Salmon and steelhead have not been able to pass some dams in the upper reaches of major rivers across the Pacific Northwest. With climate change and warming waters, providing salmon and steelhead access to thousands of miles of cool water habitat beyond these dams is critical to their survival. It’s also critical to reviving a fundamental component of the lives of many Northwest tribes. WFRC staff currently work with the several tribes and other partners in the upper Columbia River above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams (Upper Columbia United Tribes), above Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River (Winnemem Wintu Tribe), above the Hells Canyon Dam Complex on the Upper Snake River (Upper Snake River Tribes Foundation), the Cle Elum River above Cle Elum Dam (Yakama Nation), and several other places to assess the potential for and strategies to reintroducing salmon and steelhead. 

The following video attached describes the value of salmon and other migratory fish to the Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUT) as well as the work they lead to restore them. As Dr. Michel, the UCUT Executive Director states in the video, “It's more than just a salmon. It’s who we are and who we need to continue to be.” The UCUT Tribes include the Spokane Tribe, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and the Confederate Tribes of Colville Reservation. WFRC is very proud to be a partner of the UCUTs and others in this heroic effort.  

 Reconnecting fish, water, and people (video): Video: Reconnecting Fish, Water, and People (10 minutes)