maine. (jamie/Adobe Stock)

Four Atlantic Salmon Restoration Projects in Maine Get Federal Funding

BANGOR, Maine -- Efforts are under way to restore Atlantic salmon populations in the Gulf of Maine, by removing dams, replacing culverts and …

As the Northwest feels the summer heat, salmon are struggling to migrate hundreds of miles upstream. (Conrad Gowell/Columbia Riverkeeper)

Northwesterners to Rally to Support Threatened Salmon

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Rallies are taking place across the Northwest to support salmon, which face dire conditions in the Columbia River Basin. Saturday…

A video from July shows sockeye salmon with red lesions and fungus because of the Columbia River's hot water. (Conrad Gowell/Columbia Riverkeeper)

In Hot Water, Rallies Planned for NW Salmon

BOISE, Idaho -- Rallies are taking place across the Northwest to support salmon, which face dire conditions in the Columbia River Basin. Saturday…

Struggling salmon also are bad news for the orcas of the Northwest that rely on them. (Conrad Gowell/Columbia Riverkeeper)

NW Heat Boils Salmon, Drives Rallies Across Region

SEATTLE -- Rallies are taking place across the Northwest to support salmon, which face dire conditions in the Columbia River Basin. Saturday…

Chinook salmon spawn in four runs per year. The eggs, fry and juveniles in the winter and fall runs are expected to be harmed this year by water flows that are too warm. (dhogan172/Adobe Stock)

Groups Warn of Massive Salmon Die-Off, Press for Water Reform

SHASTA LAKE, Calif. - Within the next several weeks, experts are expecting a massive die-off of winter-run Chinook salmon as they spawn below the …

This year, the entire state of Oregon is considered to be either in a drought or abnormally dry. (earagen/Adobe Stock)

Summer of Drought, Wildfires Could Devastate NW Salmon Species

PORTLAND, Ore. - There are signs this summer could be a bad one for the native salmon of the Northwest. Already, drought has gripped the region…

By 2025, 77% of Snake River Chinook salmon could be on the brink of extinction, according to a report this year. (randimal/Adobe Stock)

Dry Summer Warnings Signal Trouble for NW Salmon

SEATTLE - There are signs this summer could be a bad one for the native salmon of the Northwest. Already, drought has gripped the region, causing …

People are advised not to eat non-migratory fish within a mile upstream of Bonneville Dam, because of contamination from PCBs. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

States, Tribe Call for Superfund Site on Columbia River

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Oregon, Washington and the Yakama Nation are asking the Biden administration to list one stretch of the Columbia River as a …

Fishing is popular near the Bonneville Dam along the Columbia River. (Nathan K/Flickr)

Toxins in Columbia River Lead to Call for Superfund Listing

HOOD RIVER, Ore. -- Oregon, Washington and the Yakama Nation are asking the Biden administration to list one stretch of the Columbia River as a …

The last wild populations of Atlantic salmon in the United States are found in Maine's rivers, and groups say four hydroelectric dams on the Kennebec River need to be removed to help protect them. (Kevin/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Kennebec River Dams Threaten Endangered Atlantic Salmon

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine conservationists say four dams on the Kennebec River are the biggest threat to Atlantic salmon populations, and groups intend …

Some Nez Perce Tribe members say removing the lower Snake River dams is crucial for restoring their fishing rights. (spiritofamerica/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Action on Simpson NW Infrastructure Proposal

BOISE, Idaho - Groups are urging Northwest leaders to act on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's infrastructure and Snake River dam proposal. The plan would …

Chief Caleen Sisk of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe opposes efforts to raise the Shasta Dam and enlarge the reservoir because it would flood her tribe's ancestral lands. (Winnemem Wintu Tribe)

California's McCloud River Among "Most Endangered" in U.S.

REDDING, Calif. - The 2021 top 10 list of America's "Most Endangered Rivers" is out - and the McCloud River in Shasta County is number seven…

The Ice Harbor Dam in southeast Washington would be breached under a proposal from Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

WA Groups: Infrastructure Plan 'Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity' for NW

SEATTLE - Groups are urging Northwest leaders to act on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's infrastructure and Snake River dam proposal. It aims to restore what …

Salmon numbers are declining rapidly in the Snake River, the Columbia River's largest tributary. (norikko/Adobe Stock)

NW Groups: Pieces in Place to Address Salmon Decline

PORTLAND, Ore. - Groups are urging Northwest leaders to act on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's infrastructure and Snake River dam proposal. The plan would …

A plan to replace electricity generated by four lower Snake River dams includes $10 billion for renewable sources like wind and solar. (Oleg Kovtun/Adobe Stock)

