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Learn about the major events, court rulings, and where we are now in this long-standing fight.

State of Oregon proposed order seeking emergency measures to protect endangered salmon and steelhead from harms caused by lower Snake and Columbia River dam operations.

Conservation, fishing, and clean energy groups represented by Earthjustice filed a preliminary injunction request with a federal court in Oregon seeking emergency measures to protect endangered salmon and steelhead from harms caused by lower Snake and Columbia River dam operations. The State of Oregon filed a similar request at the same time.

Following the Trump administration’s abrupt and unilateral withdrawal from a historic agreement to restore the Columbia basin, plaintiffs return to court to prevent salmon and steelhead extinction

This full-page ad ran in the Seattle Times on Oct. 8, 2025 to help counter misinformation about the state of the Columbia Basin’s salmon and steelhead runs being spread by industry special interests. The truth is that Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead are in serious trouble, with key stocks teetering on the brink of extinction. For more information: https://earthjustice.org/feature/columbia-basin-salmon-peril

Wild fish populations in the Columbia Basin are in serious trouble, with key stocks teetering on the brink of extinction.

Conservation, fishing, and clean energy groups today filed this motion to set a court schedule along with a motion requesting the U.S. District Court in Oregon end a multi-year pause on the groups’ long-running litigation to protect endangered Columbia Basin wild salmon and steelhead from federal dams that kill and harm them.

The Trump Administration’s unilateral withdrawal from a historic agreement forces plaintiffs back to court to protect salmon and steelhead from lethal dams

Conservation, fishing, and clean energy groups represented by Earthjustice today filed a motion requesting the U.S. District Court in Oregon end a multi-year pause on the groups’ long-running litigation to protect endangered Columbia Basin wild salmon and steelhead from federal dams that kill and harm them.

This letter from 65 businesses and organizations on behalf of millions of members and supporters voices strong opposition to H.R. 2073, the “Defending our Dams Act.” This destructive legislation would block a decades-long, region-wide effort to restore struggling wild salmon and orca populations, address energy issues in the region and modernize outdated Northwest infrastructure.

The Trump administration’s decision to abandon the agreement continues the administration’s pattern of breaking promises, ignoring science, and devaluing our iconic lands and wildlife.

The administration’s decision reneges on promised investments in fisheries and clean energy, and ignores federal, state, tribal science on the need for urgent action to prevent extinction and rebuild healthy and abundant salmon

Wild fish populations in the Columbia Basin are in serious trouble, with key stocks teetering on the brink of extinction.

Amanda Goodin, Attorney, Northwest Office: “The alliance will continue, and that policy will continue. The agreement that’s in place is a strong one, so they [feds] would be wise to continue. For a long time, some have pitted healthy and abundant salmon against other interests in the region. You can have salmon and agriculture.”

Salmon advocates commend the move to revise the study as a critical next step in a comprehensive plan to restore the Columbia Basin’s native fisheries

Washington’s leadership affirms the state’s commitment to restore healthy and abundant salmon and steelhead fisheries in the Columbia and Snake rivers

A new report highlights the need for concrete action to restore salmon populations and honor treaty obligations.

Tribal Circumstances Analysis acknowledges historic, ongoing and cumulative injustice to Tribes from the Columbia Basin dams and need for immediate action