Conservation Advocates Sue Over Lower Columbia River Hatchery Programs Harming Wild Salmon and Hindering Recovery Progress

TCA joined with Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC) and Willamette Riverkeeper (WRK) to successfully challenge new water quality permits for two hatcheries on Oregon’s McKenzie River.

The Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler issued a 60-day Notice of Intent to the Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries, the states of Oregon and Washington, and Clatsop County for what they say are “chronic and ongoing violations of the federal Endangered Species Act” at lower river hatcheries that produce Chinook, coho and chum salmon, and steelhead.

2023 Kamchatka Steelhead Project Field Reports

by Professor Kirill Kuzishchin, Moscow State Univ.

A recent study on recovery of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River basin revealed that despite investing $9 billion in restoration actions spanning four decades, there was no discernible increase in the abundance of wild salmon and steelhead passing through Bonneville Dam.

We are excited to share The Conservation Angler’s 2023 Annual Report. It highlights TCA's accomplishments in 2023, and our plans for 2024.

Early legislative success focused on water resources, computer chip innovation, education and housing.

As the focus moved to environmental issues, the tone changed, and the partisan divide deepened. In the end, The Conservation Angler believes that there were notable achievements.

FEMA has failed to address wild salmon habitat when it allows rebuilding in the floodplains.

Pete Soverel’s 2023 KSP Update

The petition presented “substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.”

Kamchatka Steelhead Project 2022 Field Season Update

Observations, Comments and Concerns about Coluymbia River Wild Steelhead

A Drying Rainforest and Dying Fish

From smaller independent tributaries to larger, famous rivers, almost every population of winter steelhead on the OP is in long-term decline over their period of record.

Hatcheries harm wild fish populations in a variety of ways, including through genetic, ecological, fishery, and facility impacts.

After 2021, it feels like a small relief to just be better than the worst in history at this point.

The Conservation Angler played a pivotal role in ending the hatchery summer steelhead program on the North Umpqua

After two decades of living on the OP, I’m feeling a pang for fresh observations and exploration.  And given the state of our wild steelhead, I wanted to recharge my spirit and mind by visiting some of the last, best wild steelhead rivers on the planet. Equally as important, fresh observations have always helped me look at old problems in new ways. This is one reason I took the position as Science Director for The Conservation Angler (TCA).