Judge Orders Changes to Columbia and Snake River Dam Operations to Help 'Disappearing' Salmon

Ruling aims to boost protections for migrating salmon impacted by dams in the Pacific Northwest

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal judge in Oregon has ordered narrow changes to hydropower dam operations on the Columbia and Snake rivers in order to help protect endangered salmon populations. The ruling comes after decades of legal efforts by states, tribes, and conservation groups to ensure better protections for migrating salmon, which are killed in large numbers by the massive dams.

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 threatened. The dams have severely impacted salmon migration and survival, threatening the cultural and spiritual identity of regional Native American tribes who rely on salmon.

The details

The judge ordered that reservoir levels behind the dams remain at the same level as last year and maintained the status quo on spill levels, which the plaintiffs argued can help fish travel through the dams faster and pass over them instead of going through turbines. The federal government had sought higher reservoir levels, but the judge said the changes were 'narrowly tailored' and would not compromise the ability to operate the dams safely and efficiently.

  • In 2023, the Biden administration promised a $1 billion deal over 10 years to help restore salmon while boosting tribal clean energy projects.
  • Last year, the Trump administration rejected that agreement, calling it 'radical environmentalism' that could have resulted in breaching four dams on the Snake River.

The players

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon

The federal judge in Oregon who issued the ruling ordering changes to dam operations to help protect endangered salmon.

Earthjustice

The environmental law firm representing the plaintiffs, which include the states of Oregon and Washington, Native American tribes, and conservation and fishing groups.

Bonneville Power Administration

The federal agency that markets the electricity from the dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Inland Ports and Navigation Group

An organization that opposes the changes to dam operations, arguing they could hinder navigation and disrupt commerce.

Native American tribes

Regional tribes that consider salmon a vital part of their cultural and spiritual identity.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“One of the foundational symbols of the West, a critical recreational, cultural, and economic driver for Western states, and the beating heart and guaranteed resource protected by treaties with several Native American tribes is disappearing from the landscape.”

— U.S. District Judge Michael Simon

“If the government had been allowed to implement their proposal it would have had really, really devastating consequences for salmon.”

— Amanda Goodin, Attorney, Earthjustice

What’s next

The judge's order maintains the status quo on dam operations, but the long-running legal battle over protecting salmon in the Columbia River Basin is likely to continue.

The takeaway

This ruling highlights the ongoing tension between hydropower, navigation, and the need to protect endangered salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest. It underscores the critical importance of the salmon to regional tribes and the broader ecosystem, and the challenges of balancing competing interests in the management of the Columbia River system.