SOS Blog
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BPA Must Not Abandon Its Obligations to Salmon
Most salmon populations in the Columbia Basin are nowhere near healthy and abundant – and many are hovering on the brink of extinction. The development and operation of hydroelectric dams is responsible for the overwhelming majority of the reduction in Columbia Basin salmon runs. Take Action to defend fish, Tribal rights & a healthy Columbia Basin.
Salmon form the cornerstone of an entire ecosystem, providing essential food for species such as Southern Resident orca whales, which are highly endangered with lack of prey as a primary threat. Commercial and recreational fisheries support family wage jobs and communities from Alaska to California, and the decline in wild salmon populations has led to livelihoods lost and communities compromised, as harvest is constrained to protect dwindling wild fish. These closures have been especially dire for Tribes whose treaty rights and way of life depend on these fish.
Confronted with this alarming decline in Columbia River Basin salmon, Congress in 1980 enacted the Northwest Power Act, under which BPA has an obligation to “protect, mitigate, and enhance” fish and wildlife to the extent they are impacted by federal hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries. BPA, like all federal agencies, must honor the United States’ treaties with Tribes as the supreme law of the land—including treaties that reserve to Tribes in the Basin the right to catch these fish.
Despite these clear obligations, BPA is turning its back on its legal responsibility to protect and rebuild salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin.
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) is in the process of developing its 2026 Fish and Wildlife Program, which includes targets for salmon abundance and detailed measures to achieve those targets. Since 1987, NPCC has repeatedly reaffirmed a goal of 5 million salmon returning annually to the Basin. While only a fraction of historic abundance, this target is nonetheless more than double recent average annual returns of around 2 million fish.
But now, BPA is trying to wash its hands of this legal responsibility.
In recommendations recently filed to NPCC, BPA has requested NPCC to eliminate or adjust downward its target of 5 million salmon returning to the Columbia River Basin annually. BPA has also argued in its recommendations that it should not have any responsibility to meet the targets even if the NPCC does retain them.
TAKE ACTION: BPA Must Not Abandon Its Obligations to Salmon!
Submit a comment to Northwest Power and Conservation Council to:
- Reject BPA’s recommendations to eliminate salmon recovery goals and require BPA and the region to meet its long-standing obligations to protect, mitigate, and enhance our irreplaceable salmon.
- Support NPCC staff’s proposal to model dam breaching and “fish-first, non-breach” hydro operations as part of their plan. With this proposal, the Council would be able to assess what the region’s power needs would be if we fully commit to the actions that fish need to recover to healthy and abundant levels – a key prerequisite to actually implementing these increased fish protections (i.e. dam breach or improved fish operations). This is a crucial step toward developing the information and solutions we need that support both abundant salmon AND affordable, reliable energy — and it reflects the recommendations of state and Tribal fish and wildlife experts across the region.
Use this form to submit a comment by July 3:
Write your own, or copy and paste our suggested comment below!
Comment template:
Dear Northwest Power and Conservation Council Members,
I am deeply concerned about the crisis salmon and steelhead are facing across the Columbia Basin, and Bonneville Power Administration’s attempt to abandon its obligations to help recover and rebuild imperiled salmon populations.
In recommendations recently submitted to the NPCC, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) calls for the elimination of the long-held interim goal of 5 million salmon returning to the Columbia River Basin annually, as well as the productivity goals that would lead to increased salmon abundance. BPA also argues in its recommendations that it should not have any responsibility to meet the NPCC’s targets even if the Council does retain them.
BPA cannot reconcile its recommendations with its obligation under the NW Power Act to protect, mitigate, and enhance salmon populations to the extent they are affected by the federal hydrosystem.
The region’s fish and wildlife managers have proposed an extensive set of science-based measures that will help the region achieve the 5 million goal, and the NPCC should adopt these expert recommendations.
Additionally, I urge the NPCC to adopt recommendations to include dam breach and “fish first” scenarios in program modeling. Understanding the impact of these scenarios on energy production is critical to developing solutions that support both healthy salmon runs and affordable, reliable energy – which is the core of the NPCC’s mission.
