Columbia River Salmon Plan Confined by Outdated Congressional Authorization

September 29, 2020

Columbia River Salmon Plan Confined by Outdated Congressional Authorization

The day we’ve been expecting has arrived. The Bonneville Power Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation signed their Records of Decision about how they plan to manage the Columbia River Hydrosystem for the next 50 years. The federal agencies cemented their decision to implement a slightly revised version of what was supposed to be a temporary management tool, the flexible spill agreement, despite the fact that all parties involved agreed that it was inadequate for the long term when it was established in 2019.

October 6, 2020

Steelheaders Show Overwhelming Support for New Broodstock Program at Clackamas Hatchery

The Clackamas River used to be one of the best places to fish for spring Chinook in the greater Portland area. In recent years, overall fitness of the fish produced at Clackamas Hatchery has reduced. The Steelheaders community is leading the way to support ODFW's recent request to reinvigorate their broodstock program with new wild Chinook.

October 9, 2020

Northwest Governors Announce Intent to Collaborate on Salmon Recovery Will Another Process Prosper or Peril?

Today, the four northwest governors announced their intent to establish a regional collaborative group of stakeholders and tribal sovereigns to investigate opportunities for comprehensive salmon recovery in the Columbia River Basin. This comes one day after the Bonneville Power Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation finalizing their multi-year process of developing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Columbia River System Operations.

October 13, 2020

Our Fishing Heritage is at Risk: Will Our Grandchildren Catch Salmon in the Columbia River Basin?

“The Columbia River is the heart and soul of Oregon, it just is. It pumps through Oregon like the blood in your veins,” said Stevie Parsons, a long-time member, active volunteer, and National Wildlife Federation board member. Many of us throughout the northwest share the sentiment. I spoke to a few of our members to hear about their experiences fishing in the Columbia River Basin.Ultimately, all of their stories centered around one shared concern: whether the fish would persist long enough for future generations to be able to share their experiences.

November 3, 2020

Remove the Dams, Reel in the Profit

Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor recreation activities in the U.S., and a significant source of economic value. In Oregon, recreational angling supports over 12,000 jobs. generates $841 million in retail sales, and provides an economic output of over $1.4 billion. Unfortunately, the populations that support this vibrant economy are at risk of extinction. Salmon recovery isn't just about protecting our fish, it's about protecting our ability to fish in these waters.

November 11, 2020

Steelheaders Take Veterans Fishing Across 130miles of the Columbia River

Since 2012, the Columbia River Chapter’s biggest and most anticipated event of the year has been the Annual Veteran’s Fishing Event, hosted in partnership with The Fallen Outdoors. The Columbia River Chapter strives to get veterans on the water to fish and foster new friendships, and in spite of the curveball(s) 2020 threw our way, we were determined to continue that work this year. After everything veterans have done for us, it’s the least we could do for them.

November 19, 2020

When Forests Burn, Do Salmon Suffer?

For millions of years, fires have served as a source of natural regeneration in western U.S. forests. The fires salmon experienced before the widespread settlement of the west, however, were very different from the increasingly common catastrophic megafires they face today. Fueled by a century of fire suppression and drought, the wildfires that raged through the west this year wreaked havoc on many communities. Salmon communities may be some of the quickest to bounce back.

November 25, 2020

America’s Conservation Enhancement Act Prioritizes Fisheries Conservation and Community Involvement

Just before the election, Congress came together to enact a landmark piece of environmental legislation. With overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle, the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE) passed, ensuring hundreds of millions of dollars will be used for specific and actionable conservation goals in collaboration with key stakeholders in the years to come.