Friends and supporters,
Each spring, I look at the river with hope. As high-country snow melts, flows rise, and once again, the spring Chinook begin their long journey home. In the Snake River Basin—one of the most extraordinary salmon landscapes in the world—these fish are still returning. But each year, they return in fewer numbers, and with more obstacles in their path.
The latest forecast from the Columbia River Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) underscores the urgency of our mission. For 2025, the TAC projects a return of approximately 7,824 wild Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook. This stark figure highlights the critical need for immediate and sustained conservation efforts.
The Columbia Basin Partnership’s Phase 2 report set a natural origin quantitative goal of 159,000 returning spring/summer Chinook to the Snake River basin annually to support healthy and harvestable populations. Right now, we’re falling short—the 10-year average is approximately 13,400 wild adults, barely 10% of the goal. That gap isn’t just a statistic, it’s a call to action.
But here’s the other truth: we know what needs to be done, and we have the power to do it.
Removing the four lower Snake River dams is the single most impactful step we can take to bring these iconic fish back to abundance. This isn’t just about salmon. It’s about honoring tribal treaties, restoring ecosystems, revitalizing rural economies, and doing right by future generations. Our movement is growing, and the momentum is real.
We have proof that bold action works.
Look to the Elwha River, where the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams were taken down between 2011 and 2014. Since then, Chinook, steelhead, and other native fish have returned to spawn in stretches of river that hadn’t run free in over a century. The river healed faster than anyone expected—and the fish wasted no time coming home.
And now, we are witnessing history again. In 2023 and early 2024, the first of the Klamath River dams began coming down, and already Chinook are returning to areas upstream that had been blocked for over a hundred years. These are not just stories of recovery—they are blueprints for the Snake.
Of course, we must stay vigilant. Just weeks ago, a sweeping executive order called for reducing what it describes as “regulatory burdens” across federal agencies. While the intent may be to streamline government processes, there’s concern that it could weaken key environmental protections like the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act – laws that have safeguarded our rivers, fish and the communities for decades. And recently, announced a directive to “sunset” many of the very laws that protect, conserve and enhance salmon and steelhead populations in Columbia and Snake River basins. These protections are foundational, not optional and we’ll be working hard to ensure they remain strong and effective for the future of wild fish and clean water.
We also need to keep a close eye on Congress and the Northwest Energy Security Act (Senate Bill 182 and House Resolution 626) could have serious consequences for our bedrock environmental laws and how agencies manage habitat and species. We are tracking both bills closely—and we’ll be asking you, our grassroots force, to take action when the time comes.
Here’s where you come in.
Grassroots advocacy has always been the engine behind our success. When wild fish are in trouble, you don’t sit back. You write letters, lead restoration efforts, speak out at town halls, mentor the next generation, and build lasting partnerships in your communities.
This spring, I’m asking you to keep showing up—louder, stronger, and more unified than ever:
Contact your elected officials—especially in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon—and urge them to support removal of the four lower Snake River dams.
Defend our environmental laws from political rollback. Let your representatives know that clean water and wild fish are not up for negotiation.
Spread hope. Share the stories of rivers rebounding, fish returning, and communities rallying. Let people know we’re winning—because we are.
We still have a narrow window to turn things around for spring Chinook in the Snake River. Let’s not miss it.
Thank you for your ongoing support,
Eric Crawford
Snake River Campaign Director
Trout Unlimited