FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2026

CONTACTS:
Joseph Bogaard, executive director, Save Our wild Salmon Coalition
joseph@wildsalmon.org // 206-300-1003

Tanya Riordan, policy and advocacy director, Save Our wild Salmon Coalition tanya@wildsalmon.org // 509-990-9777

 Salmon and Fishing Advocates Applaud Federal Court’s Ruling Ordering Immediate Emergency Action to Protect Columbia Basin Salmon and Steelhead from Extinction 

Following the Trump Administration’s decision to terminate the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, emergency measures for imperiled wild salmon and steelhead populations are the only near-term option to protect them from further declines and extinction.

This past fall, plaintiff groups led by Earthjustice and supported by the lower Columbia River Tribes and states of Oregon and Washington filed a motion to lift the litigation stay that had been in place as part of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement (RCBA). This was quickly followed by a request for preliminary injunctive relief to modify federal dam and reservoir operations – and other emergency actions – in order to increase survival of endangered adult and juvenile fish migrating through the lower Columbia and Snake rivers.

Yesterday — The United States District Court in Portland issued its ruling on plaintiffs’ request for preliminary injunctive relief to modify federal dam and reservoir operations and implement immediate emergency actions on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers to protect endangered salmon and steelhead from further harm.

The court-ordered increased spill over eight dams on the lower Columbia and Snake rivers, in time for the 2026 juvenile fish out-migration that begins each year in March and continues through the end of August—allowing juvenile fish to pass over the dams instead of through lethal turbines.

Judge Michael Simon noted, “The Court recognizes the dire situation these species are facing. … It appears that the 2020 BiOp and 2020 FEIS follow this disappointing history of avoidance and manipulation instead of sincere efforts at solving the problem and genuinely remediating the harm.”

The proposed order will take effect March 1, 2026, and continue through the court’s resolution of the case. The schedule for that resolution will be proposed by the parties within 30 days.

STATEMENT from Joseph Bogaard, executive director, Save Our wild Salmon Coalition:

“Salmon, orca and fishing advocates are breathing a big sigh of relief following the court order to better protect imperiled fish populations by requiring modifications to the operation of the federal dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers. Our region's deeply cherished salmon populations are running out of time. The science is clear: Many native fish populations in the Columbia Basin today face extinction, and urgent action is needed to give them a fighting chance to survive and recover. Salmon advocates across the Northwest and beyond applaud the Tribes, States and non-governmental organizations for seeking emergency action, and we appreciate the court moving quickly to issue its decision. This order will improve survival of these imperiled fish populations as they migrate past dams in the lower Columbia and Snake rivers.”

While salmon advocates see the order as a strong victory for fish, the Court did not grant all of the conservation measures requested by plaintiffs. However, the Court acknowledged the urgent need to deliver emergency action to improve survival of both out-migrating juveniles and returning adult fish, noting that “one of the foundational symbols of the West, a critical recreational, cultural, and economic driver for Western states, and the beating heart and guaranteed resource protected by treaties with several Native American tribes is disappearing from the landscape.”

Additional, long-term changes in the Columbia and Snake rivers will be needed to protect and rebuild sustainable fish populations, including the restoration of the lower Snake River. The federal Columbia-Snake hydro-system is the single greatest source of human-caused mortality for these endangered salmon and steelhead populations.

The order, however, does provide immediate and critical relief for the fish and an opportunity for our region to work together on longer-term comprehensive solutions — for salmon and orca, to uphold Tribal Treaty rights, and to plan and develop a more sustainable energy system.

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For additional background and Plaintiff statements see Earthjustice Press Release: Court Orders Emergency Actions to Protect Imperiled Columbia Basin Salmon - Earthjustice