Critics: Nuclear Not Needed in Snake River Replacement Plan

BOISE, Idaho -- Nuclear energy could be part of the mix to replace power from four lower Snake River dams if they're removed. Rep. Mike Simpson…

Catching salmon is big business for communities along the Oregon coast. (ftfoxfoto/Adobe Stock)

NW Proposal Could Boost Salmon 'Boat to Plate,' Supporters Say

PORTLAND, Ore. -- If the Pacific Northwest has a taste, it's for the region's salmon, but as the iconic fish species dwindles, it also effects a food …

Some Seattle restaurants secure their salmon supplies months in advance, to ensure they can serve this iconic Northwest fish. (Aldo/Adobe Stock)

NW Infrastructure Plan Could Bolster WA Restaurants

SEATTLE -- If the Pacific Northwest has a taste, it's for the region's salmon, but as the iconic fish species dwindles, it also effects a food chain …

Many in the Northwest fishing industry say some of their challenges stem from four lower Snake River dams and their effects on salmon migration. (kellyvandellen/Adobe Stock)

Simpson's NW Salmon Plan Gets More Backing

BOISE, Idaho -- If the Pacific Northwest has a taste, it's for the region's salmon, but as the iconic fish species dwindles, it also effects a food …

Under Rep. Mike Simpson's plan, $10 billion would be invested in clean energy to replace power from the lower Snake River dams. (knowlesgallery/Adobe Stock)

Simpson's NW Infrastructure Plan Invests Heavily in Clean Energy

BOISE, Idaho -- The Northwest infrastructure plan developed by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, would benefit more than salmon. It would also mean a major …

Idaho GOP Rep. Mike Simpson's infrastructure proposal includes $3 billion to address water quality across the Northwest. (Bob Wick/U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

Simpson's Historic Plan Includes Key Water Quality Tools

BOISE, Idaho -- A $33 billion infrastructure plan for the Northwest developed by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, continues to shake up the region…

Salmon and steelhead on the Snake River have dwindled dramatically in recent decades. (Sam Beebe/Flickr)

Simpson's Salmon-Recovery Plan Called 'Sea Change' for NW

BOISE, Idaho -- An Idaho congressman may have taken the first step in untangling the tricky knot of dams in the Northwest and their effects on salmon…

After working as a community organizer on behalf of New Mexico families, Deb Haaland was elected in 2018 as one of the first Native American women to serve in the U.S. Congress. (Deb Haaland/Wikimedia Commons)

Conservation Groups See Opportunity in Deb Haaland's Nomination

WIND RIVER RESERVATION, Wyo. - The nomination of Deb Haaland for U.S. Secretary of the Interior has won praise from conservation groups eager to get …

A proposed 4,700 miles of protected rivers and streams in the River Democracy Act are located across Oregon. (Wyden.Senate.gov)

Oregonians Picked Rivers for Protection in Congressional Bill

PORTLAND, Ore. -- New legislation in Congress would protect rivers Oregonians have identified as their most cherished. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.…

Some groups in the Northwest say four dams in southwest Washington need to come down in order to save the region's native salmon populations. (Ryan Hagerty/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

After ID Salmon Workgroup, a Push for Regional Recovery

SEATTLE -- Idaho Gov. Brad Little's workgroup to consider what to do about dwindling salmon numbers has wrapped up, as conservation groups in …

The governors of Oregon and other Northwest states have signed an agreement to work on recovery of salmon and steelhead. (Portland Corp/Flickr)

NW Groups Call for Regional Approach to Saving Salmon

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Idaho Gov. Brad Little's workgroup to consider what to do about dwindling salmon numbers has wrapped up, as conservation groups in …

Last year, only 18 sockeye salmon returned to Redfish Lake, south of Stanley. (Ryndon Ricks/Flickr)

ID Salmon Workgroup Ends, Considered 'Stepping Stone' Toward Recovery

BOISE, Idaho - A group convened by Gov. Brad Little to address the dire situation for salmon and steelhead numbers has finalized its recommendations …

The Iron Gate Dam on the Klamath River near Hornbrook, Calif., is one of four that will be removed in 2023 as part of a new agreement. (Matthew Wier/CalTrout)

CA, OR Kickstart Removal of 4 Dams on Klamath River

HORNBROOK, Calif. -- The states of California and Oregon are stepping in to revive a Klamath River dam-removal project that has been in the works for …

The Klamath River was once the third-largest salmon producing river on the West Coast. (Matt Baun/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

