Northwest States and Tribes Return to Court After Trump Scuttles Salmon Deal
Lawyers representing conservation groups, Native American tribes, and the states of Oregon and Washington are heading back to federal court on Friday. Their objective is to secure judicial orders mandating significant operational changes to the dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This legal action follows the dramatic collapse of a landmark, billion-dollar agreement with the federal government designed to aid the recovery of critically imperiled salmon populations.
The Collapse of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement
President Donald Trump effectively torpedoed the 2023 Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement last year, pulling the United States out of the pact. The deal, originally negotiated by the Biden administration, had promised an investment of $1 billion over a decade. This funding was intended to support salmon restoration efforts while simultaneously boosting tribal clean energy projects. The White House, under Trump, labeled the agreement "radical environmentalism," arguing it could have led to the controversial breaching of four major dams on the Snake River.
The agreement's dissolution has reignited a lengthy and complex legal battle. The pact had previously allowed for a pause in litigation, providing a temporary respite for all parties involved. With its termination, the plaintiffs have been compelled to return to the judicial arena to pursue their objectives through the courts.
Legal Arguments and Proposed Dam Changes
The core legal argument presented by the plaintiffs is that the current federal operation of the dams constitutes a violation of the Endangered Species Act. They contend that the government's management practices are directly contributing to the precipitous decline of salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River Basin.
In their motion for a preliminary injunction, the coalition is asking the U.S. District Court in Portland to order specific operational changes at eight large hydropower dams. These proposed modifications include:
- Lowering reservoir water levels to facilitate faster downstream travel for adult fish.
- Increasing water spill over the dams, which helps juvenile salmon pass over the structures safely instead of being forced through dangerous turbine systems.
The federal government has vehemently opposed these requests in court filings. Officials have characterized the plaintiffs' demands as a "sweeping scheme to wrest control" of the dams. They argue that such court-ordered changes would compromise the safe and efficient operation of the hydropower facilities. Furthermore, the government has warned that any mandated alterations could lead to increased utility rates for customers across the region.
The Dire State of Salmon and Cultural Significance
"We’re returning to court because the situation for the salmon and the steelhead in the Columbia River Basin is dire," stated Kristen Boyles, managing attorney with Earthjustice, the nonprofit law firm representing conservation, clean energy, and fishing groups in the litigation. "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."
The Columbia River Basin, an area comparable in size to Texas, was historically the world's most prolific salmon-producing river system. It was home to at least 16 distinct stocks of salmon and steelhead. Today, the ecological picture is bleak: four of those stocks are now extinct, and seven are officially listed as endangered or threatened. The decline of these fish also jeopardizes other iconic species, such as a population of endangered killer whales that depend on salmon as a primary food source.
For the regional Native American tribes, including the Nez Perce Tribe and the Yakama Nation—who are supporting the legal motion as "friends of the court"—the salmon hold profound cultural, spiritual, and subsistence significance. The dams are widely recognized as a primary factor in the species' decline, creating a direct conflict between hydropower infrastructure and tribal heritage.
Economic Stakes and Opposition
The dams in question have a deep and complex history intertwined with the region's economic development. The construction of the first Columbia River dams, such as the Grand Coulee and Bonneville in the 1930s, provided crucial employment during the Great Depression. These projects established a legacy of hydropower generation, irrigation, and navigation that continues to shape the Pacific Northwest's economy.
The dams transformed Lewiston, Idaho, into the most inland seaport on the West Coast, and many agricultural producers still rely on barge transportation to ship their crops efficiently. Unsurprisingly, there is significant opposition to the proposed operational changes. Groups like the Inland Ports and Navigation Group have voiced strong concerns, stating last year that 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."
The eight specific dams targeted in the litigation are the Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite on the Snake River, along with the Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day, and McNary on the Columbia River. The outcome of this renewed legal battle will have far-reaching implications for the region's environment, its tribal nations, its energy grid, and its agricultural economy.
