Earthjustice Plaintiffs Join in White House Ceremony Uplifting Historic Columbia Basin Restoration Agreement

Today, White House officials celebrated the signing of a Columbia River Basin restoration agreement with the states of Washington and Oregon and four Columbia Basin Tribes: 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, and the Nez Perce Tribe.  

Earthjustice joined the ceremony along with representatives from fishing and conservation groups it represents.  

The landmark restoration agreement, along with a multi-year stay in Snake River litigation led by Earthjustice, was announced on Dec. 14, 2023, and approved by Judge Michael Simon on Feb. 8, 2024.   

The agreement, which includes U.S. Government Commitments based on a comprehensive restoration plan developed by the four Columbia Basin Tribes with Washington and Oregon, aims to restore wild salmon populations in the Snake and Columbia rivers to a healthy and harvestable abundance.  The agreement also begins work to plan to replace the energy, transportation and irrigation services now provided by the four Lower Snake River dams to prepare for future dam breaching, if authorized.   

December’s agreement was preceded by a Presidential Memorandum in September directing federal agencies to use all their authorities to restore healthy and abundant wild salmon and steelhead populations across the Columbia and Snake River Basin and to review and update any policies not aligned with that goal.  

Following today’s ceremony, Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen issued the following statement: 

“Today’s milestone is possible thanks to the unwavering leadership of Tribes and States and all the other committed stakeholders including our clients who have long sought a comprehensive solution to protect salmon from extinction while investing in Northwest communities. We applaud the Biden administration for reaching this historic agreement. This agreement will create a stronger Pacific Northwest with thriving native fish populations, affordable and reliable clean energy and modernized infrastructure.”