I strongly urge you to maintain these important goals and benchmarks and include the proposed modeling for dam breach and “fish first” hydro operations in the final FY 26’ Fish and Wildlife Program.
Signed,
Stand with fishermen who traveled to D.C.—Join them in urging Congress to support urgent salmon recovery investments
From left to right: Chris Vertopoulos, Bob Rees, Herman Fleishman, and Joseph Bogaard.Joseph Bogaard, Save Our wild Salmon Coalition’s Executive Director, traveled to Washington D.C. with salmon/fishing advocates from Oregon and Washington during the week of June 9.
The delegation of recreational fishing guides/small business owners took valuable time away from the river and their families to advocate together for healthy abundant salmon populations and the cultural, economic, and ecological benefits they bring to communities across the Pacific Northwest.
Joseph was joined by Chris Vertopoulos, the owner of Chris V’s Guide Service and treasurer for Northwest Guides and Anglers Association (NWGAA), Bob Rees, the owner of Bob Rees’ Fishing Guide Service, president of NWGAA, and SOS Board member, and Herman Fleishman, the owner of Northwest Fishing Adventures and a member of NWGAA and Northwest Sportsfishing Industry Association.
They spent June 9, 10 and 11 walking the halls of Congress and meeting with policymakers and their staff, sharing how the crisis facing salmon and steelhead impacts our region, and asking for their help. They urged policymakers to support the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI) and to do all they can to secure important salmon recovery investments that have been requested by the ‘Six Sovereigns’. Developed by the Six Sovereigns, the CBRI establishes for the first time a comprehensive, regionally supported roadmap to rebuild imperiled native fish populations, honor our nation's promises to Northwest Tribes, and restore healthy ecosystems while also supporting a robust economy.
Support for and collaborative implementation of the CBRI and regional salmon recovery investments is essential to the health and future of our communities in the Columbia/Snake Basin and across the Northwest.
Our delegation of citizen lobbyists traveled to D.C. spurred by their grave concerns about the steep declines of salmon and steelhead stocks, and what that means for our region’s special way of life, the opportunities for families and small businesses, and the harmful effects on our economy and ecosystems.
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You're Invited to 'A Majestic Matriarchy: Honoring the Southern Residents' on June 14 in Seattle!
Please join us on June 14 for A Majestic Matriarchy: Honoring the Southern Resident Orcas at St. Joseph Parish in Seattle! Join us to listen, learn, and be inspired by the heartfelt words, visions, and voices of Indigenous women leaders from around the Northwest. There will be a Netse Mot: A Gathering Meal from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, and the program begins at 6:30 pm. A Majestic Matriarchy is presented by Se’Si’Le, an Indigenous-led nonprofit in Washington State, and is supported by Save Our wild Salmon and a coalition of NGOs and faith-based partners.
Building on the success of Tribute to the Orca last June, this year’s event will feature a powerful lineup of Indigenous women who will bring attention to the plight and importance of the Southern Resident orcas. Many Native people have a deep affinity with the matriarchal lifeway of the majestic Southern Resident relatives who rely on the older females for stability, especially in times of crisis. A grave crisis is now upon them, and their existence is imperiled.
Tickets are available on a sliding scale basis. Indigenous People are welcome to attend free-of charge. Space is limited so be sure to reserve your tickets. Learn more and reserve your tickets here.
SOS is excited to support this special event and we hope to see you there!
Advocating for Pacific salmon from the Northwest to DC - and how YOU can help!
From left to right: Ginna Owens (NextGen), Marin Plut (NextGen), Linda Behnken (Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association), Abby Dalke (SOS), Tanya Riordan (SOS), Keenan Sanderson (Tlingit Haida), and Amy Grondin (Duna Fisheries)
Recently, a team of advocates from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon flew to Washington, DC to advocate together on Capitol Hill for healthy abundant salmon populations and the benefits they bring to communities, cultures, and ecosystems across the entire Pacific Northwest.
