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Why are there so few salmon left?

There are many reasons for the decline in salmon populations. Logging an area around a stream reduces the shade and nutrients available to the stream and increases the amount of silt or dirt in the water, which can choke out developing eggs. Dams cause fish to die from the shock of going through the turbines and from predators that eat the disoriented fish as they emerge from the dam. Overfishing is another source of death that can contribute to the decline of salmon. The weather affects the amount of food that is available to salmon in the ocean. Pollution and disease have also contributed to population declines.

Learn more: Western Fisheries Research Center - Questions and Answers about Salmon