Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition

Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition
Name	Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition
Founded	1999
Location	Pacific Northwest, United States
Focus	Salmon conservation, river restoration, endangered species

Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition

Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition is a United States-based nonprofit environmental alliance formed in 1999 to coordinate conservation efforts for Pacific salmon and steelhead across the Columbia, Snake, and Klamath River basins. The coalition brings together regional advocacy groups, tribal governments, conservation organizations, and recreational fishing associations to influence policy decisions affecting Columbia River, Snake River, Klamath River, Pacific Northwest, and related infrastructures such as dams and hydroelectric projects. Working at the intersection of legal action, science, and public outreach, the coalition engages with federal agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bonneville Power Administration.

History

The coalition was established in the context of high-profile litigation and policy debates of the 1990s involving Endangered Species Act, Northwest Power Act, and river operations tied to projects like the Grand Coulee Dam and the John Day Dam. Founding partners included tribal entities such as the Nez Perce Tribe and environmental groups like American Rivers, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and The Wilderness Society. Early action responded to biological opinions from National Marine Fisheries Service and court rulings from federal judges in cases connected to salmon survival, drawing attention from entities including the Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation. The coalition’s history intersects with national conservation milestones such as the listing of Chinook salmon and steelhead trout under the Endangered Species Act and regional initiatives like the Columbia Basin Fish Accords.

Mission and Goals

The coalition’s stated mission centers on the recovery of wild salmon and steelhead populations by advocating for river reforms, dam reoperation or removal where necessary, and habitat restoration throughout the Columbia River Basin and Klamath Basin. Goals emphasize compliance with the Endangered Species Act, implementation of scientifically supported recovery plans from agencies such as the National Research Council and NOAA Fisheries, protection of treaty-reserved fishing rights held by tribes like the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and coordination with state agencies in Oregon, Washington (state), Idaho, and California. The coalition frames objectives around restoring natural river processes influenced by projects such as Lower Granite Dam, Ice Harbor Dam, and policies debated in forums like the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Organizational Structure and Membership

The coalition functions as a partnership network rather than a single incorporated charity, composed of regional nonprofits, tribal governments, and advocacy groups. Members have included established organizations like Audubon Society, Earthjustice, Friends of the Earth, Trout Unlimited, and grassroots regional groups from cities such as Portland, Oregon, Seattle, and Boise, Idaho. Tribal participants have included the Yakama Nation, Umatilla Indian Tribe, and Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Governance operates through steering committees and working groups coordinating litigation strategies, scientific advisory input from institutions such as University of Washington, Oregon State University, Idaho State University, and policy engagement with federal bodies like the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Major Campaigns and Activities

Campaigns have targeted large hydropower projects—most notably campaigns addressing removal or breaching of lower Snake River dams including Lower Granite Dam, Little Goose Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, and Ice Harbor Dam—and restoration of tributary habitat in basins such as the Grande Ronde River and Salmon River (Idaho). The coalition has coordinated litigation with partners in cases before courts including the United States District Court for the District of Oregon and has submitted administrative testimony to bodies like NOAA Fisheries and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Activities have included community organizing around events in locations like Columbia Gorge, policy reports informed by research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and collaboration with fisheries scientists studying species such as sockeye salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead.

Policy Positions and Advocacy

The coalition advocates for dam breaching or operational changes to improve fish passage, increased spill during migration seasons pursuant to Endangered Species Act recoveries, and enforcement of habitat protections under statutes including the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. It supports funding mechanisms such as regional fish and wildlife programs created by the Bonneville Power Administration under the Northwest Power Act, and has opposed proposals that prioritize transmission or irrigation projects at the expense of fish runs, engaging with entities such as the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Policy stances are informed by peer-reviewed studies from research bodies like the National Research Council and litigation outcomes from cases involving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding historically derives from member organizations, foundation grants from entities similar to The Pew Charitable Trusts and The Rockefeller Foundation, and support from conservation philanthropies and local fundraising. Operational partnerships include collaborations with academic partners at Oregon State University and University of Idaho, tribal co-management with nations such as the Nez Perce Tribe, and advocacy coordination with national groups like Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council. The coalition also interfaces with regional stakeholders including utilities like PacifiCorp and federal agencies such as the Bonneville Power Administration.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critics, including some regional agricultural, navigation, and hydroelectric interests such as Northwest RiverPartners and representatives from inland ports like Port of Lewiston, argue that the coalition’s support for dam removal threatens power generation, irrigation managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, and navigation commerce along the Columbia River. Opponents have cited economic analyses from institutions like Idaho State University and testimony before the U.S. Congress to dispute cost estimates for dam breaching. The coalition’s litigation strategies have provoked legal pushback in federal courts and political debate in state legislatures of Oregon, Washington (state), and Idaho. Environmental debates have sometimes pitted the coalition against other conservation priorities represented by groups such as The Nature Conservancy when trade-offs between species, habitat, and infrastructure arise.

Category:Environmental organizations based in the United States