Tribes propose restoring Grand Coulee anadromous salmon runs

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Published: Wednesday, 17 December 2014 00:54

One of the most remarkable outcomes in discussions to modernize the Columbia River Treaty is whether to embrace and support anadromous salmon and other fish once again migrating the Columbia past Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams and into Canada.

To further the discussion, last February Columbia Basin tribes and Canadian First Nations jointly released a proposal providing a path forward. In the near term, the proposal calls for “… a series of preliminary planning, research, and experimental pilot studies designed to inform subsequent reintroduction and passage strategies.” In the long term, think next generation, imagine chinook, sockeye, steelhead and other species making their way through fish passage facilities, finding suitable habitat and flows, and restoring their place in the life cycle that existed for thousands of years.

Based on feedback, the proposal was updated and distributed in time for the October transboundary Columbia River Basin Conference. Click to view: UCUT Fish Passage Proposal