A federal judge in Oregon has ordered narrow changes to hydropower dam operations on the Columbia and Snake rivers, ruling that the Trump administration's plans would harm salmon runs that are 'disappearing from the landscape'. The decision comes in a long-running legal battle involving Oregon, Washington, Native American tribes, and conservation groups.
Judge Michael Simon expressed frustration at the 'disappointing history of government avoidance and manipulation' and ordered reservoir levels to remain as they were last year, with spill levels maintained. The plaintiffs had sought lower reservoir levels and increased spill to help fish pass dams more safely, while the federal government wanted higher levels.
The ruling follows the collapse of a 2023 deal under the Biden administration that promised $1 billion for salmon restoration and tribal clean energy projects. The Trump administration scrapped the agreement, calling it 'radical environmentalism' that could lead to dam breaching.
Amanda Goodin of Earthjustice welcomed the decision, saying the government's proposal would have had 'devastating consequences for salmon'. The Justice Department and National Marine Fisheries Service did not comment, while the Bonneville Power Administration referred inquiries to the Justice Department.
The Columbia River Basin, once the world's greatest salmon-producing system, now has four extinct stocks and seven endangered or threatened. Dams have slowed juvenile salmon migration from days to weeks, increasing predation and mortality. The ruling maintains the status quo while litigation continues.
