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Columbia River and Salmon Passage

In: Restoring America's Rivers

Author

Listed:
  • Richard M. Robinson

    (State University of New York)

Abstract

During the nineteenth century, fifteen million salmon and steelhead migrated up the Columbia River and its tributaries each year. Since then, tall hydropower dams (more than 100 dams) were constructed in the Columbia River Watershed. These dams also serve agricultural irrigation and flood control interests. In 1980, the Northwest Power Act was enacted. It created the Northwest Power Conservation Council. The goal was “to treat fish and wildlife as co-equal partners with other uses in the management and operation of the hydro projects of this region.” This became an issue of environmental justice for Northwest Indigenous Tribes, and court cases favored the Tribes interests. As part of the attempts to save the salmon runs, improvements in breeding and hatching through fish boxes occurred. But the warming of the Northwest’s waters due to global climate change, plus the buildup of sediment behind the dams, adversely affected the cold-water fish (salmon and trout). The EPA responded with the “Columbia River Cold Water Refuges Plan,” which provided greater water release for the migrating fish.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard M. Robinson, 2025. "Columbia River and Salmon Passage," Springer Books, in: Restoring America's Rivers, chapter 0, pages 167-197, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-031-81758-8_6
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-81758-8_6
    as

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