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Sockeye salmon  (Neil Ever Osborne / Save Our Wild Salmon)
feature December 14, 2023

Timeline: A Long Fight to Restore Snake River Salmon

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

An adult salmon navigates through the fish ladder counting room at the Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River. (Brian Plonka for Earthjustice)
Press Release December 14, 2023

U.S. Government Sets a Path to Breach the Four Lower Snake River Dams

The Biden administration commits considerable federal resources to support the restoration of native fish populations and prepare for dam breaching

Lower Granite Dam, one of the four massive dams on the Lower Snake River, that is driving wild salmon to extinction. The other three are Ice Harbor, Little Goose, and Lower Monumental.
(Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)
feature January 8, 2023

Why Restoration of the Lower Snake River is Necessary to Save Wild Salmon

It’s time for the four dams on the Lower Snake River to go and for our salmon to come home — to a free-flowing and healthy Snake River.

A sockeye salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus nerka</i>) in Little Redfish Lake Creek, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho. (Neil Ever Osborne / Save Our Wild Salmon / iLCP)
Press Release April 24, 2023

Washington State Legislature Takes Important Next Steps Towards Honoring Treaty Responsibilities to Tribal Nations and Restoring Endangered Salmon in the Lower Snake River

The Northwest Salmon Restoration Campaign celebrates progress on the largest river restoration in history

Snake River's blue waters stand out against green landscape with Teton Mountain Range ascending in the background. Grand Tetons National Park, Teton County, Wyoming. (Edwin Remsberg / Getty Images)
Update December 7, 2023

Snake River Salmon Are in Crisis — But a Turning Point May Be Near

As time runs out for Pacific Northwest salmon, the Biden administration is signaling important steps to restore native fish populations and honor treaty obligations.

Sun sets on a dammed section of the Snake River in between Lower Granite dam and Lewiston, ID, near Chief Timothy Park. (Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)
Press Release February 8, 2024

Oregon’s U.S. District Court Approves Long-Term Pause of Snake River Litigation, Allowing Columbia River Restoration to Move Forward

Judge rejects requests by opponents to disapprove agreement

A sockeye salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus nerka</i>) in Little Redfish Lake Creek, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho. (Neil Ever Osborne / Save Our Wild Salmon / iLCP)
Press Release October 31, 2023

Parties in Snake River Salmon Litigation Ask Court for More Time

The notice will allow negotiations to continue

Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Little Redfish Lake Creek, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho. Salmon will have greater access to spawning grounds in Idaho if the lower Snake River dams are removed.
(Neil Ever Osborne / Save Our Wild Salmon / iLCP)
Press Release September 27, 2023

Plaintiffs in Columbia-Snake Litigation Applaud the Biden Administration’s Resolve to Restore Snake River Salmon

Presidential Memorandum directs federal agencies to restore healthy and abundant salmon populations across the Columbia River Basin

The Lower Granite Dam is one of the four Lower Snake River dams.
(Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)
Press Release December 17, 2024

Federal Agencies Plan to Revise Flawed Environmental Study for Columbia Basin Hydropower Operations

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

Press Release October 21, 2021

Snake River: Conservation & Fishing Groups Agree to Pause Litigation, Discuss Long-Term, Comprehensive Solution to Aid Struggling Salmon

Federal agencies agree to stop-gap measures for dam operations in 2022

The Lower Granite Dam is one of the four Lower Snake River dams.
(Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)
From the Experts January 3, 2022

Breakthrough in 20+ Year Legal Battle Over Fate of Snake River Salmon

Federal agencies in the Biden administration have finally agreed to seek a long-term comprehensive solution that restores Snake River salmon.

To reach spawning grounds upstream, salmon have to make it past the dams.
(Bill Perry / Getty Images)
Press Release July 16, 2021

With Snake River Salmon Facing Deadly Heatwave, Conservation & Fishing Groups Seek More Spill from Dams to Aid Fish

Groups file injunction request for stop-gap measure to aid struggling salmon, steelhead

Press Release August 4, 2022

Parties Ask Court to Extend Stay in Legal Fight for Endangered Snake River Salmon

Urgent action is needed to restore salmon and other native fish populations

A sockeye salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus nerka</i>) in Little Redfish Lake Creek, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho. (Neil Ever Osborne / Save Our Wild Salmon / iLCP)
Press Release December 4, 2024

Earthjustice Plaintiffs Applaud Washington State’s Bold Leadership on Columbia Basin Salmon Recovery

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

Ciarra Greene, member of the Nez Perce Tribe, walks along a section of the Snake River near Asotin, Wash. (Brian Plonka for Earthjustice)
Update June 27, 2024

The Federal Government Is Finally Acknowledging How Columbia River Basin Dams Have Harmed Tribes

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

A sockeye salmon in Little Redfish Lake Creek. Oncorhynchus nerka. Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho.
(Neil Ever Osborne / Save Our Wild Salmon / iLCP)
Press Release July 31, 2020

Columbia-Snake Rivers Plan Condemned As Failure For Salmon, Tribes, Communities

Experts have concluded the preferred alternative does not do nearly enough to prevent salmon extinction on the Columbia and Snake, and therefore will end up back in court

Grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park, May 19, 2020. (Jim Peaco / NPS)
feature January 8, 2025

A New Vision for Grizzly Recovery

Science shows that true recovery of grizzly bears requires a unified population with connected ecosystems.

Activists take to the lower Snake River to demand the removal of four dams that are causing wild salmon and steelhead populations to crash. (Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)
Press Release September 7, 2017

Hundreds to Gather on the Snake River to Demand Action to Save Wild Salmon and Steelhead

Boaters call for dam removal at Third Annual Free the Snake Flotilla