Our team was two youth advocates with our NextGen Salmon Collective, two female commercial salmon fishermen, and a Tlingit & Haida member, along with Abby and myself from the SOS team. While geographically diverse, the unique, sacred thread that tied our team together was Columbia Basin salmon. As the map shows, some stocks of Columbia and Snake River salmon migrate as far north as Southeast Alaska – cycling nutrients from the Inland Northwest to the coast of Southeast Alaska and back. With a unified voice, our team asked policymakers to restore and protect these cherished species that connect us.
Show your support by taking action today!
We asked our Members of Congress to support the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI) a comprehensive plan to recover salmon and invest in communities developed by the “Six Sovereigns,” (the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the states of Oregon and Washington). The CBRI is the pathway to restore Columbia and Snake River salmon and other native fish populations, ensure a clean and socially just energy future, support local economic resilience, and uphold our nation’s longstanding unmet commitments to Tribal Nations. Implementation of this historic, regionally supported plan will bring salmon abundance, and the prosperity that accompanies it, to communities from Idaho to Southeast Alaska.
We urged Members of Congress to oppose harmful attacks that would undermine important progress and implementation of the CBRI, and to secure critical funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget as requested by the Six Sovereigns.
You can be a part of this important advocacy work by urging your members of Congress to support the Six Sovereigns’ FY26 Appropriations request to support the implementation of the CBRI. To learn more and take action click here.
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Get that GIVING feeling - to recover salmon and restore their rivers!
By LeeAnne Beres
I thought you might like to hear my Top 10 reasons why I’ll be making a gift to Save Our wild Salmon as part of GiveBIG, alongside so many of our generous supporters.
10. Salmon are amazing, resilient, spiritual creatures. As author David James Duncan wrote so eloquently, “There is a fire in water. There is an invisible flame, hidden in water, that creates not heat but life. And in this bewildering age, no matter how dark or glib some humans work to make it, wild salmon still climb rivers and mountain ranges in absolute earnest, solely to make contact with that flame. Words can't reach deep or high enough to embody this wonder. Only wild salmon can embody it. Each migration, each annual return from the sea, these incomparable creatures climb our inland mountains and sacrifice their lives, that tiny silver offspring may be born of an impossible water flame.”
9. SOS has a long successful history – over 30 years! – of bringing together diverse partners and stakeholders from around the region for strategic, coordinated, and collaborative action to rebuild salmon abundance by protecting their habitats and restoring and reconnecting their rivers. SOS has been effective at securing more water in the river for salmon, holding federal agencies accountable for their obligations under federal laws, and pushing for a stronger Columbia River Treaty. We’re making progress and securing these wins – and many others – together.
8. Restoring the lower Snake River is one of our nation’s great fish and wildlife initiatives today. Removing four federal dams on the lower Snake River will re-establish a 140-mile free-flowing river and 14,000+ acres of riparian habitat in the heart of Pacific Northwest salmon country. Working in collaboration with our member organizations and other regional allies, SOS has the organizing and policy expertise to continue moving the region toward a comprehensive plan that removes these dams, invests in our communities, and modernizes our region’s energy, transportation, and irrigation infrastructure.
7. The diversity of the SOS Coalition is our strength. SOS is comprised of more than 50 organizations: conservation groups, commercial and sportfishing associations, businesses, and salmon, orca, and clean energy advocates – as well as citizen activists – all working to protect and recover critically endangered salmon and steelhead populations that call the Columbia-Snake River Basin home.
6. I’m excited about SOS’ NextGen Salmon Collective, which trains and empowers up-and-coming youth advocates to amplify their voices through strategic outreach and organizing. In the past year, NextGen leaders have hosted and participated in dozens of advocacy events and outreach initiatives including film screenings, letter-writing parties, tabling on campus, presentations, canvassing in the local community, and participating in meetings with elected officials in the Northwest and in DC. These young activists are critical to a brighter and healthier future!
5. SOS led a ‘citizen delegation’ to Washington D.C. last week where they met with two dozen Congressional offices to advocate for salmon recovery, healthy rivers, and vibrant communities. Our participants included two NextGen youth advocates, two female commercial fishermen, and a Tlingit & Haida leader from southeast Alaska, along with Tanya and Abby D. from the SOS team. They had productive conversations and left feeling inspired and energized for the work ahead.
