A federal judge in Oregon has ordered the US government to alter operations of hydropower dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, ruling in favour of endangered salmon and steelhead populations. Judge Michael Simon rejected an attempt by the Trump administration to overturn a previous agreement designed to protect the fish.
The dispute centres on eight dams that have long been blamed for the decline of native fish, which struggle to pass turbines and navigate warm reservoirs. The Trump administration withdrew from a landmark 2023 recovery plan, the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, which had committed more than $1bn over a decade to support salmon runs and clean energy projects.
In his ruling, Judge Simon criticised the administration's position and what he called a 'disappointing history of government avoidance and manipulation'. He noted that the Columbia River basin, once the world's most productive salmon system, has seen seven of 16 stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act, with four already extinct.
The judge ordered reservoir and flow levels to return to those of the previous year, with some modest increases. Environmental groups, including Earthjustice and the National Wildlife Federation, welcomed the decision, saying it provides immediate relief to prevent extinction of the region's salmon.
