Oregon, Washington, and tribes seek changes to dam operations to recover salmon

Lawyers return to court after Trump administration pulled out of landmark agreement to help restore endangered salmon runs

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Lawyers for conservation groups, Native American tribes, and the states of Oregon and Washington are returning to court to seek changes to dam operations on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This follows the collapse of a 2023 agreement with the federal government to help recover critically imperiled salmon runs, which the Trump administration had called "radical environmentalism" and pulled out of.

Why it matters

The Columbia River Basin was once the world's greatest salmon-producing river system, but today many salmon and steelhead populations are endangered or extinct. The dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers are a major factor in the decline of these iconic Northwest species, which are central to tribal culture and identity. Restoring salmon runs is crucial for the region's ecology, economy, and Native American communities.

The details

The plaintiffs are asking the court to order changes at eight large hydropower dams, including lowering reservoir water levels to help fish travel through faster, and increasing spill to allow juvenile fish to pass over dams instead of through turbines. The federal government has argued this would compromise the ability to operate the dams safely and efficiently, and could raise utility rates. However, the plaintiffs say urgent action is needed as some salmon populations are on the brink of extinction.

  • In June 2025, the Trump administration pulled the U.S. out of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement.
  • On February 6, 2026, lawyers for the plaintiffs are returning to court to seek the dam operation changes.

The players

Kristen Boyles

Managing attorney with Earthjustice, a nonprofit law firm representing conservation, clean energy and fishing groups in the litigation.

Inland Ports and Navigation Group

An organization that has opposed the proposed dam changes, arguing that increasing spill can disrupt the flow of commerce and have a highly destructive impact on communities and the economy.

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What they’re saying

“We're returning to court because the situation for the salmon and the steelhead in the Columbia River Basin is dire. There are populations that are on the brink of extinction, and this is a species which is the center of Northwest tribal life and identity.”

— Kristen Boyles, Managing attorney, Earthjustice (mymotherlode.com)

“Increasing spill 'can disproportionately hurt navigation, resulting in disruptions in the flow of commerce that has a highly destructive impact on our communities and economy.'”

— Inland Ports and Navigation Group (mymotherlode.com)

What’s next

The U.S. District Court in Portland will hear oral arguments on the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction to order changes to dam operations.

The takeaway

This legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between protecting endangered salmon and maintaining the economic benefits provided by the dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The outcome could have far-reaching impacts on the region's ecology, economy, and Native American communities.