4. My heart was filled at the recent “For the Love of Orcas: An Evening of Art and Poetry” event in Olympia, which featured regional poets and authors – and stunning artwork of the Southern Resident orcas created by Gabriel Newton. Hosted by SOS through our Northwest Artists Against Extinction project in collaboration with several NGO allies, this powerful standing-room-only event moved hearts and minds and offered everyone an invitation into deeper connection with each other, our iconic orcas, and the salmon they rely on. Art is truly transformative!
3. I’m looking forward to “A Majestic Matriarchy: Honoring Southern Resident Orcas” on June 14 in Seattle. Hosted by Se’Si’Le, an Indigenous-led nonprofit, the event is supported by a coalition of NGOs including SOS. It will focus on Indigenous women to celebrate and bring attention to the Southern Resident orcas. Many native peoples share a deep affinity for the matriarchal lifeway of our majestic orcas who rely on the older females for guidance, especially in times of crisis. Join us to listen, learn, and be inspired by the heartfelt words, visions, and voices of powerful Indigenous women leaders. Registration information is coming soon.
2. On September 9, 1999, I stood on Lower Granite Dam and swore that I’d see it removed in my lifetime, and I know SOS will be one of the driving forces to make that goal a reality. I picked up a rock from the dam’s earthen berm that day and keep it in my home office, where it inspires me to work toward the vision of a restored river and thriving salmon. When the Snake River finally flows free, I’ll return the rock to its banks with prayers of thanksgiving for all who made it possible and the timeless persistence of the salmon who once again will swim quicksilver to the sea.
And the #1 Reason:
1. I believe in people power – that’s you! SOS educates, inspires, and mobilizes our supporters and the public to act on behalf of salmon and their rivers, but none of this would be possible without you, without all of us together. Your voice makes a real difference, and I’m so glad that you’ve decided to take action with Save Our wild Salmon. Together we can do hard things, and while saving wild salmon isn’t easy, it’s essential to Northwest tribes and other fishing communities, to orcas and to our region’s identity and special way of life.
I’m sure you have your own Top 10 reasons for supporting SOS, but all you need today is one – it’s GiveBig, and a generous donor is providing a $15,000 match so your contribution will be doubled dollar for dollar.
Thank you for all that you do,
LeeAnne Beres and the SOS team
NextGen Salmon Collective student leaders share their perspective in Olympia!
We are thrilled to share a story of hope and inspiration! On March 21, five NextGen Salmon Collective leaders spent the day in Olympia advocating for salmon, orcas, and all the communities that depend on and cherish these iconic species!
The students delivered a timely petition with over 200 student signatures to Governor Ferguson’s office – advocating for leadership to protect and restore Snake River salmon and Southern Resident orcas.
They wrote to the Governor, “As youth of the Pacific Northwest, we will see the consequences of the decisions you make today. We will either see a bright future with abundant salmon, a healthy ecosystem, and prosperous communities, or we will be faced with the unacceptable outcome of salmon extinction. We ask that you choose abundance over extinction, and that you strongly support the continued implementation of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative.”
We are deeply appreciative of their leadership to ensure salmon abundance and healthy Southern Residents for future generations. See below for their reflections on the first inaugural NextGen Legislative Advocacy Day!
“My favorite part of the Legislative Advocacy Day was meeting with Tribal representatives and senators to talk about Treaty rights and our rights to salmon restoration.” - Keyen Singer, University of Oregon
“I really enjoyed meeting with so many different legislators and talking about what they can do for salmon recovery.” - Katie Chase, Western Washington University
“I advocate for salmon and orca because they are a crucial part of our ecosystems and our communities all throughout Washington and without them, we are not Washington!” - Virginia Owens, Gonzaga University
Applications for the summer internship program are now open! Learn more about the NextGen Salmon Collective and apply here. Reach out to abby@wildsalmon.org if you have any questions.
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