OR, CA Lend Help to Keep Klamath Dams' Demolition on Track

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- Oregon and California are stepping in to save a project to remove dams from the Klamath River. The states are applying to co-…

Salmon run numbers continue to plummet in the Columbia River basin. (Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife/Flickr)

Columbia River Basin Salmon in Hot Water

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Salmon in the Columbia River basin have been feeling the heat -- and experts say it's pushing fish species to the brink of …

Salmon species are struggling to return to their Idaho breeding grounds because of overly hot water in rivers of the Columbia River Basin. (Bureau of Land Management/Flickr)

Salmon in Columbia, Snake Rivers Face Heat Getting Back to ID

BOISE, Idaho -- Salmon in the Columbia River basin have been feeling the heat -- and experts say it's pushing fish species to the brink of extinction…

Temperatures have been above 68 degrees Fahrenheit at dams along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, which is dangerous for cold-water fish species. (Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife/Flickr)

Salmon Struggle to Beat Heat in Columbia River Basin

SEATTLE -- Salmon in the Columbia River basin have been feeling the heat -- and experts say it's pushing fish species to the brink of extinction…

New guidelines for mining projects would allocate a portion of revenues generated from mineral development on public lands to offset expenses for mitigation and abandoned-mine reclamation.(Pixabay)

Sourcing Critical Minerals Without Harming Fish and Wildlife

DENVER -- Colorado's Mineral Belt in the central and southwestern parts of the state is rich in deposits of so-called critical minerals, the kind …

The sockeye salmon runs of Bristol Bay, Alaska, are world-renowned. (BB Armstrong/The Nature Conservancy)

Feds' Approval of AK Mine Raises Concerns for Salmon, Environment

SEATTLE - Conservation, tribal and fishing groups are condemning the Army Corps of Engineers' recommendation to permit the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay…

A bill in Congress would create a $3 billion program for coastal restoration projects. (Iriana Shiyan/Adobe Stock)

Restoration Projects Could Be Key to COVID-19 Recovery for OR Coast

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Communities on the Oregon coast could see sorely needed investments from an infrastructure bill now in Congress. Jean Flemma…

Commercial and recreational fishing supports about 60,000 jobs on the Washington coast. (Bill Perry/Adobe Stock)

Coastal Restoration: A Lifeline for WA Communities

SEATTLE -- An infrastructure bill in Congress would give a big boost to restoration projects along the Washington coast. Dr. Erin Meyer, director of …

The Nooksack River is crucial salmon habitat for the Northwest. (Patrick McNall/Flickr)

WA Dam Removal Brings Hope for NW Fish, Orcas

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Construction crews have begun work to remove the Middle Fork Nooksack Dam near Bellingham, restoring a crucial river for salmon…

Low levels in the Klamath River could make conditions ripe for spreading disease among juvenile salmon. (Patrick McCully/Flickr)

Dry Year, Court Decision Disappoint OR Salmon Advocates

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- With the Klamath Basin expected to see one of the driest years on record, struggles for salmon in southern Oregon are piling …

The John C. Boyle Dam, southwest of Klamath Falls, is one of four dams slated for removal as early as 2022. (Bobjgalindo/Wikimedia Commons)

Salmon Advocates See Hope in Planned Removal of Klamath Dams

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- Advocates for salmon hope the timeline holds for dam removal on the Klamath River, saying it's a race against time to make …

Northwesterners are concerned salmon fishing could be a dying industry if historically low return rates continue. (Nan Palermo/Flickr)

NW Residents Concerned Feds Not Doing Enough to Save Salmon

SEATTLE -- Federal agencies have released a report on management plans in the Columbia River basin to save endangered salmon species, rejecting …

Some fishing communities in Idaho rely on salmon to support their local economies. (Nan Palermo/Flickr)

Federal Report Does Little to Soothe Fears of NW Salmon Disappearance

BOISE, Idaho -- Federal agencies have released a report on management plans in the Columbia River basin to save endangered salmon species, rejecting …

The low numbers of salmon returning to Northwest rivers are raising concerns about a future without these fish. (Bureau of Land Management/Flickr)

Energy, Environmental Groups: Collaboration Possible on Snake River Dams

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Energy companies and conservation groups want to bridge the divide on a contentious issue in the Northwest: the future of four …

Salmon and steelhead return numbers on the Snake River have plummeted in recent decades. (Matthew Dillon/Flickr)

Energy, Conservation Groups Unite on Divisive Snake River Dams Issue

BOISE, Idaho -- Energy companies and conservation groups want to bridge the divide on a contentious issue in the Northwest: the future of four Snake …

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